Permian/Triassic Boundary and Its Correlation in the Daxian-Xuanhan Area, Northeastern Sichuan Province, China

There are different opinions about the Permian/Triassic boundary and its correlation in the Daxian-Xuanhan area because of lacking typical lithological symbols and fossil criterions. Especially, it is very hard to determine the Permian/Triassic boundary in the Daxian-Xuanhan buried areas. This brings many difficulties to geological research and oil and gas exploration. Based on field investigation and studies of well cores, newly found fossils, lithological characteristics and well log analyses, the authors discussed the Permian/Triassic boundary in the Daxian-Xuanhan area and brought forward a specific scheme for its determination and regional correlation.

Trace Element Geochemistry of the Permian/Triassic Boundary Section in the Selong-Xishan Area,Nyalam County, Southern Tibet, China

Samples were collected from the Selong-Xishan Permian/Triassic boundary strata,Nyalam County in southern Tibet and systematically analyzed for their rare-searth elements(REE)and trace elements such as U, Th, Sr, Ba, Sc, Ta, Hf, Rb, Cs, Co, Ni, Cr, As andothers with emphasis put on the distribution patterns of rare-earth elements and the variation oftrace element contents along the Permian/Triassic boundary section. On this basis a discussionwill be made of the paleo-ocean depositional environment.

First Research on Marine and Nonmarine Sedimentary Sequences and Micropaleontologic Significance across Permian/Triassic Boundary in Iran (Isfahan and Abadeh)

Abundant ichthyoid remains, conodonts and holothurians sclerites were recovered near the Permian/Triassic boundary from a section south of Isfahan. Recovered ichthyoid remains include shark micro teeth and scales. The ichthyolith material is similar to a Fasanian ichthyolith from the Zakazane area in the Slovak karst of the Western Carpathians, which represents a subspecies of Acodina triassica . Conodont species are mostly neogondolellids. This fauna indicates that the sedimentary environment was marine, while to the north of localities near Isfahan and Zagross, terrestrial deposition was dominant at that time. Aluminasilicate and kaolin are present in a continental unit in Dopolan refractory main (Shahid Nilchian mine) and a section south of Chahriseh Village, north of Isfahan. Pisolitie, ironstone facies and bauxite clay are common near the Permian/Triassic boundary in the Chahriseh region.

Ecological evolution across the Permian/Triassic boundary at the Kangjiaping Section in Cili County, Hunan Province, China

The stratigraphic sequence of calcimicrobialite facies at the Permian-Triassic (P/Tr) boundary has well recorded the biotic and environmental transition across the end-Permian catastrophic events. The biostratigraphy, microfacies, carbon isotopes, and fossil records across the P/Tr boundary have been studied at the Kangjiaping Section in Cili County, Hunan Province. Three biostratigraphic zones, Palaeofusulina-Colaniella Zone, Hindeodus parvus Zone, and Isarcicella staeschei Zone, are identified. The excursion of δ13Ccarb exhibits a sharp negative shift in the calcimicrobialite at the P/Tr boundary, which is roughly accordant with the abrupt bioclastic decline. In addition, five types of microfacies are recognized, including algal-foraminifer bioclastic limestone, algal-laminated calcimicrobial limestone, oolitic grainstone, vermiculate limestone, and intraclastic wackstone. The results indicate that the changeover of ecosystem from metazoan reef to calcimicrobialite in Cili is a classic case of marine ecological evolution during the Paleozoic-Mesozoic transition.

Study on a Terrestrial Permian-Triassic Boundary Section-Zhejue Section, Weining County, Guizhou Province, China

The Zhejue Section is an excellent terrestrial Permian Triassic boundary (TPTB) section not only for its convenient accessibility and good outcrop, but also for its abundant fossils. In addition, there are two claystone beds that were formed by events across the Permian Triassic boundary (PTB) at this section. The claystones provide a bridge for high resolution correlation between marine and terrestrial PTBs. Another advantage is that the PTB at the Zhejue Section can be correlated with that of littoral and neritic facies by tracing westwards. Synthesized stratigraphic studies, including biostratigraphy, eventostratigraphy (susceptibilities and carbon isotopes across the TPTB, and microspherules found in the boundary claystones) and sequence stratigraphy, are carried out at this section.

