Mercury enrichments during the Carnian Pluvial Event (Late Triassic) in South China

Abstract The Carnian Pluvial Event (CPE) was an interval marked by global climatic and environmental change, along with biotic turnover, which occurred during the early Late Triassic. Although causes consequences of this event remain unclear, one possible scenario is enhanced volcanism injecting greenhouse gases into atmosphere, perturbing carbon cycle, negatively impacting environment. However, there underlying challenge in showing a true cause- and-effect relationship between CPE, as both sedimentary volcanic records are difficult to date accurately enough demonstrate temporal correspondence. mercury (Hg) can be used fingerprint catastrophic record. We examined two sections that record CPE at Laishike Wayao Guizhou Province, southwest China, display high Hg contents spikes Hg/total organic content (TOC), Hg/Al, sulfur (TS), Hg/(Mo/Al) indicate shift excess loading. These anomalies correlative negative excursion ?13Ccarb values suggests increased injected massive amounts isotopically light these were ultimately recorded marine sediments. This interpretation supported slightly or near-zero ?199Hg consistent source. Our study supports hypothesis played major role evolution biota environment CPE.