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Published December 2004 | public
Journal Article

Geochemistry of the end-Permian extinction event in Austria and Italy: No evidence for an extraterrestrial component

Abstract

The end-Permian mass extinction (251 Ma) was the largest in Earth's history, and the great extent of biospheric perturbation is recorded as dramatic shifts in carbon isotope ratios of sedimentary materials. Both terrestrial and extraterrestrial events are commonly invoked as causative mechanisms for the crisis, and the primary reason for the event remains the subject of controversy. Geochemical indicators sensitive to the influence of extraterrestrial material involve platinum group elements and osmium and helium isotope ratios. Analyses of extinction levels in two sections from Austria and Italy reveal no evidence of an extraterrestrial impact. The end-Permian crisis, it appears, was a homegrown catastrophe.

Additional Information

© 2004 Geological Society of America. Manuscript received 23 June 2004. Revised manuscript received 30 August 2004. Manuscript accepted 30 August 2004. This work was supported by the Austrian Science Foundation, project Y58-GEO, the United Kingdom Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC), and the U.S. National Science Foundation. Peucker-Ehrenbrink thanks T. Abbruzzese and D. Schneider (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Inductively Coupled Plasma Facility) for analytical assistance. We are grateful to G. Retallack, J. Smit, and P. Wignall for constructive reviews.

Additional details

Created:
August 22, 2023
Modified:
October 20, 2023