Progressive environmental deterioration in northwestern Pangea leading to the latest Permian extinction

Bond, David P. G.; Beauchamp, Benoit; Blomeier, Dierk; Galloway, Jennifer M.; Grasby, Stephen E.; Piepjohn, Karsten; Reinhardt, Lutz; Talavera, Cristina; Wignall, Paul

Abstract

Stratigraphic records from northwestern Pangea provide unique insight into global processes that occurred during the Latest Permian Extinction (LPE). We examined a detailed geochemical record of the Festningen Section, Spitsbergen. A stepwise extinction is noted: 1) loss of carbonate shelly macrofauna, 2) loss of siliceous sponges in conjunction with an abrupt change in ichnofabrics as well as dramatic change in the terrestrial environment, and 3) final loss of all trace fossils. We interpret loss of carbonate producers as related to shoaling of the lysocline in relationship to building atmospheric CO2 in higher latitudes. The loss of siliceous sponges is coincident the global LPE event and is related to onset of high loading rates of toxic metals (Hg, As, Co) that we suggest are derived from Siberian Trap eruptions. The final extinction stage is coincident with redox sensitive trace metal and other proxy data which suggest onset of anoxia, after the other extinction events. These results show a remarkable record of progressive environmental deterioration in NW Pangea during the extinction crises.

Citation

Bond, D. P. G., Beauchamp, B., Blomeier, D., Galloway, J. M., Grasby, S. E., Piepjohn, K., …Wignall, P. (2015). Progressive environmental deterioration in northwestern Pangea leading to the latest Permian extinction. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 127(9-10), 1331-1347. https://doi.org/10.1130/b31197.1

• Acceptance Date: Feb 24, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Apr 14, 2015
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Deposit Date: May 13, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: May 13, 2015
• Journal: Geological Society of America bulletin
• Print ISSN: 0016-7606
• Electronic ISSN: 1943-2674
• Publisher: Geological Society of America
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 127
• Issue: 9-10
• Pages: 1331-1347
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1130/b31197.1
• Keywords: Permian extinction, Northwestern Pangea
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/373697
• Publisher URL: http://gsabulletin.gsapubs.org/content/early/2015/04/14/B31197.1
• Additional Information: Authors' accepted manuscript of article published in: Geological Society of America bulletin, 2014, v.127, no.9-10 at http://gsabulletin.gsapubs.org/content/early/2015/04/14/B31197.1