The contribution of the Emeishan large igneous province to the strontium isotope evolution of the Capitanian seawater

ABSTRACT

The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr minimum of the Capitanian seawater is one of the most significant features in the Phanerozoic seawater ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr history. In order to assess possible contribution of the Emeishan large igneous provinces (LIPs) to strontium isotope evolution of the Capitanian seawater, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios were measured from the Capitanian limestones which are locally interlayered with the Emeishan basalts. The limestones underlying the Emeishan basalts have high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7070–0.7074). However, extremely low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7068–0.7070) were identified in the late Capitanian Jinogondolella prexuanhanensis–J. xuanhanensis zones, which correspond to the eruption time of the Emeishan LIP. The temporal coincidence of these two phenomena supports the idea of a potential linkage between Capitanian ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr minimum and eruption of this igneous province. The strong submarine hydrothermal activity and erosion of the Emeishan LIP could have released large amounts of non-radiogenic Sr to the oceans and play an important role in strontium isotope evolution of the seawater.