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GSA Connects 2021 in Portland, Oregon

Paper No. 104-3
Presentation Time: 2:10 PM

THE ROLE OF DECCAN VOLCANISM ON FAUNAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES ACROSS THE CRETACEOUS-PALEOGENE (K-PG) BOUNDARY: EXAMPLES FROM NEO-TETHYS, TURKEY


KARABEYOGLU, Uygar1, ADATTE, Thierry1, LORENZO, Valentin1, SPANGENBERG, Jorge2, OZKAN-ALTINER, Sevinc3 and ALTINER, Demir3, (1)Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne, Géopolis, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland, (2)Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland, (3)Department of Geological Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, 06800, Turkey

Long-lasting multi-disciplinary efforts deliver a correlation between continental flood basalt volcanism and major environmental catastrophes linked with four out of five largest Phanerozoic mass extinctions. Among them the end-Cretaceous mass extinction rests on a unique standing by having coincidence between the Chicxulub impact and the Deccan volcanism. The role of the Deccan volcanism is crucial in order to decipher the interplay between volcanism and the environmental stress. Here were show this interaction by performing high-resolution biostratigraphy, quantitative analysis on species level, coupled with geochemical measurements on two complete section in Mudurnu-Göynük and Haymana basins, Central, Anatolia, Turkey.

Detailed quantitative study on planktonic foraminifera of the Haymana Basin reveals that planktonic foraminiferal community in the latest Maastrichtian is dominated by ecological generalists with small, simple morphologies. Quantitative analysis also shows a systematic reduction in the species richness.

The K/Pg boundary in all sections is characterized by 2-3 mm thick reddish oxidized layer corresponding sudden annihilation of large, ornamented ecological specialists. The boundary also corresponds to enrichment in some critical elements, such as Ir, Te, Hg, Ba, Ni, Cr, Co. Importantly among them, measurements on Maastrichtian and Danian samples show a significant correlation between Hg and Te (R2=0.77). Right after the boundary, there is an acme of Thoracosphaera, and a surge of Guembelitria cretacea indicating ecosystem collapse for post-K/Pg environment. The same levels correspond to sudden enrichment in fecal pellets.

Overall, our multiproxy approach including quantitative biostratigraphy and geochemical analyses highlights the influence of the Deccan volcanism by releasing high amounts of atmospheric CO2 and SO2, leading to the climatic changes and associated biotic stress predisposing faunas to eventual extinction at the K/Pg boundary.

Recorded Presentation

Session No. 104

T81. Impacts of Volcanism on Global Climate and Oceans—Drivers of Mass Extinctions through the Phanerozoic II
Monday, 11 October 2021: 1:30 PM-5:30 PM
Portland Ballroom 255 (Hybrid Room) (Oregon Convention Center)
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 53, No. 6
doi: 10.1130/abs/2021AM-367554
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