New Insights into the end-Triassic Mass Extinction in the Southwest UK: A Biomarker and Isotope Study

Abstract

The end-Triassic mass extinction, driven by extensive volcanism covering the central Atlantic, occurred 200 million years ago. Molecular-scale fossils and their isotopic compositions show the negative anomalies in carbon isotope records, used in correlating widespread geographic locations and said to be the result of the volcanism, have other origins. Such analyses also show the marine extinction was driven by a combination of stresses including acidification, anoxia and photic zone euxinia (toxic H2S in sunlit waters).