Ocean Chemistry Revealed by Mineralogical and Geochemical Evidence at the Permian–Triassic Mass Extinction, Offshore the Persian Gulf, Iran

The Upper Permian Dalan Formation and the Lower Triassic Kangan Formation in the Persian Gulf area are mainly composed of shallow marine facies limestone and dolomite. Two subsurface-cored intervals were investigated in order to understand the original mineralogy and paleoceanic conditions. The decreasing trend of Sr concentration in these deposits shows that aragonite was precipitated during the Late Permian and then gradually changed to calcite toward the Permian–Triassic boundary (PTB). The dissolution rate of aragonite decreased from 60 m below the PTB toward the boundary, with the only exception at 10 m below the Permian-Triassic Boundary (PTB) due to the Permian–Triassic unconformity in this region. The increasing trend of Mg/Ca ratio in a global scale at the end-Permian time shows that the interpreted variation of mineralogy does not result from the change of this ratio. The increasing pCO2 and decreasing pH are considered to be the main controlling factors. The increase of Ca2+ at the end-Permian time due to the input of meteoric waters is too little to fully compensate this effect. A local maximum of the Si content just at the PTB confirms the input of runoff waters.     

Paleo‐fires and Atmospheric Oxygen Levels in the Latest Permian: Evidence from Maceral Compositions of Coals in Eastern Yunnan,Southern China

Inertinite maceral compositions of the Late Permian coals from three sections in the terrestrial and paralic settings of eastern Yunnan are analyzed in order to reveal the paleo-fire events and the atmospheric oxygen levels in the latest Permian. Although the macerals in the studied sections are generally dominated by vitrinite, the inertinite group makes up a considerable proportion. Its content increases upward from the beginning of the Late Permian to the coal seam near the Permian-Triassic boundary. Based on the microscopic features and the prevailing theory that inertinite is largely a by-product of paleo-fires, we suggest that the increasing upward trend of the inertinite abundance in the latest Permian could imply that the Late Permian peatland had suffered from frequent wildfires. Since ignition and burning depend on sufficient oxygen, a model-based calculation suggests that the O2 levels near the Wuchiapingian/Changhsingian boundary and the Permian-Triassic boundary are 27% and 28% respectively. This output adds supports to other discoveries made in the temporal marine and terrestrial sediments, and challenges the theories advocating hypoxia as a mechanism for the Permian-Triassic boundary crisis.     

Analyses of Sequence Stratigraphy and Environments across Permian—Triassic Boundary in Liaotian, Northwestern Jiangxi Province

Based on the study of lithology, sedimentology and paleontology at the Permian-Triassic boundary in Liaotian, Northwestern Jiangxi Province, the sequence stratigraphy and depositional environments across the boundary are reconstructed. The top part of the Upper Permian Changxing Formation is composed of very thick-bedded ligh-colored dolomitic limestone formed in high deposition rate on carbonate ramp,which indacates a transgression systems tract (TST). The Lower Triassic Qinglong Formation shows continuous deposition with the underlying Upper Permian. The lower member of Qinglong Formation consists of calcareous shale, shelly limestome and dolomitic limestone with abundant bivalves (Claraia sp.) and trace fossills (Chondrites). The calcareous shale at the bottom of Lower Triassic indicates a calm deep water environment to form the condensed section (CS). The shelly limestome and dolomitic limeston with shell fossils, intraclast, algal ooide show clean but turbulent environment of carbonate ramp, which produce the deposition of highstand systems tract (TST).     

Griesbachian Cyclostratigraphy at MajiashanSection, Anhui Province, China

INTRODUCTIONAs a large regression continued over the world at the endof the Paleozoic, a new remarkable transgression was intrudinginto the Lower Yangtze located in the eastern Tethys duringthe Late Permian, resulting in many excellent continuous marine Permian-Triassic sequences in this region. But the middleTriassic indosinian movement transformed this region from marine to continental factes, resulting in the deposition of theLower Triassic in the marked regression setting prior to …     

High Temperature,High Reducibility and Low Productivity of the Paleoceanographic Environment in the P/T,Tethys

In the Permian–Triassic geological history,the Tibet Tethys domain deposited continuous marine carbonate strata and recorded information related to the largest bioextinct events in the life history of the earth(JiChangjun,2018).The complete Permian–Triassic conodont sequence has been established in the northern margin of the Coqin Basin(Zhou Liqian,2012),which provides a time scale for the study of the paleoceanographic environment evolution in the Tibet Tethys field at the turn of the P/T.This work selected the total organic carbon and sulfur content of the rocks,carbon and oxygen isotopes of carbonate rocks,and the organic carbon isotope index system to study the evolution of the paleo marine environment in this period.     

