Multiple S-isotopic evidence for episodic shoaling of anoxic water during Late Permian mass extinction

Yanan Shen (), James Farquhar, Hua Zhang, Andrew Masterson, Tonggang Zhang and Boswell A. Wing
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Yanan Shen: CAS Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China
James Farquhar: University of Maryland
Hua Zhang: LPS, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Andrew Masterson: University of Maryland
Tonggang Zhang: CAS Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China
Boswell A. Wing: McGill University

Nature Communications, 2011, vol. 2, issue 1, 1-5

Abstract: Abstract Global fossil data show that profound biodiversity loss preceded the final catastrophe that killed nearly 90% marine species on a global scale at the end of the Permian. Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain this extinction and yet still remain greatly debated. Here, we report analyses of all four sulphur isotopes (32S, 33S, 34S and 36S) for pyrites in sedimentary rocks from the Meishan section in South China. We observe a sulphur isotope signal (negative δ34S with negative Δ33S) that may have resulted from limitation of sulphate supply, which may be linked to a near shutdown of bioturbation during shoaling of anoxic water. These results indicate that episodic shoaling of anoxic water may have contributed to the profound biodiversity crisis before the final catastrophe. Our data suggest a prolonged deterioration of oceanic environments during the Late Permian mass extinction.

Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1217

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