The Late Devonian Frasnian-Famennian (F-F) mass extinction has been long-time debated by non-volcanic causes, extra-terrestrial impacts, and large igneous province (LIP) eruptions. To better understand the ultimate cause of the F-F mass extinction, here we investigate the chemostratigraphy of mercury (Hg) and total organic carbon (TOC) on two marine F-F strata in the Dushan area, South China. In both sections, high Hg and Hg/TOC anomalies were observed near the F-F boundary. These anomalies are in line with those recently observed in Morocco, Germany, Poland, and north Russia, suggesting a global Hg flux. The Late Devonian LIP eruptions, which are believed to have emitted massive amounts of Hg, could be responsible for the global Hg and Hg/TOC anomalies around the F-F boundary. The observed Hg and Hg/TOC anomalies coincide with the extinction of Frasnian fauna in the Dushan area, implying a causal link between the Viluy, Kola, and Pripyat-Dnieper-Donets LIP eruptions and the F-F mass extinction.
Publication name |
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE Volume9 Article Number691827 DOI10.3389/feart.2021.691827 PublishedJUL 6 2021 |
Author(s) |
Zhang, Jiawei; Deng, Changzhou; Liu, Weipeng; Tang, Zuoqi; Wang, Yue; Ye, Taiping; Liang, Weian; Liu, Lingyun |
Corresponding author(s) |
Zhang, Jiawei jiaweizhang@live.cn -Guizhou Univ, Coll Resources & Environm Engn, Guiyang, Peoples R China -Guizhou Geol Survey, Bur Geol & Mineral Explorat & Dev Guizhou Prov, Guiyang, Peoples R China Deng, Changzhou dengchangzhou@mail.gyig.ac.cn -Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Geochem, State Key Lab Ore Deposit Geochem, Guiyang, Peoples R China | View here for the details
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