Stratigraphical Time——Correlation and Mass Extinction Event Near Permian——Triassic Boundary in South China

Shaw's method used to correlate 40 sections across the Permo-Triassic boundary in South China is applied in the paper. Two steps are adopted to get an Integral Composite Section (ICS) by synthesizing these data : First , South China is divided into five areas and composite section developed for each area . Then the second step . the Changxing composite section is regarded as a composite standard (CSRS) while the ICS is produced by matching the CSRS with composite sections of the other areas. Three biozones in the Changxingian and two biozones in the Griesbachian can be discerned on the basis of computing Z values in the ICS. These biozones are marked by the Z values which quantitatively represent their time ranges ; therefore , they may increase accuracy of stratigraphic time correlation . The mass extinction at the end of the Permian is an abrupt event that is supported by the relative rate of extinction near the P/T boundary . About 90% of invertebrate species died out by the end of the Permian . The duration of the mass extinction is rather short ,approximately 0.018Ma .

A Review on the Global Stratotype Section and Point of the Permian-Triassic Boundary

This paper provides a synthetic review of researches on Meishan Section D, the Global Stratotype Section and Point of the Permian-Triassic Boundary （PTB）. The history of research, geographic and geological setting of the section are briefly introduced. Changhsingian to ＂Griesbachian＂ conodont and ammonoid zonations, the most perfect Permo-Triassic zonations over the world, are presented, with a short discussion on the age of Otoceras, The Changhsingian to ＂Griesbachian＂ strata are subdivided into three 3rd order sequences, and the sedimentary structure of each sequence is indicated. The paper presents a correlation of the Changhsingian to ＂Griesbachian＂ magneetostratigraphy of the Meishan section with the general scale, and informed the negation of a short magnetic reversal at the PTB suggested by Zhu and Liu （1999）. Recent developments of chemostratigraphy of δ^13C and δ^34S are introduced, especially the discovery of more than one negative δ^13C excursions across the PTB. Two important molecular researches reveal the profound changes at the base of eco-system, the microbial catastrophy, and the euxinic conditions in the photic zone during the Permian-Triassic superanoxic event. The paper reports the changes in dating the age of PTB since 2001. According to recent achievements, the age of volcanogenic claybed 25, 14 cm below the PTB, is now set at 252.4±0.3 Ma. A discussion on the eventostratigraphy concludes that, although there is a major event episode at beds 25-26, the events across the PTB at Meishan are multi-episodic and commenced prior to the Event Beds 25-26, thus the possibility that the mass extinction was mainly induced by an exterrestrial impact is largely excluded.

Some Evidence for a Possible Extraterrestrial Event at/near Permian-Triassic Boundary

A selection of evidence, including a carbon isotopic excursion, iridium anomaly, fullerenes (C 60 and C 70 ) with trapped noble gases, microspherules and shocked quartz, is discussed in this paper. All the evidence in hand favors the hypothesis that the PTB event was probably related to an extraterrestrial cause, and the impact would lead to great physical change, including large volcanic eruptions on the earth's surface. The ET markers for the CTB event could be considered only as an example, and cannot be taken as a unique standard of an ET event.

Determination of Fullerenes (C60/C70) from the Permian-Triassic Boundary in the Meishan Section of South China

Fullerenes (C 60 /C 70 ), clays and rocks near the Permian-Triassic (P/T) boundary in the Meishan section of South China are explored by means of comprehensive analytical techniques, including ultrasonic extraction with column purification, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of- flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF MS). The study confirms the existence of fullerenes toward the P/T event boundary and their absence in clays and limestones beyond the boundary. In particular, the white clay, known as the event boundary, contains fullerenes of 0.33 ppb, while the red material, as the first lamina fill of goethite and gypsum on the base of the white clay, contains fullerenes of 1.23 ppb, and the last lamina of 2.50 ppb. Significantly, distinct enrichment of fullerenes is coincident with the disappearance of fossil records of marine species (94%) just at the base of the white clay, implying that geological fullerenes would be one of temporal remnants led by the P/T catastrophic event. This work strongly supports that fullerenes would be one of significant records of the P/T catastrophic event but their origin remains to be studied further.

