Timing and magnitude of tetrapod extinctions across the Permo-Triassic boundary

A review of the tetrapod (amphibian and amniote) record across the Permo-Triassic boundary (PTB) indicates a global evolutionary turnover of tetrapods close to the PTB. There is also a within-Guadalupian tetrapod extinction here called the dinocephalian extinction event, probably of global extent. The dinocephalian extinction event is a late Wordian or early Capitanian extinction based on biostratigraphic data and magnetostratigraphy (the extinction precedes the Illawara reversal), so it is not synchronous with the end-Guadalupian marine extinction. The Russian PTB section documents two tetrapod extinction events, one just before the dinocephalian extinction event and the other at the base of the Lystrosaurus assemblage. However, generic diversity across the latter extinction remains essentially the same despite a total evolutionary turnover of tetrapod genera. The Chinese and South African sections document the stratigraphic overlap of Dicynodon and Lystrosaurus. In the Karoo basin, the lowest occurrence of Lystrosaurus is in a stratigraphic interval of reversed magnetic polarity, which indicates it predates the marine-defined PTB, so, as previously suggested by some workers, the lowest occurrence of Lystrosaurus cannot be used to identify the PTB in nonmarine strata. Correlation of the marine PTB section at Meishan, southern China, to the Karoo basin based primarily on magnetostratigraphy indicates that the main marine extinction preceded the PTB tetrapod extinction event. The ecological severity of the PTB tetrapod extinction event has generally been overstated, and the major change in tetrapod assemblages that took place across the PTB was the prolonged and complex “replacement” of therapsids by archosaurs that began before the end of the Permian and was not complete until well into the Triassic. The tetrapod extinctions are not synchronous with the major marine extinctions at the end of the Guadalupian and just before the end of the Permian, so the idea of catastrophic causes of synchronous PTB extinctions on land and sea should be reconsidered.     

Timing and magnitude of tetrapod extinctions across the Permo-Triassic boundary

A review of the tetrapod (amphibian and amniote) record across the Permo-Triassic boundary (PTB) indicates a global evolutionary turnover of tetrapods close to the PTB. There is also a within-Guadalupian tetrapod extinction here called the dinocephalian extinction event, probably of global extent. The dinocephalian extinction event is a late Wordian or early Capitanian extinction based on biostratigraphic data and magnetostratigraphy (the extinction precedes the Illawara reversal), so it is not synchronous with the end-Guadalupian marine extinction. The Russian PTB section documents two tetrapod extinction events, one just before the dinocephalian extinction event and the other at the base of the Lystrosaurus assemblage. However, generic diversity across the latter extinction remains essentially the same despite a total evolutionary turnover of tetrapod genera. The Chinese and South African sections document the stratigraphic overlap of Dicynodon and Lystrosaurus. In the Karoo basin, the lowest occurrence of Lystrosaurus is in a stratigraphic interval of reversed magnetic polarity, which indicates it predates the marine-defined PTB, so, as previously suggested by some workers, the lowest occurrence of Lystrosaurus cannot be used to identify the PTB in nonmarine strata. Correlation of the marine PTB section at Meishan, southern China, to the Karoo basin based primarily on magnetostratigraphy indicates that the main marine extinction preceded the PTB tetrapod extinction event. The ecological severity of the PTB tetrapod extinction event has generally been overstated, and the major change in tetrapod assemblages that took place across the PTB was the prolonged and complex “replacement” of therapsids by archosaurs that began before the end of the Permian and was not complete until well into the Triassic. The tetrapod extinctions are not synchronous with the major marine extinctions at the end of the Guadalupian and just before the end of the Permian, so the idea of catastrophic causes of synchronous PTB extinctions on land and sea should be reconsidered.     

