Evidence of biotic recovery through the Cretaceous/Palaeogene transition from the Mahadeo-Cherrapunji succession in the Meghalaya shelf, India

Pal, Swades; Singamshetty, Kalpana Munnuru; Shrivastava, J. P.; Mukhopadhyay, Sanjay Kumar; Hamilton, Sandeep

doi:10.1007/s12549-022-00534-2

Palaeobio Palaeoenv

2022

DOI: 10.1007/s12549-022-00534-2

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Evidence of biotic recovery through the Cretaceous/Palaeogene transition from the Mahadeo-Cherrapunji succession in the Meghalaya shelf, India

Swades Pal

Kalpana Munnuru Singamshetty

J. P. Shrivastava

et al.

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Cited by 4 publications

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“…The enhanced input of terrestrial material by soil erosion during other mass extinction events accounts for increase in the LMW PAHs, including DBT and DBF that help and drive marine anoxia (e.g.,Kaiho et al, 2016). Such increase in the PAHs and redox conditions is observed in the MCR section during the biozone P0 (Figure4), which is further supported by the increase in n-alkanes and indicative of terrestrial material input (cited Figure2,Pal et al, 2022).…”

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confidence: 60%

Fire activity across Cretaceous/Paleogene transition: Evidence from pyrogenic biomarkers preserved in the Mahadeo‐Cherrapunji section, Meghalaya, India

Pal,

Shrivastava,

Kalpana

2023

Geobiology

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Previous studies on high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) present in the shallow‐marine Um‐Sohryngkew River (USR) Cretaceous/Paleogene Boundary (KPB) section suggested regional fire incidences and biotic stress on life. However, such observations at the USR site have not been confirmed so far anywhere else in the region, we, therefore, do not know whether the signal was local or regional. Thus, to find out charred organic markers associated with the shelf facies KPB outcrop (at a distance of over 5 km) of the Mahadeo‐Cherrapunji road (MCR) section, PAHs were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy. Data show a notable rise in the PAHs and exhibit maximum abundance in the shaly KPB transition layer (in biozone P0) and the immediately underlying layer. The PAH excursions match well with the major incidences of the Deccan volcanic episodes and convergence of the Indian plate with the Eurasian and Burmese plates. These events were responsible for seawater disturbances and eustatic and depositional changes, including the retreat of the Tethys. The incidence of high amount of pyogenic PAHs unrelated to the total organic carbon content is suggestive of wind‐blown or aquatic system transportation. A down‐thrown shallow‐marine facies of the Therriaghat block was responsible for an early accumulation of PAHs. However, the spike of perylene in the immediately underlying KPB transition layer is plausibly linked to the Chicxulub impact crater core. Anomalous concentrations of combustion‐derived PAHs together with the high fragmentation and dissolution of the planktonic foraminifer shells show marine biodiversity and biotic distress. Significantly, the pyrogenic PAH excursions are restricted to either the KPB layer itself or strictly below or above it, indicating regional fire incidences and attendant KPB transition (66.016 ± 0.050 Ma).

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