Alkane Biomarkers in Permian-Triassic Boundary Strata at Meishan Section, Changxing, Zhejiang Province

Meishan Section D in Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, China has been selected as the global stratotype of the Permian Triassic boundary and various studies have been done at the boundary, but the gas chromatographic mass spectrographic analysis of alkane biomarkers has not been investigated. This paper presents the results of a study of the biomarkers analyzed in a series of samples across the Permian Triassic boundary at both Meishan Section A and Section D. The results show that the overall concentration of alkane biomarkers in the Permian Triassic boundary strata is high in Bed 26 while it is low in Bed 27. A variety of biomarker parameters demonstrate that the main sources of organic matter in the sediment are algae and bacteria and that the depositional environment varied from weakly oxidizing to reducing during the studied interval.

Suggestion of Meishan Section as GlobalStratotype Section and Point （GSSP） of Permian－Triassic Boundary

The Meishan Section of Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, China and the base of its Bed 27c,in which Hindeodus parvus first occurs, are recommended as the GSSP of Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB).The present paper introduces a description of the section. Biostratigraphic correlation with other famous sections shows the completeness of this section and justifies choice of H. Parvus as the index fossil. Chemostratigraphic investigation provides the δ￣13C excursion and the moderate but inconsistent Ir spike as auxiliary symbols for the PTB. This boundary is closely related to transgression,anoxia,volcanism,mass extinction and possible impact events which can be correlated with those in South China and other parts of the world .

Sulfur Isotopes of Framboidal Pyrite in the Permian-Triassic Boundary Clay at Meishan Section

Pyrite framboids were found in the Permian-Triassic boundary at Meishan Section,while their sulfur isotopes were determined.The majority of framboids is less than 5μm in diameter,with some large-sized framboids.Also,euhedral gypsums were observed in the boundary clay.The authors suppose that most of the pyrite framboids formed just below the redox boundary and stopped growing after entering the lower water column.The result indicates that it was probably lower dysoxia condition in the temporal ocean.Moreover,the authors also presume that some pyrite was oxidated to sulfates accompanying the fluctuation of redox condition,which would probably be the origin of the negative sulfur isotopes of gypsum and CAS reported before.In addition,sulfur isotope of framboidal pyrite suggests that sulfur is originated from bacterial sulfate reduction in anoxic condition.Therefore, this study confirms that the ocean was widely anoxic during the Permian-Triassic transitional period. However,the redox condition in temporal ocean was probably not stable,with short-term fluctuations.

A Proposed Area for Study of Accessory Section and Point of Terrestrial Permian-Triassic Boundary

After the establishment of the global stratotype section and point (GSSP) of the Permian Triassic boundary (PTB), the definition of the accessory section and point (ASP) of the terrestrial Permian Triassic boundary (TPTB) is now on the agenda. However, all good TPTB sections so far known have the following shortcomings: (1) the exact TPTB horizon is difficult to define paleontologically with high resolution, and (2) accurate correlation between marine and terrestrial PTBs is hard to attain. In order to enhance the understanding of the nature of the global life crisis in both the marine and terrestrial environments across the Paleozoic Mesozoic transition, these shortcomings need to be addressed. In western Guizhou and eastern Yunnan, Southwest China, some fossiliferous PTB sections which include marine, paralic and terrestrial are well developed, allowing bed to bed correlation of the PTB sequences. Fortunately, the marine PTB sequence in this area is almost the same as found at the Meishan Section, where the GSSP of the PTB is located, which may provide a reliable auxiliary marker for high resolution demarcation of the TPTB. These features found in western Guizhou and eastern Yunnan make this area a good place to study the ASP of the TPTB, so we propose to study the ASP of the TPTB in this area.

Analysis of platinum-group elements in drill core samples from the Meishan Permian-Triassic boundary section, China

There is a long-standing controversy of what triggered the extinction at the Permian-Triassic boundary, the most severe mass extinction in the geologic record, including flood basaltic volcanism and/or bolide impact hypothesis. In order to clarify various pieces of evidence for the mass extinction event at the Permian-Triassic boundary, some researchers from some laboratories throughout the world have made a comprehensive study on a group of samples from the Meishan area of China. Some fresh core samples from the Permian-Triassic boundary in the Meishan area were analyzed in this study. The results showed that there is no Ir anomaly. Moreover, the PGEs patterns of those samples show obvious differentiation characteristics, that is different from the case encountered in meteorites. So no evidence supports the hypothesis of extraterrestrial impact. In contrast, the PGEs patterns are similar to those of Siberian and Emeishan basalts, which indicates that those PGEs are derived mainly from the basalts, lending a support to the correlation between mass extinction at the Permian-Triassic boundary and flood basaltic volcanism. This study has also confirmed the results for samples from section C prior to the analysis of the samples.

