A convergent continent marginal volcanism source of ash beds near the Permian-Triassic boundary, South China: Constraints from trace elements and Hf-isotopes

Abstract:

Growing evidence shows that volcanism near the Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB) may have been crucial in triggering the PTB biocrisis. However, whether this trigger is the Siberian traps or arc island volcanisms has long been debating. Meanwhile, multiple claystone beds are prominent near the PTB, South China. The nature and origin of the volcanic ashes therefore provide clue to find out the trigger of the PTB mass extinction. Following previous studies (Gao et al., 2013), 21 PTB ash beds from three additional PTB sections, namely the Shangsi, Jianshi and Meishan, all from South China have been systematically sampled. The U-Pb ages, trace elements, and Hf-isotope compositions of zircon grains from these ash beds were analyzed using LA-ICPMS and LA-MC-ICPMS. Volcanic ash geochemistry shows presence of Rhyolite or Dacite and reveal a collision-tectonic setting. Zircons from these ash layers yield comparatively low Nb/Hf and high Th/Nb ratios, dropping into the range of arc/orogenic-related settings. Zircon Hf-isotope compositions show that ε_Hf(t) values vary from -11.7 to 1.8, indicating that at least two kinds of crustal component have been involved: juvenile lower crust and ancient middle-upper crust. The ash beds (Ss27a, Js129, Js130, Ms25, Ms26) near biotic extinction horizon have significant larger variation range of ε_Hf(t) and relatively positive averages, implying that more juvenile lower crustal material had contributed to the volcanisms. This means that these volcanisms may have originated deeper depth or the volcanisms erupted so rapidly that there was no enough time for the mixing of different components. The volcanisms associated with biotic extinction should be the most intense and have greatest heat put. Spatial and temporal distributions of ash beds from thirty PTB sections worldwide reveal that the PTB volcanic ashes occurred only in the Paleo-Tethys region, suggesting that the volcanisms may be likely limited to the Paleo-Tethys continental convergence. Integration of Hf-isotope and trace-element compositions of magmatic zircons suggests that the PTB volcanisms have taken place along the convergent continent margin in or near southwestern South China as a result of the closure of the Palaeo-Tethys Ocean at that time.