UPPER PERMIAN REEF AND SHELF FACIES OF THE SOUTHERN MARGIN OF THE YANGTZE PLATFORM, SOUTH CHINA PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO REEF ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE END-PERMIAN MASS EXTINCTION

Enhanced regional subduction-related volcanism in the South China craton concurrent with Siberian Traps large igneous province magmatism was a likely contributor to major biotic and environmental stresses associated with the Permian-Triassic boundary (ca. 252 Ma) mass extinction. However, the timing, intensity, and duration of this regional volcanic activity remain uncertain. We analyzed mercury (Hg) concentrations in three widely separated marine sections in the South China craton (Shangsi, Ganxi, and Chaohu) as well as Hg isotopic compositions in one section (Shangsi) from the Upper Permian (Changhsingian) through the lowermost Triassic (Induan) in order to track volcanic inputs. Four mercury enrichment (ME) intervals, dating to the lowermost Changhsingian (ME1), mid–Clarkina changxingensis zone (ME2), upper C. changxingensis to lower C. yini zones (ME3), and latest Permian mass extinction (LPME) interval (ME4), were recognized on the basis of elevated Hg/total organic carbon ratios. These records provide evidence of strong volcanism in the Tethyan region starting ~2 m.y. before the LPME, whereas only the ME4 event is recorded in extra-Tethyan sections. Mercury isotopes support the inference that pre-LPME Hg peaks were related to regional subduction-related volcanism, and that Hg emissions at the LPME were the result of Siberian Traps large igneous province intrusions into organic-rich sediments. This study demonstrates the feasibility of distinguishing flood-basalt from subduction-related volcanic inputs on the basis of marine sedimentary Hg records.

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Survival brachiopod faunas of the end-Permian mass extinction from the southern Alps (Italy) and South China

Geological Magazine ◽

10.1017/s0016756806001993 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 143 (3) ◽

pp. 301-327 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

ZHONG-QIANG CHEN ◽

KUNIO KAIHO ◽

ANNETTE D. GEORGE ◽

JINNAN TONG

Keyword(s):

South China ◽

Mass Extinction ◽

Northern Italy ◽

Upper Permian ◽

Triassic Boundary ◽

Permian Extinction ◽

Generic Affinity ◽

Tethys Ocean ◽

Permian Mass Extinction ◽

Permian Triassic Boundary

Eight brachiopod species in seven genera are described from the Permian–Triassic boundary beds of South China and northern Italy. The brachiopods from northern Italy are described for the first time and include two new species: Orbicoelia dolomitensis Chen and Spirigerella? teseroi Chen. The Permian affinity of these brachiopods and their stratigraphical position above the extinction horizon demonstrate that they are survivors from the end-Permian mass extinction. The surviving brachiopods from South China, which was located at the eastern margin of the Palaeo-Tethys Ocean, are considerably abundant and diverse and are dominated by geographically widespread generalist elements adapted to a wide variety of environments. They were mostly limited to the Upper Permian to lowest Griesbachian. In contrast, the survivors in northern Italy, which was situated at the western margin of the Palaeo-Tethys, comprise elements ranging from the Carboniferous to Permian or widespread Tethyan genera. These survivors did not occur in the pre-extinction western Tethyan oceans but migrated into this region after the end-Permian extinction event. Disaster taxon Lingula proliferated slightly earlier in western Tethyan oceans than in eastern Tethyan regions following the event. Survival brachiopods from both regions appear to have a generic affinity, although they do not share any species. Both South Chinese and Italian survival faunas support the view that the survival interval is the duration when survivors are dominated by geographically widespread generalist organisms adapted to a wide variety of ecological conditions.

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HIGH-RELIEF OOLITE PLATFORM MARGINS IN THE NANPANJIANG BASIN OF SOUTH CHINA RESULTED FROM EXTREME SEAWATER CARBONATE SATURATION IN THE EARLY TRIASSIC AFTERMATH OF THE END-PERMIAN MASS EXTINCTION

10.1130/abs/2017sc-289204 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Xiaowei Li ◽

◽

Brian M. Kelley ◽

Marcello Minzoni ◽

Meiyi Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South China ◽

Mass Extinction ◽

Early Triassic ◽

Permian Mass Extinction

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Carbonate associated sulfate (CAS) δ34S heterogeneity across the End-Permian Mass Extinction in South China

Earth and Planetary Science Letters ◽

10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117172 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 574 ◽

pp. 117172

Author(s):

Daniel L. Johnson ◽

Theodore M. Present ◽

Menghan Li ◽

Yanan Shen ◽

Jess F. Adkins

Keyword(s):

South China ◽

Mass Extinction ◽

Carbonate Associated Sulfate ◽

Permian Mass Extinction

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Early and Middle Triassic trends in diversity, evenness, and size of foraminifers on a carbonate platform in south China: implications for tempo and mode of biotic recovery from the end-Permian mass extinction

Paleobiology ◽

10.1666/08082.1 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

pp. 409-425 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

Jonathan L. Payne ◽

Mindi Summers ◽

Brianna L. Rego ◽

Demir Altiner ◽

Jiayong Wei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South China ◽

Mass Extinction ◽

Evolutionary Dynamics ◽

Middle Triassic ◽

Carbonate Platform ◽

Early Triassic ◽

Data Set ◽

Recovery Pattern ◽

Biotic Recovery ◽

Permian Mass Extinction

Delayed biotic recovery from the end-Permian mass extinction has long been interpreted to result from environmental inhibition. Recently, evidence of more rapid recovery has begun to emerge, suggesting the role of environmental inhibition was previously overestimated. However, there have been few high-resolution taxonomic and ecological studies spanning the full Early and Middle Triassic recovery interval, leaving the precise pattern of recovery and underlying mechanisms poorly constrained. In this study, we document Early and Middle Triassic trends in taxonomic diversity, assemblage evenness, and size distribution of benthic foraminifers on an exceptionally exposed carbonate platform in south China. We observe gradual increases in all metrics through Early Triassic and earliest Middle Triassic time, with stable values reached early in the Anisian. There is little support in our data set for a substantial Early Triassic lag interval during the recovery of foraminifers or for a stepwise recovery pattern. The recovery pattern of foraminifers on the GBG corresponds well with available global data for this taxon and appears to parallel that of many benthic invertebrate clades. Early Triassic diversity increase in foraminifers was more gradual than in ammonoids and conodonts. However, foraminifers continued to increase in diversity, size, and evenness into Middle Triassic time, whereas diversity of ammonoids and conodonts declined. These contrasts suggest decoupling of recovery between benthic and pelagic environments; it is unclear whether these discrepancies reflect inherent contrasts in their evolutionary dynamics or the differential impact of Early Triassic ocean anoxia or associated environmental parameters on benthic ecosystems.

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