重庆中梁山地区二叠、三叠系界线附近生物更替的研究

<正> 二叠、三叠系界线附近海生无脊椎动物发生了明显的更替。许多古生代繁盛一时的类群在界线上消失,其中包括三叶虫、四射珊瑚、横板珊瑚、等。腕足动物长身贝目和戟贝目的大部分分子也于界线附近绝灭,只残存一些个体较小、壳质较薄的分子延续于三叠系的最底部。造成这些生物类群绝灭的原因目前认识很不一致。最近,国际地质科学工作者提出了“新灾变论”假说,并且利用这一理论来解释白垩纪末恐龙绝灭的原因,但是,在研究了重庆中梁山地区一些门类的生物组合后,得出的结论是这一更     

Organic fraction of the total carbon burial flux deduced from carbon isotopes across the Permo-Triassic boundary at Meishan,Zhejiang Province,China

By combining the carbon cycle model with the records of carbonate and organic (kerogen) carbon isotope, this paper presents the calculation of the fraction of organic carbon burial (f _org) of beds 23–40 at the global boundary stratotype section and point (GSSP) of the Permian-Triassic boundary at Meishan, Zhejiang Province. The resulting calculation produces two episodes of f _org maxima observed to occur at beds 23–24 and 27–29, which respectively corresponds to the two episodic anoxic events indicated by the flourish of green sulfur bacteria. Two episodic f _org minima occurred at beds 25–26 and 32–34, generally coincident with the flourish of cyanobacteria (bed 26 and upper part of beds 29 to 34) as shown by the high value of 2-melthyhopnoanes. It appears that the f _org is related to the redox conditions, with greater f _org values observed under the reductive condition. The relationship between f _org and the total organic carbon (TOC) content was complex. The f _org value was low at some beds with a high TOC content (such as bed 26), while high observed at some beds with a low TOC content (e.g. bed 27). This association infers the important contribution of primary productivity to the TOC content. The original organic burial could be thus calculated through the configuration of the function of the primary productivity and f _org, which can be used to correct the residual TOC measured today. This investigation indicates that compiling the organic-inorganic carbon isotopes with the carbon cycle model favors to understand the fraction of organic carbon burial, providing information for the reconstruction of the coupling among biota, environments and organic burial. Journal of China University of Geosciences, 2007, 32(6): 767–773 [译自: 地球科学—中国地质大学学报]     

Palaeo-yardangs: wind-scoured desert landforms at the Permo-Triassic unconformity

In Canyonlands National Park, south-east Utah, at least 29 partly exhumed, aligned sandstone ridges trending generally N20°W occur at the upper unconformable surface of the Lower Permian (Leonardian) White Rim Sandstone. The ridges are at least 1·5 km long, 250 m wide and have up to 14 m of vertical relief (mean of 9 m). A thin lag of coarse sandstone that contains wind-ripple laminae and granule ripples directly overlies the ridges. Angular blocks of sandstone within the lag and sand-filled fissures immediately below the lag, within the ridges, attest to early cementation of the ridge-forming material. SE-dipping aeolian cross-strata within the White Rim Sandstone and within the lag closely parallel the ridge trend. The ridges are interpreted as wind-sculpted desert landforms (yardangs) that developed on the lithified upper surface of the White Rim Sandstone during an extended period of hyperaridity towards the end of the Permian.     

Organic carbon content and carbon isotope variations across the Permo-Triassic boundary in the Gartnerkofel-1 borehole,Carnic Alps,Austria

