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Evidence for a prolonged Permian–Triassic extinction interval from global marine mercury records

Author

Listed:
  • Jun Shen

    (China University of Geosciences
    Yale University)

  • Jiubin Chen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Tianjin University)

  • Thomas J. Algeo

    (China University of Geosciences
    China University of Geosciences
    University of Cincinnati)

  • Shengliu Yuan

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Qinglai Feng

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Jianxin Yu

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Lian Zhou

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Brennan O’Connell

    (Yale University)

  • Noah J. Planavsky

    (Yale University)

Abstract

The latest Permian mass extinction, the most devastating biocrisis of the Phanerozoic, has been widely attributed to eruptions of the Siberian Traps Large Igneous Province, although evidence of a direct link has been scant to date. Here, we measure mercury (Hg), assumed to reflect shifts in volcanic activity, across the Permian-Triassic boundary in ten marine sections across the Northern Hemisphere. Hg concentration peaks close to the Permian-Triassic boundary suggest coupling of biotic extinction and increased volcanic activity. Additionally, Hg isotopic data for a subset of these sections provide evidence for largely atmospheric rather than terrestrial Hg sources, further linking Hg enrichment to increased volcanic activity. Hg peaks in shallow-water sections were nearly synchronous with the end-Permian extinction horizon, while those in deep-water sections occurred tens of thousands of years before the main extinction, possibly supporting a globally diachronous biotic turnover and protracted mass extinction event.

Suggested Citation

  • Jun Shen & Jiubin Chen & Thomas J. Algeo & Shengliu Yuan & Qinglai Feng & Jianxin Yu & Lian Zhou & Brennan O’Connell & Noah J. Planavsky, 2019. "Evidence for a prolonged Permian–Triassic extinction interval from global marine mercury records," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-09620-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09620-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Jun Shen & Runsheng Yin & Thomas J. Algeo & Henrik H. Svensen & Shane D. Schoepfer, 2022. "Mercury evidence for combustion of organic-rich sediments during the end-Triassic crisis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Jun Shen & Jiubin Chen & Jianxin Yu & Thomas J. Algeo & Roger M. H. Smith & Jennifer Botha & Tracy D. Frank & Christopher R. Fielding & Peter D. Ward & Tamsin A. Mather, 2023. "Mercury evidence from southern Pangea terrestrial sections for end-Permian global volcanic effects," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.

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