The highest stages of the stratigraphic range of the planktonic foraminiferal Rotalipora cushmani were investigated in a 313-k.y.-long interval of the classical Tethyan Bottaccione section (Gubbio, Italy), the type locality of the C org- rich Bonarelli Level, which is the sedimentary expression of the worldwide latest Cenomanian oceanic anoxic event 2 (OAE 2).The disappearance of R. cushmani is associated with the major turnover of marine microfauna and microflora that involves both planktonic and benthic foraminifera, and calcareous nannofossils, slightly before the onset of OAE 2, which, according to current available data, was triggered by a massive pulse of submarine mafic volcanism accompanying the initial emplacement of the Caribbean large igneous province (CLIP). This pulse of volcanic activity probably turned the climate in a strengthened greenhouse mode, accelerating continental weathering and increasing nutrient supply in oceanic surface waters via river runoff and triggering higher fertility in the global ocean. Our investigation shows that the marine biotic turnover started ~55 k.y. before the onset of OAE 2 and is closely coeval with the first major episode, as recorded by the unradiogenic trend in 187 Os/ 188 Os, of the ongoing magmatic activity of the CLIP, which produced increasing p CO 2 , ocean dissolution and/or acidification with a severe carbonate crisis and fertilization through enormous quantities of biolimiting metals. The marine microfauna and microflora reacted rapidly to new conditions of higher p CO 2 and fertility by undergoing marked changes following three main steps. We evaluate this pattern and postulate that the first pulse of volcanogenic CO 2 from the CLIP emplacement (ca. 94.2 or 94.6 Ma) played a fundamental role in the marine biotic turnover recorded shortly before the onset of OAE 2 and notably in the local or regional disappearance of R. cushmani in the central-western Tethys.

Eight climatic events can be distinguished in the Triassic–Jurassic (ca. 201 Ma) continental strata of Poland. These events are distinguished by kaolinite/illite ratio, chemical index of alteration (CIA), color of sediments, and palynomorphs. The first transition to wetter climate, evidenced by a shift from smectite- to kaolinite-dominated mudrocks, coincides with the earlier (“precursor”) Rhaetian negative δ 13 C org excursion, which means that the beginning of climate perturbations predates the oldest known Central Atlantic magmatic province flood basalts by some 100–200 k.y. The later global, late Rhaetian “initial” negative δ 13 C org excursion is divided into two subpeaks, each corresponding to hot and humid events, separated by a cooler and drier event. The upper subpeak is also associated with perturbation of the osmium isotope system (attributed to volcanic fallout), and darkened miospores, pointing to acid rains. Between the “initial” excursion and the Triassic-Jurassic boundary interval, five climatic fluctuations are inferred from the changing kaolinite/illite ratio, the last two of which are also associated with an Os isotope perturbation, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) occurrences, a “spore peak,” and darkened miospores. A series of periodic atmospheric loading events by CO 2 , CH 4 , or alternatively by SO 2 , sulfate aerosols, and toxic compounds, is inferred to have caused this series of rapid climatic reversals and resulting extinction of many less-adapted forms. Just above the palynofloral extinction level, appearance of new forms commenced Jurassic palynofloral recovery. Tetrapod evolution events in the end-Triassic–earliest Jurassic were related to the extinction of the Pseudosuchia, Dicynodontia, Capitosauroidea, Plagiosaroidea, and Rhynchosauria, while appearance of highly diversified tetrapod ichnofauna in the earliest Jurassic strata indicates a rapid recovery and refill of ecological niches by dinosaurs.

The interval spanning the uppermost Hell Creek Formation to the overlying lowermost Fort Union Formation in north-central Montana encompasses a marked paleoenvironmental change (associated with the formational contact), the Chicxulub impact event, and the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. We have examined the record of this transition at the Hell Creek Formation lectostratotype to determine the placement of these events using a series of lithological, geochemical, palynological, and 40 Ar/ 39 Ar geochronological analyses. The claystone derived from the Chicxulub impact is identified based on lithological criteria, enrichment of iridium and osmium, and osmium isotope ratios. The impact claystone also contains a Cyathidites fern spike. The first continuous lignite horizon in the section immediately overlies this claystone and represents the Hell Creek–Fort Union formational contact. A tuff ~3 m above the impact layer is dated to 66.024 ± 0.059 Ma. Given this evidence, at the lectostratotype the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary is coincident with the impact claystone and therefore with the formational contact. Due to poor preservation and apparent reworking of palynomorphs surrounding the formational contact, the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary is difficult to identify based on biostratigraphically significant taxa. The presence of marine dinoflagellates is suggestive of reworking of older marine sediments during the deposition of the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary interval.