The Gartnerkofel borehole is one of the most thoroughly studied and described Permo-Triassic sections in the world. Detailed bulk organic carbon isotope studies show a negative base shift from ? 24‰ to ? 28‰ in the Latest Permian which latter value persists into the Earliest Triassic after which it decreases slightly to ? 26‰. Two strongly negative peaks of > ? 38‰ in the Latest Permian and a lesser peak of ? 31‰ in the Early Triassic are too negative to be due to a greater proportion of more negative organic matter and must be due to very negative methane effects. The overall change to more negative values across the Bulla/Tesero boundary fits the relative rise in sea level for this transition based on the facies changes. A positive shift in organic carbon isotope values at the Late Permian Event Horizon may be due to an increase in land-derived organic detritus at this level—a feature shown by all Tethyan Permo-Triassic boundary sections though these other sections do not have the same values. Carbonate carbon isotope trends are similar in all sections dropping by 2–3 units across the Permo-Triassic boundary. Gartnerkofel carbonate oxygen values are surprisingly, considering the ubiquitous dolomitization, compatible with values elsewhere and indicate reasonable tropical temperatures of 60 °C in the Latest Permian sabkhas to 20–40 °C in the overlying marine transition beds. Increased land-derived input at the Late Permian Event Horizon may be due to offshore transport by tsunamis whose deposits have been recognized in India at this level.     

Genetic evolution of Permo-Triassic volcaniclastic sequences at Uspallata, Mendoza Precordillera, Argentina

Permo-Triassic volcanic rocks of the Choiyoi Group crop out at Quebrada de Santa Elena and del Telégrafo, Mendoza Precordillera, Argentina. In this area, six volcanic events were generated through three volcanic stages that include collapse of voluminous Plinian columns associated to caldera pressurization and depressurization, emplacement of sub-volcanic bodies and dikes connected to depressurization of the magmatic chamber and establishment of resurgent domes and lava associated to caldera collapse events.

Petrologic and geochemical data indicate increasing acidification toward younger events varying from dacitic to rhyodacitic and rhyolitic rocks. The lithofacial organization allows correlating with the Lower to Upper Permian Horcajo Formation described in the Valle del Río de los Patos, San Juan province. Geochemical data suggests subduction-related arc magmatism in an extensional condition during Lower to Upper Permian.     

Evidence for oceanic subduction at the NE Gondwana margin during Permo-Triassic times

Blueschist was recently recognized within the Lhasa terrane, which is one of the NE Gondwana blocks. In this rock, the Mn and Mg contents of garnet enclosing aegirine-rich clinopyroxene, rutile and quartz decrease and increase, respectively, from core to rim. Amphibole changes from glaucophane through Na–Ca amphibole to Ca amphibole. The Si contents of phengite are high in the centre but low along the rim. The P – T path, starting above 2.5 GPa–450 °C and showing subsequently first a temperature increase to 500 °C and then a pressure release via blueschist conditions to 0.6 GPa, was reconstructed using a P – T pseudosection calculated for the P – T range 0.4–2.8 GPa and 250–650 °C. This path points to deep subduction of a cold oceanic crust probably beneath the NE Gondwana margin during Permo-Triassic times. This finding contributes to a better understanding of the pre-Cenozoic history of major terranes of NE Gondwana.     

The first finding of reliable Jurassic radiolarians in the Crimea

Radiolarians of Leugeonidae Yang et Wang, 1990, which represent a morphologically distinctive group of spherical radiolarians of the Spumellaria order, were found for the first time in Crimea and reliably confirm the Jurassic age of the finding. The nodules, which host the Jurassic radiolarians, were collected by A.S. Alekseev in 1983 in the terrigenous sequence of the Lozovskaya tectonic zone. The radiolarian assemblage in the nodules includes Levileugeo ordinarius Yang et Wang, Triactoma jonesi Pessagno, Pseudocrucella aff. prava Blome, Paronella kotura Baumgartner, P. ex gr. mulleri Pessagno, and Praeconocaryomma sp. The Levileugeo genus is easily identified due to its unique hexagonal element, which is typical only of the Jurassic, in particular, Upper Bajocian–Lower Tithonian radiolarians.     