Ammonoid Succession of Setorym River (Verkhoyansk Area) and Problem of Permian-Triassic Boundary in Boreal Realm

The presence of a single Otoceras species ( O. boreale ), morphologically very variable, at the base of the Nekuchan Formation in Verkhoyansk, we believe, is to be obvious. Some morphological evidence leaves no doubt that two described morphs of O. boreale are a strictly corresponding sexual dimorphic pair. It is very likely that Kummel's idea that Canadian O. concavum Tozer is an invalid species is truthful, considering the range of variability seen in larger Siberian and Himalayan Otoceras fauna. Just above the upper Tatarian Imtachan Formation, the six stages of ammonoid succession can be recognized within the lower part of the Nekuchan Formation in the Setorym River Section: (a) Otoceras boreale ; (b) Otoceras boreale-Tompophiceras pascoei ; (c) Otoceras boreale-Tompophiceras pascoei- Aldanoceras ; (d) Tompophiceras pascoei-Otoceras boreale-Aldanoceras ; (e) Tompophiceras morpheous-T. pascoei-Aldanoceras ; (f) Tompophiceras morpheous-T. pascoei-Wordieoceras domokhotovi-Ophiceras transitorium; (g) Tompophiceras morpheous-T. pascoei, corresponding to the Otoceras boreale and Tompophiceras morpheous zones. In spite of the domination of Otocerataceae or Xenodiscaceae in both of these zones and the presence of some Permian type conodonts in the lower part of the Otoceras boreale Zone, they seem to be early Induan in age on the basis of the following arguments: (1) in contrast to the underlying regressive type sediments of the Upper Tatarian Imtachan Formation, both the Otoceras boreale and the Tompophiceras morpheous zones of the lowermost part of the Nekuchan Formation correspond to the single transgressive cycle; (2) typical early Induan ammonoids ( Ophiceras and Wordieoceras ) have been recognized in the Tompophiceras morpheous zone; (3) all described ammonoid succession stages (a-g) are characterized by very gradual changes and therefore correspond to the different parts of the single zone or to the different zones of the same stage, but not to the different systems (Permian and Triassic); (4) elsewhere in the Boreal realm (Arctic Canada), the conodont index species for the base of the Triassic, Hindeodus parvus , has been reported from the Otoceras boreale Zone. A new scheme of the phylogeny for the Otocerataceae and its Induan Olenekian offspring (Araxceratidae- Otoceratidae- Vavilovitidae n.fam.-Proptychitidae-Arctoceratidae) and Xenodiscaceae is offered.

Distribution and Geochemical Implication of Aromatic Hydrocarbons across the Meishan Permian-Triassic Boundary

Aromatic compounds extracted from sedimentary rocks can reflect environmental conditions, organic sources and maturity. The aromatics, identified in association with mass extinction in particular, would provide a signature assisting our understanding of the causes of the biotic crisis. Aromatic hydrocarbons were fractionated from the total lipid extracts of 37 samples taken from the PermianTriassic boundary （beds 23 to 34） of section B at Meishan （煤山）, Zhejiang （浙江） Province in South China. These aromatics were analyzed by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS）. Main compounds identified include naphthalene, phenanthrenes, fluorene, dibenzothiophene, dibenzofuran, fluoranthene, pyrene and some of their methyl homologues. The indices of methyl phenanthrene distribution fraction indicate the comparable maturity （within the oil window, 0.7%-1.0% of the mean vitfinite reflectance） of the organic matter throughout the whole profile analyzed. The ratio of dibenzothiophene to phenanthrene （DBT/PHN） varies generally at a comparable pace with lithology. Significantly, a gradual decrease of this ratio was observed within bed 24 limestone, which is probably due to the variation of sedimentary environment. This change is in line with the drop in the carbon isotope composition of carbonate, the loss of the Changhsingian reef ecosystem, and the decrease of cyanobacteria abundance within the bacteria population. The coincidence of these records suggests a close relation between the biotic crisis and marine environmental conditions, and these records clearly show the onset of the biotic crisis prior to event bed 25.

