Deccan Volcanism Implicated in the Extinction of Dinosaurs

What is it about?

The debate concerning the relative importance of the Chicxulub bolide impact and/or Deccan Traps (DT) volcanism as the cause of the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous has lasted for several decades. There is lack of direct geological evidence linking the DT eruption with the non-avian dinosaur fossil record, so the Chicxulub bolide impact is regarded by many as the dominant—if not the sole—cause of the mass extinction. Therefore, it is necessary to find new geological evidence to clarify this issue. In this study, the concentration of Hg and its isotope systematics were carefully investigated form Nanxiong Basin, southeastern China, combined with palaeontology data and palaeoclimate records, we suggest that DT played a key role in the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs.

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Photo by Stephen Leonardi on Unsplash

Photo by Stephen Leonardi on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Our findings show that Hg exhibited anomalies from 66.4 to 65.6 Ma, with near-zero to positive Δ 199Hg values, which reflected the eruption of Deccan Traps (DT) magma. In addition, Hg anomalies coincided with the gradual extinction of non-avian dinosaurs, thereby consistent with the hypothesis that DT played a key role in the mass extinction.