scholarly journals An evaluation of Deccan Traps eruption rates using geochronologic data

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blair Schoene ◽  
Michael P. Eddy ◽  
C. Brenhin Keller ◽  
Kyle M. Samperton
Keyword(s):  
High Precision ◽  
Deccan Traps ◽  
Large Igneous Province ◽  
Statistical Techniques ◽  
Magnetic Reversal ◽  
Eruption Rate ◽  
Igneous Province ◽  
Stratigraphic Position ◽  
History Of ◽  
Chicxulub Impact

Abstract. Recent attempts to establish the eruptive history of the Deccan Traps large igneous province have used both U-Pb (Schoene et al., 2019) and 40Ar/39Ar (Sprain et al., 2019) geochronology. Both of these studies report dates with high precision and unprecedented coverage for a large igneous province, and agree that the main phase of eruptions began near the C30n-C29r magnetic reversal and waned shortly after the C29r-C29n reversal, totaling ~700-800 ka duration. Nevertheless, the eruption rates interpreted by the authors of each publication differ significantly. The U-Pb dataset was interpreted to indicate four major eruptive pulses, while the 40Ar/39Ar dataset was used to argue for an increase in eruption rates coincident with the Chicxulub impact (Renne et al., 2015; Richards et al., 2015). Although the overall agreement in duration is an achievement for geochronology, the disparate eruption models may act to undermine this achievement in the eyes of the broader geologic community. Here, we generate chronostratigraphic models for both datasets using the same statistical techniques and conclude that 1) age modeling of the 40Ar/39Ar dataset results in constant eruption rates with relatively large uncertainties through the duration of the Deccan Traps, and cannot verify or disprove the pulses identified by the U-Pb data, 2) the stratigraphic position of the Chicxulub impact within the 40Ar/39Ar dataset is much more uncertain than was presented in Sprain et al. (2019), and 3) neither dataset supports an increase in eruption rate as a result of the Chicxulub impact. While the production of precise and accurate geochronologic data is of course essential to studies of Earth History, our analysis underscores that the accuracy of a final result also is critically dependent on how such data are interpreted and presented to the broader community of geoscientists.

scholarly journals An evaluation of Deccan Traps eruption rates using geochronologic data

Geochronology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 181-198
Author(s):  
Blair Schoene ◽  
Michael P. Eddy ◽  
C. Brenhin Keller ◽  
Kyle M. Samperton
Keyword(s):  
Deccan Traps ◽  
Large Igneous Province ◽  
Systematic Uncertainties ◽  
Igneous Provinces ◽  
Dating Methods ◽  
Igneous Province ◽  
Before And After ◽  
History Of ◽  
Earth’S Climate ◽  
Chicxulub Impact

Abstract. Recent attempts to establish the eruptive history of the Deccan Traps large igneous province have used both U−Pb (Schoene et al., 2019) and 40Ar/39Ar (Sprain et al., 2019) geochronology. Both of these studies report dates with high precision and unprecedented coverage for a large igneous province and agree that the main phase of eruptions began near the C30n–C29r magnetic reversal and waned shortly after the C29r–C29n reversal, totaling ∼ 700–800 kyr duration. These datasets can be analyzed in finer detail to determine eruption rates, which are critical for connecting volcanism, associated volatile emissions, and any potential effects on the Earth's climate before and after the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary (KPB). It is our observation that the community has frequently misinterpreted how the eruption rates derived from these two datasets vary across the KPB. The U−Pb dataset of Schoene et al. (2019) was interpreted by those authors to indicate four major eruptive pulses before and after the KPB. The 40Ar/39Ar dataset did not identify such pulses and has been largely interpreted by the community to indicate an increase in eruption rates coincident with the Chicxulub impact (Renne et al., 2015; Richards et al., 2015). Although the overall agreement in eruption duration is an achievement for geochronology, it is important to clarify the limitations in comparing the two datasets and to highlight paths toward achieving higher-resolution eruption models for the Deccan Traps and for other large igneous provinces. Here, we generate chronostratigraphic models for both datasets using the same statistical techniques and show that the two datasets agree very well. More specifically, we infer that (1) age modeling of the 40Ar/39Ar dataset results in constant eruption rates with relatively large uncertainties through the duration of the Deccan Traps eruptions and provides no support for (or evidence against) the pulses identified by the U−Pb data, (2) the stratigraphic positions of the Chicxulub impact using the 40Ar/39Ar and U−Pb datasets do not agree within their uncertainties, and (3) neither dataset supports the notion of an increase in eruption rate as a result of the Chicxulub impact. We then discuss the importance of systematic uncertainties between the dating methods that challenge direct comparisons between them, and we highlight the geologic uncertainties, such as regional stratigraphic correlations, that need to be tested to ensure the accuracy of eruption models. While the production of precise and accurate geochronologic data is of course essential to studies of Earth history, our analysis underscores that the accuracy of a final result is also critically dependent on how such data are interpreted and presented to the broader community of geoscientists.

