ABSTRACT The oldest alkaline silicate rocks known are Archaean (2700–2600 Ma) lamprophyres and alkali syenites. Several Proterozoic alkaline gabbroic intrusions which in part also contain carbonatites occur between 2000 and 1800 Ma. Intensive alkaline magmatic activity formed more than 20 complexes (Kola Alkaline Province, KAP) during the Palaeozoic between 410 and 362 Ma with the majority of ages being between 382 and 362 Ma. The data show no systematic geographical distribution of ages within the KAP so that timing of magmatic activity cannot be correlated to the major tectonic structures. A distinction of the intrusions into Caledonian and Hercynian groups is not supported. A lithologically controlled variation of ages within single complexes can neither be seen betweencarbonatites and associated alkali silicate rocks nor between carbonatites and phoscorites.