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Identical carbon isotope trends of carbonate and organic carbon and their environmental significance from the Changhsingian (end-Permian), Meishan, South China

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Abstract

High resolution carbon isotope analyses of carbonate and organic carbon from Meishan, South China showed that the variation of δ13Ccarb is marked by three large positive excursions during the Changhsingian (end-Permian). Carbon isotope stratigraphy during this stage shows three cyclic intervals in δ13Ccarb, with two cycles corresponding to the lower (Paleofusulinid minima Zone) and one corresponding to the upper Changhsingian (P. sinensis Zone). The large positive δ13Ccarb excursions indicate episodes of enhanced burial of isotopically light organic carbon, presumably in response to deep-water anoxia episodically extending into shallow water with the rise of sea level. The organic carbon during the Changhsingian is distinguished into two groups, and the δ13Corg of each group parallels (separately) the more detailed profile of δ13Ccarb, strongly showing that the values of fractionation Δ13Ccab-org remain relatively constant, with only two intervals with anomaly. The enhanced fractionation Δ13Ccab-org with large negative δ13Corg excursions apparently indicates significant inputs from sulfide-oxidizing bacteria and green sulfur bacteria, notably at bed 24 just predating mass extinction. Our evidence appears to support that the extended euxinic water is possible for the main pulse of mass extinction at the end-Permian.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Environmental Biogeochemistry, School of Resources and Environmental Engeneering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230039, China

    Yucheng Li

  2. Wuxi Institute of Petroleum Geology, SINOPEC, Wuxi, 214151, China

    Wenhui Liu

  3. Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources Research, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Wanchun Wang & Jianjing Zheng

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  1. Yucheng Li
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  2. Wenhui Liu
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  4. Jianjing Zheng
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Correspondence to Yucheng Li.

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Li, Y., Liu, W., Wang, W. et al. Identical carbon isotope trends of carbonate and organic carbon and their environmental significance from the Changhsingian (end-Permian), Meishan, South China. Chin. J. Geochem. 30, 496–506 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-011-0534-2

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