scholarly journals The links between large igneous provinces, continental break-up and environmental change: evidence reviewed from Antarctica

2013 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan C. Storey ◽  
Alan P. M. Vaughan ◽  
Teal R. Riley
Keyword(s):  
Ocean Basin ◽  
Large Igneous Province ◽  
Climatic Effects ◽  
Large Igneous Provinces ◽  
Rifted Margins ◽  
Igneous Provinces ◽  
Igneous Province ◽  
History Of ◽  
Break Up ◽  
Sea Floor Spreading

ABSTRACTEarth history is punctuated by events during which large volumes of predominantly mafic magmas were generated and emplaced by processes that are generally accepted as being, unrelated to ‘normal’ sea-floor spreading and subduction processes. These events form large igneous provinces (LIPs) which are best preserved in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic where they occur as continental and ocean basin flood basalts, giant radiating dyke swarms, volcanic rifted margins, oceanic plateaus, submarine ridges, and seamount chains. The Mesozoic history of Antarctica is no exception in that a number of different igneous provinces were emplaced during the initial break-up and continued disintegration of Gondwana, leading to the isolation of Antarctica in a polar position. The link between the emplacement of the igneous rocks and continental break-up processes remains controversial. The environmental impact of large igneous province formation on the Earth System is equally debated. Large igneous province eruptions are coeval with, and may drive environmental and climatic effects including global warming, oceanic anoxia and/or increased oceanic fertilisation, calcification crises, mass extinction and release of gas hydrates.This review explores the links between the emplacement of large igneous provinces in Antarctica, the isolation of Antarctica from other Gondwana continents, and possibly related environmental and climatic changes during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic.

Magmatic duration of the Emeishan large igneous province: Insight from northern Vietnam

Geology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 457-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Gregory Shellnutt ◽  
Thuy Thanh Pham ◽  
Steven W. Denyszyn ◽  
Meng-Wan Yeh ◽  
Tuan-Anh Tran
Keyword(s):  
High Precision ◽  
Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Large Igneous Province ◽  
Ionization Mass ◽  
Emeishan Large Igneous Province ◽  
Northern Vietnam ◽  
Global Cooling ◽  
Igneous Province ◽  
Distinct Period

Abstract The eruption of Emeishan lava in southwestern China and northern Vietnam is considered to be a contributing factor to the Capitanian mass extinction and subsequent global cooling event, but the duration of volcanism is uncertain. The difficulty in assessing the termination age is, in part, due to the lack of high-precision age data for late-stage volcanic rocks. The Tu Le rhyolite of northern Vietnam is the most voluminous silicic unit of the Emeishan large igneous province (ELIP) and is spatially associated with the Muong Hum and Phan Si Pan hypabyssal plutons. Chemical abrasion–isotope dilution–thermal ionization mass spectrometry U-Pb dating of zircons from the Tu Le rhyolite (257.1 ± 0.6 Ma to 257.9 ± 0.3 Ma) and Muong Hum (257.3 ± 0.2 Ma) and Phan Si Pan (256.3 ± 0.4 Ma) plutons yielded the youngest high-precision ages of the ELIP yet determined. The results demonstrate that Emeishan lavas erupted over a period of ∼6 m.y,. with plutonism ending shortly thereafter. Thus, it is possible that Emeishan volcanism contributed to global cooling into the middle Wuchiapingian. It appears that these rocks represent a distinct period of ELIP magmatism, as they are young and were emplaced oblique to the main north-south–trending Panxi rift.

