Permian-Triassic Mayhem: Earth's Largest Mass Extinction

Explore the Earth's largest mass extinction event in this 57-minute lecture from the Royal Tyrrell Museum Speaker Series. Delve into the Permian-Triassic boundary catastrophe as viewed from Arctic Canada, presented by Dr. Benoit Beauchamp from the University of Calgary. Examine five stratigraphic sequences, ammonoid fauna, and the sub-Triassic unconformity. Investigate key locations such as Meishan, China, and the Sverdrup Basin in Arctic Canada. Learn about biostratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy, and the breakdown of silicate buffering leading to a runaway greenhouse effect. Discover the role of the Siberian Traps in this global event and explore the continuous Permian-Triassic transition in the Sverdrup Basin. Gain insights into the lead-up, catastrophe, and aftermath of this pivotal moment in Earth's history through geological evidence and expert analysis.

Intro
Steve Grasby, Ph.D. Geological Survey of Canada (Calgary)
Synopsis
Mass extinctions
Five stratigraphic sequences
Ammonoid fauna
Sub-Triassic unconformity
Meishan, China
Sverdrup Basin - Late Carboniferous
Biostratigraphy
Sequence Stratigraphy
Lindstrom & Black Stripe formations
"Glass" ramp
Silica factory
Buchanan Lake Gartnerkofel Arctic Canada
Sverdrup Basin, Arctic Canada
Late Carboniferous silicate buffering
Early to Late Permian breakdown of silicate buffering: Runaway Greenhouse
Summary
The stage was set...
Siberian Traps
Latest Permian to earliest Triassic return to saturation
Aragonite fans
Continuous P-T transition in Sverdrup Basin - There is no basin-wide unconformity