Source and Enrichment Mechanism of Lithium in the Triassic Argillaceous Marine Sediments from Huangjinkou, Sichuan, China

In the Triassic marine sediments, an obvious enrichment of lithium has been found. The source and enrichment mechanism of lithium is unknown. Here, we report trace and rare earth element and isotope analyses for Triassic sedimentary samples from core ZK601, recovered from the Huangjinkou anticline in the Xuanhan basin. Lithium concentrations from the Leikoupo and Jialingjiang formations are much higher than the average concentrations in the crust of eastern China and in other marine sediments. Lithium concentrations are highest at depths of 3300–3360 m (in argillaceous marine sediments), and Li is positively correlated with Rb, Ga, Zr, Nb and other trace elements. The range of δ7Li values in our samples is consistent with that in other Triassic marine carbonate rocks. Lithium concentrations and isotope ratios are negatively correlated in the argillaceous dolomite samples at depths of 3300–3360 m. We compared the results in this study with trace and rare earth elements in the clay from Sichuan and Chongqing, and propose that the clay in the argillaceous marine evaporites from Huangjinkou formed via the hydrolysis of volcanic ash during Early–Middle Triassic volcanic eruptions into brine basins, during which clay adsorbed Li from the brine and formed Li-rich argillaceous dolomites. The addition and hydrolysis of volcanic ash in the evaporative brine is also related to the formation of a new type of polyhalite.     

Stratigraphy of the Triassic?Jurassic Boundary Successions of the Southern Margin of the Junggar Basin, Northwestern China

The Triassic?Jurassic (Tr?J) boundary marks a major extinction event, which (~200 Ma) resulted in global extinctions of fauna and flora both in the marine and terrestrial realms. There prevail great challenges in determining the exact location of the terrestrial Tr?J boundary, because of endemism of taxa and the scarcity of fossils in terrestrial settings leading to difficulties in linking marine and terrestrial sedimentary successions. Investigation based on palynology and bivalves has been carried out over a 1113 m thick section, which is subdivided into 132 beds, along the Haojiagou valley on the southern margin of the Junggar Basin of the northern Xinjiang, northwestern China. The terrestrial Lower Jurassic is conformably resting on the Upper Triassic strata. The Upper Triassic covers the Huangshanjie Formation overlaid by the Haojiagou Formation, while the Lower Jurassic comprises the Badaowan Formation followed by the Sangonghe Formation. Fifty six pollen and spore taxa and one algal taxon were identified from the sediments. Based on the key-species and abundance of spores and pollen, three zones were erected: the Late Triassic (Rhaetian) Aratrisporites?Alisporites Assemblage, the Early Jurassic (Hettangian) Perinopollenites?Pinuspollenites Assemblage, and the Sinemurian Perinopollenites?Cycadopites Assemblage. The Tr?J boundary is placed between bed 44 and 45 coincident with the boundary between the Haojiagou and Badaowan formations. Beds with Ferganoconcha (?), Unio?Ferganoconcha and Waagenoperna?Yananoconcha bivalve assemblages are recognized. The Ferganoconcha (?) bed is limited to the upper Haojiagou Formation, Unio?Ferganoconcha and Waagenoperna?Yananoconcha assemblages are present in the middle and upper members of the Badaowan Formation. The sedimentary succession is interpreted as terrestrial with two mainly lake deposit intervals within Haojiagou and Badaowan formations, yielding fresh water algae and bivalves. However, the presence of brackish water algae Tasmanites and the marine?littoral facies bivalve Waagenoperna from the Badaowan Formation indicate that the Junggar Basin was influenced by sea water caused by transgressions from the northern Tethys, during the Sinemurian.     

Significance of Caucasian Sections for Working out Carbon-Isotope Standard for Upper Permian and Lower Triassic （Induan） and Their Correlation with the Permian of North-Eastern Russia

Data obtained on conodont distribution in the Permian-Triassic Sovetashen Section of Transcaucasia provide further limitations on the age of the carbon-isotopic anomalies discovered by Baud et al. (1989). The significance of Caucasian sections for working out the carbon-isotope standard for the Upper Permian and Lower Triassic (Induan) is shown. Original data on carbon-isotope composition of bivalve and brachiopod shells from Permian sediments of North-Eastern Russia (Omolon and Okhotsk areas) have been obtained, which may be used for their correlation.     

