High-precision geochronology confirms voluminous magmatism before, during, and after Earth’s most severe extinction

Burgess, Seth D.; Bowring, Samuel A.

doi:10.1126/sciadv.1500470

Cited by 408 publications

(386 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…SLIP activity was reported to have lasted ∼300 ky, before and concurrent with the P-Tr mass extinction, and continuing for at least 500 ky after extinction cessation (3). This age model agrees with the magmatism of the SLIP representing a trigger for the P-Tr mass extinction; within this time span there is a clear temporal link between the emplacement of NiS ore-bearing intrusions in the SLIP, starting at 251.907 ± 0.094 Ma, and the onset of extinction (3).…”

supporting

confidence: 84%

Role of degassing of the Noril’sk nickel deposits in the Permian–Triassic mass extinction event

Vaillant

Mungall

2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The largest mass extinction event in Earth's history marks the boundary between the Permian and Triassic Periods at circa 252 Ma and has been linked with the eruption of the basaltic Siberian Traps large igneous province (SLIP). One of the kill mechanisms that has been suggested is a biogenic methane burst triggered by the release of vast amounts of nickel into the atmosphere. A proposed Ni source lies within the huge Noril’sk nickel ore deposits, which formed in magmatic conduits widely believed to have fed the eruption of the SLIP basalts. However, nickel is a nonvolatile element, assumed to be largely sequestered at depth in dense sulfide liquids that formed the orebodies, preventing its release into the atmosphere and oceans. Flotation of sulfide liquid droplets by surface attachment to gas bubbles has been suggested as a mechanism to overcome this problem and allow introduction of Ni into the atmosphere during eruption of the SLIP lavas. Here we use 2D and 3D X-ray imagery on Noril’sk nickel sulfide, combined with simple thermodynamic models, to show that the Noril’sk ores were degassing while they were forming. Consequent “bubble riding” by sulfide droplets, followed by degassing of the shallow, sulfide-saturated, and exceptionally volatile and Cl-rich SLIP lavas, permitted a massive release of nickel-rich volcanic gas and subsequent global dispersal of nickel released from this gas as aerosol particles.

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supporting

confidence: 84%

Role of degassing of the Noril’sk nickel deposits in the Permian–Triassic mass extinction event

Vaillant

Mungall

2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…We found that nickel concentrations increase abruptly just before the blowup. Moreover, subsequent dating of Siberian nickel deposits confirms that nickel-rich lavas erupted prior to the extinction [2].…”

mentioning

confidence: 79%

“…Recently, an additional piece of the puzzle fell into place. Massive Siberian volcanism, long thought to coincide roughly with the extinction, is now known to have preceded it and continued beyond it [2].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mathematical Expression of a Global Environmental Catastrophe

Rothman¹

2017

Notices Amer. Math. Soc.

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“…A major rise in global average temperature of ~15 °C occurred at this time, leading to the greatest mass extinction recorded (Sun et al, 2012). This event has been linked to major eruptions and gas release in the Siberian Traps large igneous province (Svensen et al, 2009;Reichow et al, 2009;Burgess and Bowring, 2015).…”

Section: Geological Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…A possible explanation for the sudden influx close to Fennoscandia and Greenland is tectonic uplift associated with rifting along the Norway-Greenland margin (e.g., Müller et al, 2005), possibly in the form of rift shoulder uplift. The progradation of the large, Uralian-derived easterly system was likely related to tectonism coincident with and caused by the main phase of volcanism of the Siberian Traps (Burgess and Bowring, 2015), as the Uralian orogeny was in a waning phase at this stage (Puchkov, 2009). This likely led to large-scale uplift and erosion of the Uralian orogen, and to vastly increased sediment supply in the Early Triassic and deposition of coarsegrained fluvial deposits in the Uralian foreland basin (Puchkov, 2009;Reichow et al, 2009).…”

Section: Mechanism For Sudden Sediment Influx After the Permian-triasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking an Early Triassic delta to antecedent topography: Source-to-sink study of the southwestern Barents Sea margin

et al. 2017

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Present-day catchments adjacent to sedimentary basins may preserve geomorphic elements that have been active through long intervals of time. Relicts of ancient catchments in present-day landscapes may be investigated using mass-balance models and can give important information about upland landscape evolution and reservoir distribution in adjacent basins. However, such methods are in their infancy and are often difficult to apply in deep-time settings due to later landscape modification.The southern Barents Sea margin of N Norway and NW Russia is ideal for investigating source-to-sink models, because it has been subject to minor tectonic activity since the Carboniferous, and large parts have eluded significant Quaternary glacial erosion. A zone close to the present-day coast has likely acted as the boundary between basin and catchments since the Carboniferous. Around the Permian-Triassic transition, a large delta system started to prograde from the same area as the present-day largest river in the area, the Tana River, which has long been interpreted to show features indicating that it was developed prior to present-day topography. We performed a source-to-sink study of this ancient system in order to investigate potential linkages between present-day geomorphology and ancient deposits.We investigated the sediment load of the ancient delta using well, core, twodimensional and three-dimensional seismic data, and digital elevation models to investigate the geomorphology of the onshore catchment and surrounding areas. Our results imply that the present-day GSA Bulletin; January/February 2018; v. 130 Tana catchment was formed close to the Permian-Triassic transition, and that the Triassic delta system has much better reservoir properties compared to the rest of Triassic basin infill. This implies that landscapes may indeed preserve catchment geometries for extended periods of time, and it demonstrates that source-to-sink techniques can be instrumental in predicting the extent and quality of subsurface reservoirs.

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High-precision geochronology confirms voluminous magmatism before, during, and after Earth’s most severe extinction

Abstract: High-precision geochronology confirms voluminous magmatism before, during, and after Earth’s most severe mass extinction.

Cited by 408 publications

References 47 publications

Role of degassing of the Noril’sk nickel deposits in the Permian–Triassic mass extinction event

Role of degassing of the Noril’sk nickel deposits in the Permian–Triassic mass extinction event

Mathematical Expression of a Global Environmental Catastrophe

Linking an Early Triassic delta to antecedent topography: Source-to-sink study of the southwestern Barents Sea margin

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