Age and General Characteristics of the Calimicrobialite near the Permian-Triassic Boundary in Chongyang, Hubei Province

The calimicrobialites of Chongyang （崇阳）, Hubei （湖北） Province, occur above the mass extinction line in the Late Permian reef facies. Below the boundary are the sponge reef limestone, crinoid limestone and algae-foraminifer bioclastic limestone of the Changxing （长兴） Formation. The calimicrobialites are generally composed of mid-coarse grains and microlite calcite with a structure of ＂graniphylc fabric＂ and stromatolite. The fossils discovered in the calimicrobialites include globular cyanobacteria, ostracods, micro-gastropods, bivalves, fish teeth and some micro-problematical fossils. Conodont fossils of Hindeodus parvus, H. typicalis and H. latidentatus were also found in the calimicrobialites. According to the conodonts, the calimicrobialites spanned the latest Permian and earliest Triassic in the Chongyang Section. The upper part above the first occurrence of Hindeodus parvus should be attributed to the earliest Triassic, and the lower part to the Changhsingian. The sedimentary structure, fossil composition and conodont zonation of the Chongyang calimicrobialites can be well correlated with the calimicrobialites found in other areas of South China.

Occurrence of Organic Matter in Calcimicrobialites across Permian-Triassic Boundary in Huayingshan Region,Sichuan,South China

Calcimicrobialites across the Permian-Triassic boundary in Huayingshan （华蓥山） region were investigated using the fluorescence microscopic measurements to understand the occurrence of organic matter. The microbialites are composed of micrite matrix and coarse spar cement. Abundant rhombic or magnetic needle-like carbonate minerals were observed adrift within the cement. The fluorescence microscopic measurement indicates the micrite matrix in microbialites shows the most abundant organic matter, with the rhombic or magnetic needle-like carbonate minerals and coarse spar cement coming to the 2nd and the 3rd, respectively. Organic matter is mainly preserved in the space between the grains of the micrite minerals but almost evenly distributed in the rhombic or magnetic needle-like carbonate minerals. As one of the common diagenesis types, dolomitization is observed to occur in the microbialites in Huayingshan. However, the carbonate cement in microbialites still has high content of element Sr as shown by the microprobe analysis, reflecting that the dolomitization might have happened in a restricted environment. Observation under the fluorescence microscope shows that dolomitization just led to the redistribution of organic matter in the grain space of dolomite minerals, inferring that the diagenesis has a slight effect on the preservation, and thus on the content of organic matter in the microbialites.

Sequence Boundary and Sea Level Changes in Western Margin of Upper Yangtze Platform during Permian and Triassic

During Permian and Triassic the western margin of Upper Yangtze platform had experienced an evolution from early rift stage to thermal subsidence and then to foreland basin. The tectonic transformations have resulted in five supersequences and nineteen third-order se- quences.During the rift stage,transgeressive carbonate platform was built up,while in the thermal subsidence stage,regressive carbonate platform with foreslope was formed.The closure of the Garze-Litang narrow oceanic basin resulted in the migration of foreland flexure toward the ctaton.The carbonate ramp in foreland basin setting was formed during the relative sea level rise which was caused by the change in basin volume.

Analyses of Sequence Stratigraphy and Environments across Permian-Triassic Boundary in Liaotian, Northwestern Jiangxi Province

Based on the study of lithology, sedimentology and paleontology at the Permian Triassic boundary in Liaotian, Northwestern Jiangxi Province, the sequence stratigraphy and depositional environments across the boundary are reconstructed. The top part of the Upper Permian Changxing Formation is composed of very thick bedded light colored dolomitic limestone formed in high deposition rate on carbonate ramp, which indacates a transgression systems tract (TST). The Lower Triassic Qinglong Formation shows continuous deposition with the underlying Upper Permian. The lower member of Qinglong Formation consists of calcareous shale, shelly limestome and dolomitic limestone with abundant bivalves ( Claraia sp.)and trace fossils ( Chondrites ). The calcareous shale at the bottom of Lower Triassic indicates a calm deep water environment to form the condensed section (CS). The shelly limestome and dolomitic limestone with shell fossils, intraclast, algal ooide show clean but turbulent environment of carbonate ramp, which produce the deposition of highstand systems tract (TST).