浙江煤山P/T之交碳同位素对有机碳埋藏的指示意义

根据碳酸盐碳同位素和有机(干酪根) 碳同位素记录, 结合碳循环模式, 计算得到了浙江煤山全球二叠系-三叠系界线层型剖面第23-40层的有机碳埋藏分数f_org.在第23-24层和第27-29层下部出现f_org的两个高峰值, 与绿硫细菌反映的两个缺氧环境条件相对应.在第25-26层和第32-34层出现两个f_org低谷值, 与2-甲基藿烷指示的两次蓝细菌繁盛(第26层和第29层上部到第34层) 基本吻合.这些结果反映了f_org与埋藏时的氧化还原条件密切相关.f_org与总有机碳含量TOC的关系比较复杂, 一些TOC较高的层位(如第26层) f_org却较低, 而一些TOC较低的层位(如第27层) f_org却较高, 反映了原始生产力对TOC的重要贡献.根据原始生产力和f_org得到的原始有机埋藏量, 可以校正现今测得的残余TOC.本次研究结果说明, 同步有机-无机碳同位素分析, 在建立一定碳循环模型的基础上, 计算有机碳埋藏分数, 可有效指示有机质埋藏状态, 进而为建立生物-环境-有机碳埋藏的耦合关系模型提供基础.      

Palaeoenvironmental turnover across the Palaeocene/Eocene boundary at the Stratotype section in Dababiya (Egypt) based on benthic foraminifera

The Global Stratotype Section and Point for the Palaeocene/Eocene (P/E) boundary was defined at Dababiya Quarry (Egypt) at the base of the carbon isotope excursion (CIE). We present the first detailed analysis of Palaeocene–Eocene benthic foraminifera from Dababiya, in order to infer the palaeoenvironmental turnover across the P/E boundary. At Dababiya, the CIE coincides with a major turnover in foraminiferal assemblages; the last occurrence of Angulogavelinella avnimelechi, at the base of the CIE, may be correlated to the main phase of extinction of deep-sea benthic foraminifera. Benthic foraminifera indicate that stressful conditions such as oxygen deficiency, carbonate dissolution, and changes in food supply, persisted at the sea floor over most of the CIE interval. The main phase of recovery of benthic foraminifera is recorded c. 250 cm above the P/E boundary, and it may be linked to increased productivity and oxygenation at the sea floor.     

Planktonic foraminiferal turnover across the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in the Vajont valley (Southern Alps, northern Italy)

Planktonic foraminiferal analysis of the Erto section in the Vajont valley (Southern Alps, northern Italy) reveals a relatively complete succession across the Cretaceous–Tertiary (K–T) boundary. The turnover of planktonic foraminiferal fauna was studied for a stratigraphic interval spanning theAbathomphalus mayaroensisZonep.p., Pseudotextularia deformisZone,Guembelitria cretaceaZone,Parvularugoglobigerina eugubinaZone,Eglobigerina eobullioidesSubzone, andParasubbotina pseudobulloidesZonep. p.The extinction of most large, ornate, late Maastrichtian species occurs below a black ‘boundary clay’ (2–4 cm thick); however, part of the Late Cretaceous species, mainly heterohelicidids and hedbergellids, were found over an interval of more than 100 cm above the boundary. Although a relatively high number of species occur for the last time in the main extinction phase, the abundance of these outgoing species is less than 20% of the total population; unkeeled or weakly keeled, simple-shaped forms (heterohelicids, globotruncanellids, hedbergellids) constitute the bulk of the planktonic foraminiferal population both in uppermost Maastrichtian and lowermost Danian beds. The first Tertiary species (‘Globigerina’minutulaand ‘Globigerina’fringa) appear just above the ‘boundary clay’;Parvularuglobigerina eugubinaoccurs a few centimeters above. A marked increase in abundance and diversity in the Tertiary planktonic foraminiferal population occurs at the base of theEoglobigerina eobulloidesSubzone.     