The Characteristics of the Indosinian Pacific-Type Ancient Continental Margin in the Qinghai-Xizang(Tibet)-Sichuan-Yunnan Region

The Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau and the "Sanjiang" area②, where are extensively developed theTethys-type marine Triassic sequences with Indosinian tectonic disturbance and magmatism, provide an impor-tant region for the study of the tectonic evolution and the Indosinian movement of China as well as for thestudy of the boundary between Gondwana and Laurasia and the characteristics of the time-space distributionof the Tethys oceanic crust within the territory of China. Over a long period of time in the past, quite a numberof scholars made substantial studies and discussious from various viewpoints on the geotectonie and regionalgeological evolution of this region. Based on some new data obtained recently and the field observations by theauthor, and by using the plate tectonic theory, the author considers that there developed a Pacific-type (activetype) ancient continental margin bordering the Palaeo-Tethys ocean (or North Tethys ocean) in the south inLate Permian to Triassic times in the region of south-central Qinghai, northeastern Xizang (Tibet), western andsouthwestern Sichuan, and western Yunnan. Its characteristics basically represent the Indosinian tectonic evo-lution of this region.     

Detrital Zircon U‐Pb Ages and Geochemistry of the Silurian to Permian Sedimentary Rocks in Central Inner Mongolia,China: Implications for Closure of the Paleo‐Asian Ocean

The Solonker suture zone has long been considered to mark the location of the final disappearance of the PaleoAsian Ocean in the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB). However, the time of final suturing is still controversial with two main different proposals of late Permian to early Triassic, and late Devonian. This study reports integrated wholerock geochemistry and LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages of sedimentary rocks from the Silurian Xuniwusu Formation, the Devonian Xilingol Complex and the Permian Zhesi Formation in the Hegenshan-Xilinhot-Linxi area in central Inner Mongolia, China. The depositional environment, provenance and tectonic setting of the Silurian-Devonian and the Permian sediments are compared to constrain the tectonic evolution of the Solonker suture zone and its neighboring zones. The protoliths of the silty slates from the Xuniwusu Formation in the Baolidao zone belong to wacke and were derived from felsic igneous rocks with steady-state weathering, poor sorting and compositional immaturity. The protoliths of metasedimentary rocks from the Xilingol Complex were wackes and litharenites and were sourced from predominantly felsic igneous rocks with variable weathering conditions and moderate sorting. The Xuniwusu Formation and Xilingol Complex samples both have two groups of detrital zircon that peak at ca. 0.9–1.0 Ga and ca. 420–440 Ma, with maximum deposition ages of late Silurian and middle Devonian age, respectively. Considering the ca. 484–383 Ma volcanic arc in the Baolidao zone, the Xuxiniwu Formation represents an oceanic trench sediment and is covered by the sedimentary rocks in the Xilingol Complex that represents a continental slope sediment in front of the arc. The middle Permian Zhesi Formation metasandstones were derived from predominantly felsic igneous rocks and are texturally immature with very low degrees of rounding and sorting, indicating short transport and rapid burial. The Zhesi Formation in the Hegenshan zone has a main zircon age peak of 302 Ma and a subordinate peak of 423 Ma and was deposited in a back-arc basin with an early marine transgression during extension and a late marine regression during contraction. The formation also crops out locally in the Baolidao zone with a main zircon age peak of 467 Ma and a minor peak of 359 Ma, and suggests it formed as a marine transgression sedimentary sequence in a restricted extensional basin and followed by a marine regressive event. Two obvious zircon age peaks of 444 Ma and 280 Ma in the Solonker zone and 435 Ma and 274 Ma in Ondor Sum are retrieved from the Zhesi Formation. This suggests as a result of the gradual closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean a narrow ocean sedimentary environment with marine regressive sedimentary sequences occupied the Solonker and Ondor Sum zones during the middle Permian. A restricted ocean is suggested by the Permian strata in the Bainaimiao zone. Early Paleozoic subduction until ca. 381 Ma and renewed subduction during ca. 310–254 Ma accompanied by the opening and closure of a back-arc basin during ca. 298–269 Ma occurred in the northern accretionary zone. In contrast, the southern accretionary zone documented early Paleozoic subduction until ca. 400 Ma and a renewed subduction during ca. 298–246 Ma. The final closure of the Paleo-Asian ocean therefore lasted at least until the early Triassic and ended with the formation of the Solonker suture zone.     

