High temperature methane emissions from Large Igneous Provinces as contributors to late Permian mass extinctions

Abstract

Methane (CH4) emissions induced by Large Igneous Provinces have the potential to contribute to global environmental changes that triggered mass extinctions in Earth’s history. Here, we explore the source of methane in gas samples from central Sichuan Basin, which is within the Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP). We report evidence of high methane formation temperatures (between 249−17/+19 and 256−20/+22 °C) from clumped methane measurements and mantle-derived signatures of noble gases, which verify that oil-cracked CH4 and pyrobitumen are by-products within the reservoirs, associated with hydrothermal activity and enhanced heating by the ELIP. We estimate the volume of oil-cracked CH4 induced by the ELIP and argue that CH4 emissions would have been sufficient to initiate global warming prior to the end of the Permian. We also suggest that similar emissions from oil-cracked CH4 associated with the Siberian Traps Large Igneous Province may also have contributed to the end-Permian mass extinction significantly.

Machine Learning Predicts the Methane Clumped Isotopologue (12CH2D2) Distributions Constrain Biogeochemical Processes and Estimates the Potential Budget

“…Studies that have been carried out in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP) yield methane formation temperatures as high as ∼256 °C from Δ 13 CH 3 D but do not constrain the molecular equilibrium state of methane. 21 Our data in the Gao-Mo region suggest a maximum natural gas formation temperature of ∼296 °C, which is consistent with the temperatures based on Δ 13 CH 3 D and Δ 12 CH 2 D 2 (Figure 3a). It is not difficult to speculate on the process; the long period of slow geological heating led to large amounts of gas production yield.…”

“…The mass-18 doubly substituted methane clumped isotopologue abundances (Δ 13 CH 3 D and Δ 12 CH 2 D 2 ) can be obtained by direct measurements of CH 4 with a high-resolution mass spectrometer (HR-IRMS). Dual methane clumped isotopes provide dual temperature-dependent constraints on methane thermal history − and provide a new quantification method for methane involving microbial metabolic processes. − In the source-sink model calculations of atmospheric methane, Δ 13 CH 3 D contains more information on kinetic processes and the source compositions, and Δ 12 CH 2 D 2 is correlated with source and sink fluxes. , …”

Age and origin of a Guadalupian tuff in the E'Xi rift basin in South China: Evidence for the Emeishan continental hotspot track?

“…The occurrence of voluminous mafic pyroclastic rocks near the base of the Gufeng Formation (Maocaojie section; Figure 1b; Niu et al, 2000) is consistent with mantle plume activity in the region. Following the formation of the E'Xi rift basin in the late Permian, the lithosphere moved northeastwards above a stationary mantle plume that is recorded by its NE–SW‐trending surface expression, including high seismic velocities and negative radial anisotropy (Liu et al, 2021), a residual gravity anomaly (Deng et al, 2014), basalts (Meng et al, 2022; Shao et al, 2022), methane emissions (Chen et al, 2022), source rock maturity in the Sichuan Basin (Feng et al, 2022), and northward motion of the SCB in plate reconstruction models (Huang et al, 2018). At ca.…”

Photocatalytic Oxidative Coupling of Methane to Ethane Using Water and Oxygen on Ag3PO4-ZnO

“…As the secondlargest greenhouse gas, CH 4 has roughly 27 times the global warming potential of CO 2 over a 100-year horizon. 1,2 At present, CH 4 is often utilized in the form of direct combustion, and the generated CO 2 is not conducive to the goal of carbon neutralization. Converting CH 4 into other chemicals or fuels is crucial.…”

“…Methane, which is regarded as an essential fuel and a viable feedstock for the chemical industry, is found in a variety of forms, including natural gas, biogas, and pit gas. As the second-largest greenhouse gas, CH 4 has roughly 27 times the global warming potential of CO 2 over a 100-year horizon. , At present, CH 4 is often utilized in the form of direct combustion, and the generated CO 2 is not conducive to the goal of carbon neutralization. Converting CH 4 into other chemicals or fuels is crucial.…”