论吉林浑江大阳岔寒武、奥陶系的分界

<正> 我国寒武-奥陶系界线的研究在20年代就已涉及(孙云铸,1923),周志毅、张进林(1978)认为我国北方寒武-奥陶系的界线应该划在上寒武统的Mictosaukia orientalis组合与下奥陶统的Onychopyge-Leiostegium组合之间;并且认为这条界线大致可与澳大利亚昆士兰上寒武统Payntonian顶部的Mictosaukia perplexa带与下奥陶统Datsonian底部Cordylodus proavus带之间的界线进行对比。周志毅、王志浩等(1984)根据三叶虫、     

南京汤山寒武系-奥陶系界线地层地球化学特征

研究了南京汤山观音台组顶部、仑山组和红花园组底部的微量元素、稀土元素和碳、氧同位素,基于观音台组顶部白云岩中白云石和方解石δ~(18)O 值的相似性,认为它是在成岩作用初期由交代作用形成的准同生白云岩。依据同位素分析,所研究层段的碳酸盐岩主要形成于埋藏成岩环境,未经历大气淡化成岩阶段。依据地层多重划分概念修订了观音台组和仑山组的界线。依据碳同位素与有关地区对比探讨了寒武系与奥陶系界线,界线附近δ~(13)C 值仅见小的负偏移,反映这一时期海平面的升降幅度较小。     

The Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary at Gorgonilla Island,Colombia, South America

The discovery of a new Cretaceous/Palaeogene (K/Pg) bathyal marine sequence on Gorgonilla Island, SW Colombia, extends the presence of Chicxulub impact spherule deposits to the Pacific region of northern South America and to the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The Gorgonilla spherule layer is approximately 20 mm thick and consists of extraordinarily well‐preserved glass spherules up to 1.1 mm in diameter. About 70–90% of the spherules are vitrified, and their chemical composition is consistent with Haiti (Beloc) impact glass spherules. Normal size‐grading, delicate spherule textures, welded melt components and an absence of bioturbation or traction transport suggest that the Gorgonilla spherule layer represents an almost undisturbed settling deposit.     

会泽地区飞仙关组地层沉积相及地质演化浅析

通过在会泽县地区开展的区矿调工作,发现该地区的飞仙关组地层中植物化石丰富,赋存多金属矿产。通过实测剖面观察,四条飞仙关组剖面的岩性总体上变化不大,横向上从西到东,岩石粒度变小,成熟度增高,并出现海相沉积。通过对资料分析、地层对比、实地观察,结合构造特征,初步认为会泽地区在早三叠时期为一相对稳定的陆棚环境,地台有一定的下降,沉积环境从陆相渐变为海相。     

The Cherty Rock,Elgin: A petrographic and isotopic study of a Permo-Triassic calcrete

The Cherty Rock is a laterally persistent horizon that extends across the Inner Moray Firth Basin, northeastern Scotland. The southern exposures of the Cherty Rock near Elgin reveal an indurated carbonate and silica-rich horizon (0·75-10m thick) developed in the uppermost part of the largely aeolian Lossiemouth Sandstone Formation. Laminated, pisolitic, and brecciated textures within the Cherty Rock confirm that the horizon represents an analogue to Recent calcretes of semiarid areas. Textures characteristic of silcretes are widespread in the Cherty Rock but these originate from silica replacement of calcite. The carbon and oxygen stable isotopic composition of micrite in the Cherty Rock (mean σ ¹³C = -6·9%°, mean σ ¹⁸O = -5·7%°, both relative to PDB) is comparable to that of other Permo-Triassic calcretes and modern soil carbonate, suggesting that similar processes were responsible for their formation. The σ ¹³C and σ ¹⁸O values for calcite in the Cherty Rock may indicate that evaporative processes contributed to its development. σ ¹⁸O data from spar (mean σ ¹⁸O = -9·8%° PDB) and macroquartz (mean σ ¹⁸O = 19·7% SMOW) indicate that these are later (burial) cements. The Cherty Rock is a useful stratigraphical and palaeoclimatic indicator, and its presence in the Inner Moray Firth basin suggests a period of tectonic stability in the basin during late Triassic times.