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Mercury Evidence of Intense Volcanism Preceded Oceanic Anoxic Event 1d
Author(s) -
Yao Hanwei,
Chen Xi,
Yin Runsheng,
Grasby Stephen E.,
Weissert Helmut,
Gu Xue,
Wang Chengshan
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2020gl091508
Subject(s) - volcanism , geology , anoxic waters , volcano , mercury (programming language) , large igneous province , igneous rock , geochemistry , earth science , paleontology , oceanography , tectonics , magmatism , computer science , programming language
Geochemical studies of marine sediments indicate that most Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAEs) appear coincident with Large Igneous Province (LIP) volcanism. OAE 1d records peculiar paleoceanographic changes and global carbon cycle perturbations, however, its association with volcanism has not yet been supported by robust geochemical evidence. To examine the potential role of volcanism we investigated the mercury (Hg) concentration and isotopic record of OAE 1d interval at the Youxia section, southern Tibet. The interval prior to OAE 1d is marked by a combined positive Δ 199 Hg and Hg content shift, which suggests a volcanic Hg source. These findings are consistence with a prominent increase in sea surface temperatures and atmospheric CO 2 before OAE 1d. We suggest that eruption of the central portion of the Kerguelen LIP may have been the main source of the Hg anomaly and resulted in global environment perturbations that drove the onset of the anoxia event.