RESPONSE OF TRIASSIC SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY OF LOWER YANGTZE TO THE COLLISION BETWEEN THE YANGTZE PLATE AND THE NORTH CHINA PLATE

The characteristics of the Triassic sequences developed in the Lower Yangtze area display some great changes in both environment and climate. The change of environment was a transition from marine to continent via alternating environments. The change of climate was a transition from tropic （torrid） to warm and wet climate via subtropic dry climate. The type variations of the sequences were from the marine sequences to the continental sequences, corresponding to the changes of environments and climates. Sequence 1 is a type II of sequence of mixed elastic and carbonate sediments; sequence 2 is a type I of sequence of carbonate platform; sequence 3 is a type I of sequence of carbonate tidal flat-salt lagoon, sequence 4 is a type iI of sequence of lacustrine within marine layers, and sequence 5 is a sequence of lacustrine-swamp. The development, distribution and preservation of those sequences reveal the tectonic controls and their changes in the background. The collision between the Yangtze plate and the North China plate was a great geological event in the geological history, but the timing of the collision is still disputed. However, the characteristics of Triassic sequence stratigraphy and sea level changes in the Lower Yangtze area responded to this collision. The collision started at the beginning of middle Triassic and the great regression in the Lower Yangtze area started 22Ma earlier than those in the world. The tectonic conditions occurred before and during the collision controlled the development of sequences and type changes.     

Early Triassic Volcanic Rocks in the Western Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone: Implications for the Opening of the Neo-Tethys Ocean

In this study, zircon U-Pb dating of volcanic rocks from the Zhongba ophiolite of the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone (YZSZ) in southern Xizang (Tibet) yielded an age of 247 ± 3 Ma. According to whole rock geochemical and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic data, the Early Triassic samples could be divided into two groups: Group 1 with P-MORB affinity, showing initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0.70253–0.70602, εNd(t) values of 4.2–5.3, (206Pb/204Pb)t ratios of 16.353–18.222, (207Pb/204Pb)t ratios of 15.454–15.564, and (208Pb/204Pb)t ratios of 35.665–38.136; Group 2 with OIB affinity, showing initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0.70249–0.70513, εNd(t) values of 4.4–4.9, (206Pb/204Pb)t ratios of 17.140–18.328, (207Pb/204Pb)t ratios of 15.491–15.575, and (208Pb/204Pb)t ratios of 36.051–38.247. Group 2 rocks formed by partial melting of the mantle source enriched by a former plume, and assimilated continental crustal material during melt ascension. The formation of Group 1 rocks corresponds to the mixing of OIB melts, with the same components as Group 2 and N-MORBs. The Zhongba Early Triassic rocks belong to the continental margin type ophiolite and formed in the continental–oceanic transition zone during the initial opening of the Neo-Tethys in southern Xizang (Tibet).     

First Research on Marine and Nonmarine Sedimentary Sequences and Micropaleontologic Significance across Permian／Triassic Boundary in Iran （Isfahan and Abadeh）

Abundant ichthyoid remains, conodonts and holothurians sclerites were recovered near the Permian/Triassic boundary from a section south of Isfahan. Recovered ichthyoid remains include shark micro teeth and scales. The ichthyolith material is similar to a Fasanian ichthyolith from the Zakazane area in the Slovak karst of the Western Carpathians, which represents a subspecies of Acodina triassia. Conodont species are mostly neogondolellids. This fauna indicates that the sedimentary environment was marine, while to the north of localities near Isfahan and Zagross, terrestrial deposition was dominant at that time. Aluminasilicate and kaolin are present in a continental unit in Dopolan refractory main (Shahid Nilchian mine) and a section south of Chahriseh Village, north of Isfahan. Pisolitie, ironstone facies and bauxite clay are common near the Permian/Triassic boundary in the Chahriseh region.     

