A correlation between the Large Igneous Provinces and mass extinctions: constraint on the end-Guadalupian mass extinction and the Emeishan LIP in South China, eastern Tethys

ABSTRACT

Well-documented outcrops around the Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP) in South China, eastern Tethys, encompassing the end-Guadalupian mass extinction have been investigated. Correlatable sections recording the event exhibit very similar lithological characters, positive-then-negative C isotope excursions and massive biotic demise. Detailed analyses of the fossil record and carbon isotopic variations were carried out on the Guadalupian–Wuchiapingian Boundary sections over the inner, middle, outer zones of the ELIP and its margin. Due to a pronounced decrease in marine habitat area and the environmental and ecological change over this part of the Tethys, the biota crisis records show the loss of numerous tropical invertebrate taxa, and exhibit fewer genera and smaller testing sizes and low productivity. The biota crisis was a sustainable and gradual reduction in diversity over the Capitanian. The associated carbon isotopic data reveal unusually high δ¹³C(carb) values before the late Capitanian, representing higher primary productivity (or buried rate) and more ¹³C-enriched CO₂ released by hydrothermal carbonate breakdown from the upper crust into the sediments at that time. Subsequently, an accelerated negative excursion across the boundary and the gradual excursion with low carbon isotope amplitude favours an increased influx of light ¹²C sourced by the volcanism around the eastern Tethys. The very similar time–space relation between the biota crisis and the Emeishan volcanism confirms that volcanic eruptions may have triggered the biota crisis event in South China. Intensive volcanism could result in detrimental environmental and ecological stresses, habitat loss, organic material splitting, or the emission of light carbon and thermal fluid (or aerosol), implying that the losses of the shallow-marine invertebrates either occurred geologically instantaneously or in a series of closely spaced crises coinciding with the initial phase of ELIP formation. These findings in South China may reveal the causal relation between mass extinctions and LIPs in a global context.

KEYWORDS:

• end-Guadalupian biota crisis
• Emeishan Large Igneous Province
• palaeontological records
• carbon isotope excursions
• eastern Tethys
• South China

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Acknowledgements

Dr Xu Jinyong of Chengdu University of Technology helped in measuring carbon isotope ratios of marine carbonates. Senior Engineer Peiquan Kang of Chengdu University of Technology helped us in sampling collection in the field and the identification of fusulinacean foraminifers. Dr Benjamin T. checked in detail the English language. The authors greatly appreciated all those mentioned above.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 40739903].