The Guadalupian–Lopingian boundary mudstones at Chaotian (SW China) are clastic rocks rather than acidic tuffs: Implication for a temporal coincidence between the end-Guadalupian mass extinction and the Emeishan volcanism

Abstract

Previous studies on the temporal link between the end-Guadalupian mass extinction event and Emeishan flood volcanism were mainly based on geochronological and bio- and chemostratigraphic correlation techniques (Wignall et al., 2009). The absence of material-based hard evidence that directly links the extinction with the Emeishan volcanism remains a major obstacle regardless of the indication of coincidence in timing (Isozaki et al., 2007). The Emeishan basalts overlie Permian platform carbonates that may contain a record of the end-Guadalupian mass extinction and erosional product of this province. This paper presents mineralogy and geochemistry of mudstones from the Guadalupian–Lopingian Boundary (G–LB) at Chaotian, SW China. Results indicate that these G–LB mudstones are not air-fall acidic tuff as previously thought, but likely represent clastic rocks derived from erosional deposits of the Emeishan large igneous province (ELIP). Mudstones of the lower part (Group 1) have a geochemical affinity to the Emeishan felsic volcanic rocks, whereas mudstones of the upper part (Group 2) are compositionally akin to mafic components of the Emeishan traps. This chemostratigraphic sequence resembles the Xuanwei Formation which sits on the Emeishan basalts (He et al., 2007). These data therefore indicate that the lower part of the mudstones at the Chaotian G–LB section, the lowermost part of Xuanwei and Longtan Formations and the Emeishan felsic extrusives broadly constitute an isochron horizon throughout the ELIP and adjacent region, suggesting a short duration for the Emeishan volcanism. A temporal coincidence between Emeishan volcanism and the end-Guadalupian mass extinction are therefore inferred thus providing support for a cause-and-effect relationship.