Paleocene–early Eocene post-subduction magmatism in Sikhote-Alin(Far East Russia):New constraints for the tectonic history of the Izanagi-Pacific ridge and the East Asian continental margin

New isotopic,geochemical and geochronological data justify the widespread occurrence of middle Paleocene to early Eocene(60–53 Ma) post-subduction felsic magmatism across the entire Sikhote-Alin territory(southeastern Russia),conform with previous observations in Northeast China,the southern Korean Peninsula,and the Inner Zone of Japan.This igneous activity in East Asia coincided with the reactivation(after tectonic quiescence between ～93–60 Ma) of left-lateral strike-slip displacements along the Tan-Lu and Central Sikhote-Alin faults and with the post-60 Ma cessation of subduction/accretion recorded in the Shimanto belt of SW Japan.The SikhoteAlin post-subduction igneous A-type rocks present diverse mineralogical and geochemical features that suggest interactions of the subducting plate with anhydrous mantle upwelling through slab tears in the continental margin.The middle Paleocene–early Eocene magmatism is not related to subduction but is synchronous with strikeslip tectonics and the termination of accretionary prism development,suggesting a shift in tectonic regime from oceanic plate subduction at a convergent margin to parallel sliding and initiation of a transform continental margin.These new observations are inconsistent with the current tectonic model of 60–50 Ma Izanagi-Pacific ridge subduction beneath East Asian continental margin.     

Decoupled δ~(13)C_(carb) and δ~(13)C_(org) records at Triassic–Jurassic boundary interval in eastern Tethys:Environmental implications for spatially different global response

Although δ~(13)C data(either δ~(13)C_(carb) or δ~(13)C_(org)) of many Triassic–Jurassic(T-J) sections have been acquired,pairedδ~(13)C_(carb)and δ~(13)C_(org)from continuous T-J carbonate sections,especially in eastern Tethys,have been scarcely reported.This study presents paired and decoupled δ~(13)C_(carb)and δ~(13)C_(org)data from a continuous T-J carbonate section in Wadi Naqab.The T-J Wadi Naqab carbonate section,located in United Arab Emirates,Middle East,represents tropical and shallow marine sedimentation in eastern Tethys.At the T-J boundary interval,an initial carbon isotope excursion(CIE) is observed with different magnitude of isotope excursion and timing inδ~(13)C_(carb)and δ~(13)C_(org),while subsequently a positive CIE is only distinct in δ~(13)C_(carb).Based on petrological,carbon isotope,Rock-Eval and elemental analyses,the δ~(13)C_(carb)is thought to record marine inorganic carbon,and the δ~(13)C_(org) to record terrigenous organic carbon.Therefore,the paired δ~(13)C_(carb)and δ~(13)C_(org)herein potentially document simultaneous changes in T-J atmospheric and marine settings of eastern Tethys.Their decoupled behavior may likely be caused by different changes or evolution of carbon pool between marine and atmospheric settings.The initial CIE present in both δ~(13)C_(carb)and δ~(13)C_(org)may indicate influence of isotopically light carbon release related to CAMP activity in both atmospheric and marine settings.The following positive CIE only in δ~(13)C_(carb)suggests relatively steady carbon isotope composition in atmosphere,but enhanced burial of isotopically light carbon in marine settings.Furthermore,the T-J carbonates in the studied section were possibly deposited in normal and oxic shallow marine conditions.Global correlation based on the Wadi Naqab section and other T-J sections suggests spatially different T-J environmental parameters:in eastern Tethys and western Panthalassa,oxic condition,lacking organic-rich sediment,weaker ocean acidification and less influence of isotopically light carbon are more prevalent;in western Tethys and eastern Panthalassa,oxygen-depleted condition,black shales,stronger acidification and heavier influence of isotopically light carbon are more prevalent.These differences may be related to spatial distance from the CAMP or to different paleogeography.     

泰国北部Inthanon带外来硅质岩块的中、晚二叠世放射虫：对与古特提斯消减有关的混杂岩形成时代的约束

The Inthanon Zone of Northern Thailand, origi-nally proposed by Barr and Macdonald (1991), is characterized by the occurrence of Paleo-Tethyan pe-lagic sediments including Carboniferous–Permian seamount-type carbonate associated with oceanic ba-saltic rocks and Middle Devonian–Middle Triassic radiolarian chert (Ueno, 1999; Ueno and Hisada, 2001; Ueno and Charoentitirat, 2011). These pelagic rocks have been mainly studied from the viewpoint of bio-stratigraphy to clarify the duration of their deposition. These studies concluded the Paleo-Tethys to be a vast ocean basin once existed between the Indochina and Sibumasu continental blocks during Devo-nian–Triassic times.     

