Anoxia pre-dates Frasnian–Famennian boundary mass extinction horizon in the Great Basin, USA

Major and trace metal results from three Great Basin stratigraphic sections with strong conodont biostratigraphy identify a distinct anoxic interval that precedes, but ends approximately 100 kyr before, the Frasnian–Famennian (F–F, mid-Late Devonian) boundary mass extinction horizon. This horizon co...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology, 1999-11, Vol.154 (3), p.275-292
Main Authors: Bratton, John F, Berry, William B.N, Morrow, Jared R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
anaerobic environment
Conodonta
Devonian
Famennian
Marine
mass extinctions
trace metals
Utah
vanadium
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Summary:Major and trace metal results from three Great Basin stratigraphic sections with strong conodont biostratigraphy identify a distinct anoxic interval that precedes, but ends approximately 100 kyr before, the Frasnian–Famennian (F–F, mid-Late Devonian) boundary mass extinction horizon. This horizon corresponds to the final and most severe step of a more protracted extinction period. These results are inconsistent with data reported by others from the upper Kellwasser horizon in Europe, which show anoxia persisting up to the F–F boundary in most sections. Conditions returned to fully oxygenated prior to the F–F boundary in the study area. These data indicate that the worst part of the F–F extinction was not related directly to oceanic anoxia in this region and potentially globally.
ISSN:0031-0182
1872-616X
DOI:10.1016/S0031-0182(99)00116-9