Volcanism and carbon cycle perturbations in the High Arctic during the Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous

Large perturbations in the global carbon cycle recorded as carbon-isotope (?13C) excursions (CIEs) both organic and carbonate records have been linked to volcanism during emplacement of Igneous Provinces (LIPs). This link is based primarily on purported temporal coincidence between CIEs LIP emplacement. Mercury (Hg) concentration sedimentary rocks has used a regional tracer large-scale volcanic activity, yet few studies undertaken Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous sediments from Boreal localities compared those for Tethyan (northern mid-latitude) successions. limited our understanding regional-to-global spatial impact activity this period. study examines Hg record proxy volcanism, ?13C matter (?13Corg) uppermost (Callovian Aptian) successions Axel Heiberg Spitsbergen Canadian Arctic Svalbard archipelagos, respectively. interval includes three regional- CIEs. These sections show no significant variation ratio total (TOC) across Boreal-wide Volgian negative CIE (Volgian Isotopic Carbon Excursion, “VOICE”), which not associated with volcanism. The examined spanning all some influence changing environmental or post-burial parameters, however, could (partially) overprinted signal. Despite problems stratigraphically constraining Weissert Event, increased Hg/TOC ratios are observed interval, may be partially driven by Paraná-Etendeka Traps. A spike immediately prior peak Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE1a) CIE, supporting recent evidence pulse High Province (HALIP) preceding oceanic anoxic event.