Carbon isotopic change at the base of the upper permian zechstein sequence

Abstract

AbstractFluctuation of the carbon isotope composition of marine carbonates has recently been developed as a powerful tool for the identification of ocean‐wide anoxic conditions and changes in the world budget of carbon and oxygen. A change in δ13 from the normal marine values (0 to + 2%) to values highly enriched in 13C (+3·5 to 4·5%) is recorded at the base of the Zechstein sequence both in central Germany and northeastern England. The change occurred over a relatively short period of time indicating a rapid and pronounced change in the organic carbon/carbonate budget. Evidence from other Permian basins show similar highly enriched δ13C values. This change may correspond to that in carbon balance distinguished by the Garrels and Perry (1975) model and based on the change in sulphur isotopic composition during the Permian.