Geochemical characteristics of crude oils from Well Zheng-1 in the Junggar Basin, Xinjiang, China

Well Zheng-1 is located in the combined area of the central uplift and the north Tianshan piedmont depression in the Junggar Basin. Two oil-bearing beds are recognized at 4788–4797 m of the Lower Cretaceous Tugulu Formation (K1tg) and 4808.5–4812.5 m of the Lower Jurassic Sangonghe Formation (J1s). The geochemical characteristics of family composition, carbon isotopic composition, saturated hydrocarbons, sterane and terpane biomarkers and carotane of two crude oils are described in this paper. The results show that the geochemical characteristics of the two crude oils are basically similar to each other, indicating they were all derived mainly from the high mature, brine, algae-rich lake facies sediments. Oil-source correlation revealed that crude oils of the two beds were derived mainly from the source rocks of Permian and mixed by the oil derived from the source rocks of Jurassic and Triassic. This is consistent with the geological background with several sets of source rocks in the area studied.     

Comparing the Upper Triassic Deep-sea Flysch of theShannan Terrane with the Coeval Shallow Shelf Sediments ofthe Tethys Himalaya,Southern Tibet

The provenance and paleogeography of the Upper Triassic deep-sea flysch Langjiexue Group(LG) of the Shannan Terrane in the northeastern Himalaya orogen, south of Yarlung Zangbo, have been disputed in recent years since its affinity to the Tethys Himalaya was suspected during the early 2000 s. Based on the earlier discoveries of the Upper Permian–Triassic basalts and mafic dykes from the LG and of coeval detrital zircons from the Qulonggongba Formation(QF) in shallow shelf sediments of the Tethys Himalaya, the previous viewpoints on the basin and tectonics of the LG have been recently rejected. We compared the two units of the Upper Triassic, and our results reveal a number of differences,discrepancies, and inconsistencies in the debate, raising crucial questions on the postulation and provenance model of the remote Gondwanide Orogen for the LG. It is suggested that more observations and evidence are needed to further improve the paleogeographic understanding and relationship of the two units.     

Decoding Provenance and Tectonothermal Events by Detrital Zircon Fission‐Track and U‐Pb Double Dating: A Case of the Southern Ordos Basin

Multi-dating on the same detrital grains allows for determining multiple different geo-thermochronological ages simultaneously and thus could provide more details about regional tectonics. In this paper, we carried out detrital zircon fission-track and U-Pb double dating on the Permian-Middle Triassic sediments from the southern Ordos Basin to decipher the tectonic information archived in the sediments of intracratonic basins. The detrital zircon U-Pb ages and fission-track ages, together with lag time analyses, indicate that the Permian-Middle Triassic sediments in the southern Ordos Basin are characterized by multiple provenances. The crystalline basement of the North China Craton (NCC) and recycled materials from pre-Permian sediments that were ultimately sourced from the basement of the NCC are the primary provenance, while the Permian magmatites in the northern margin of NCC and Early Paleozoic crystalline rocks in Qinling Orogenic Collage act as minor provenance. In addition, the detrital zircon fission-track age peaks reveal four major tectonothermal events, including the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic post-depositional tectonothermal event and three other tectonothermal events associated with source terrains. The Late Triassic-Early Jurassic (225–179 Ma) tectonothermal event was closely related to the upwelling of deep material and energy beneath the southwestern Ordos Basin due to the coeval northward subduction of the Yangze Block and the following collision of the Yangze Block and the NCC. The Mid-Late Permian (275–263 Ma) tectonothermal event was associated with coeval denudation in the northern part of the NCC and North Qinling terrane, resulting from the subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean and Tethys Ocean toward the NCC. The Late Devonian-early Late Carboniferous (348±33 Ma) tectonothermal event corresponded the long-term denudation in the hinterland and periphery of the NCC because of the arc-continent collisions in the northern and southern margins of the NCC. The Late Neoproterozoic (813–565 Ma) tectonothermal event was associated with formation of the Great Unconformity within the NCC and may be causally related to the Rodinia supercontinent breakup driven by a large-scale mantle upwelling.     

Volcanism at the Permian-Triassic Boundary in South China and Its Effects on Mass Extinction

This paper discusses the clayrocks widespread at the Permian-Triassic boundary, which are mostly of volcanic origin. Volcanogenetic textures, structures and minerals such as high-temperature quartz are found in clayrocks at the Permian-Triassic boundary in many places. Thousands of microspherules have been collected from the Boundary clayrocks, many of which exhibit the typical features of the process from melting to cooling and solidification. indicating that they were formed by volcanic eruption or extraterrestrial impact. Volcanic effects on the Permian-Triassic mass extinction may be reflected in conodonts, algae and ammonoids. The Boundary clayrocks are found in many Permian-Triassic sections along the coast of Tethys. Their orighin remains to be studied.