scholarly journals Thinking about LIPs: A brief history of ideas in Large igneous province research

2019 ◽  
Vol 760 ◽  
pp. 229-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik H. Svensen ◽  
Dougal A. Jerram ◽  
Alexander G. Polozov ◽  
Sverre Planke ◽  
Clive R. Neal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
History Of Ideas ◽  
Large Igneous Province ◽  
Igneous Province ◽  
History Of

The geological history of northwestern South America: from Pangaea to the early collision of the Caribbean Large Igneous Province (290–75Ma)

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Spikings ◽  
Ryan Cochrane ◽  
Diego Villagomez ◽  
Roelant Van der Lelij ◽  
Cristian Vallejo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Large Igneous Province ◽  
Geological History ◽  
Igneous Province ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Caribbean

Constraining the duration of the Tarim flood basalts (northwestern China): CA-TIMS zircon U-Pb dating of tuffs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Ting Zhong ◽  
Zhen-Yu Luo ◽  
Roland Mundil ◽  
Xun Wei ◽  
Hai-Quan Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Lava Flows ◽  
Northwestern China ◽  
Large Igneous Province ◽  
Ionization Mass ◽  
Flood Basalts ◽  
Eruption Rate ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
Igneous Province

The Early Permian Tarim large igneous province (LIP) in northwestern China comprises voluminous basaltic lava flows, as well as ultramafic and silicic intrusions. The age and duration of the Tarim LIP remains unclear, and thus the rate of magma production and models of potential environmental effects are uncertain. Here we present high-precision chemical abrasion−isotope dilution−thermal ionization mass spectrometry zircon U-Pb ages for three newly discovered tuff layers interlayered with lava flows in the Kupukuziman and Kaipaizileike formations in the Keping area (Xinjiang, northwest China). The volcanism of the Kupukuziman Formation is constrained to a short duration from 289.77 ± 0.95 to 289.41 ± 0.52 Ma. An age for the overlying Kaipaizileike Formation is 284.27 ± 0.39 Ma, bracketing the duration of the entire eruptive phase of the Tarim flood basalts at ∼5.5 m.y. The low eruption rate and relatively long duration of magmatism is consistent with a plume incubation model for the Tarim LIP.

Northern Houtman Sub-basin prospectivity—preliminary results

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 577
Author(s):  
Irina Borissova ◽  
Chris Southby ◽  
George Bernardel ◽  
Jennifer Totterdell ◽  
Robbie Morris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
Large Igneous Province ◽  
The North ◽  
Structural Style ◽  
Igneous Province ◽  
Line Spacing ◽  
History Of

In 2014–15 Geoscience Australia acquired 3,300 km of deep 2D seismic data over the northern part of the Houtman Sub-basin (Perth Basin). Prior to this survey, this area had a very sparse coverage of 2D seismic data with 50–70 km line spacing in the north and an industry grid with 20 km line spacing in the south. Initial interpretation of the available data has shown that the structural style, major sequences, and potential source rocks in this area are similar to those in the southern Houtman and Abrolhos sub-basins. The major difference between these depocentres, however, is in the volume and distribution of volcanic and intrusive igneous rocks. The northern part of the Houtman Sub-basin is adjacent to the Wallaby Plateau Large Igneous Province (LIP). The Wallaby Plateau and the Wallaby Saddle, which borders the western flank of the Houtman Sub-basin, had active volcanism from the Valanginian to at least the end of the Barremian. Volcanic successions significantly reduce the quality of seismic imaging at depth, making it difficult to ascertain the underlying thickness, geometry and structure of the sedimentary basin. The new 2D seismic dataset across the northern Houtman Sub-basin provides an opportunity for improved mapping of the structure and stratigraphy of the pre-breakup succession, assessment of petroleum prospectivity, and examination of the role of volcanism in the thermal history of this frontier basin.

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