Fifteen impactites from various intervals within the Eyreville cores of the Chesapeake Bay impact structure were sampled to measure siderophile element concentrations. The sampled intervals include basement-derived rocks with veins, polymict impact breccias and associated rocks, and crater-fill sediments. The platinum group element (PGE) concentrations obtained are generally low (e.g., iridium concentrations less than 0.1 ng/g) and are fractionated relative to chondrites. There is no clear distinction in concentration between the different impactite units. So far in the Chesapeake Bay material, only the impact melt rocks from the 823-m-deep Cape Charles test hole, drilled over the central uplift of the structure, have generated a bulk chondritic signature of 0.01–0.1 wt% meteoritic contribution based on a mixing model of 187 Os/ 188 Os isotopic ratios and Os concentrations. However, none of the samples studied shows PGE abundances that enable identification of the type of projectile responsible for the formation of the structure. Hence, it is at present not possible to link the Chesapeake Bay impact to the proposed ordinary chondrite falls by projectiles recorded for other late Eocene craters, namely the 100-km-diameter Popigai impact structure in Siberia and 7.5-km-diameter Wanapitei structure in Canada. The absence of a clear projectile signature hinders further discussions on the existence and the nature of the late Eocene shower event (asteroid versus comet).

During the Neogene and Quaternary, potassic and ultrapotassic magmas erupted in association with shoshonitic and calc-alkalic magmas across much of the Italian peninsula. On the basis of the temporal and spatial distribution of this volcanism, and its mineralogical and compositional characteristics, three different magmatic provinces have been defined. The northwesternmost province, the Tuscan Magmatic Province, is domi nated by leucite-free ultrapotassic rocks (lamproite), shoshonite, and minor calc-alkalic rocks. The Roman Magmatic Province is dominated by leucite-bearing rocks with variable degrees of silica saturation, from undersaturated (leucitites and plagio-leucitites) to strongly undersaturated (kamafugites), but minor amounts of shoshonitic to high-potassium calc-alkalic rocks are still present. The Lucanian Magmatic Province, located at the southeasternmost edge of the volcanic belt, is dominated by foiditic (haüynites and leucitites) and kamafugitic (melilitites) members, all strongly under-saturated in silica. In spite of these petrologic differences, the Neogene Italian potassic and ultrapotassic rocks display similar trace-element patterns. Depletion in high field strength elements with respect to large ion lithophile elements is a common feature. Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic compositions of mafic high-MgO rocks range widely, relating mainly to geographic location of eruption and to enrichment in alkalies. The Os isotopic composition of these samples, however, does not clearly correlate with eruption location, but is dependent on the amount of “continental crust component” added to the magmas. Some of the studied samples are compatible with crustal contamination en route to the surface. In most cases, however, there are several lines of evidence suggesting the possibility that crustal components were added directly to the mantle source prior to partial melting. Large amounts (many tens of weight percent) of “crustal component” must be added to the peridotitic mantle in order to obtain the 187 Os/ 188 Os of the lamproites in Tuscany. These large amounts of crustal components have been recycled into the mantle in the form of either melts or fluids. The recycling can be reconciled with a veined mantle in which the crustal component is concentrated. Partial melting of veins would then produce the high-silica and high-magnesium lamproitic magmas from Tuscany. Dilution of the crustal components by increasing partial melting of surrounding mantle peridotite, or alternatively, a reduction of metasomatic veins, could then produce shoshonitic and high-K calc-alkalic mafic magmas. Southeastward geochemical and isotopic variations are reconciled with decreasing direct contributions from crustal components introduced into the mantle by sub-duction, but an increasing role of subducted fluids from dehydration of CO 2 -rich sediments. The coupled isotopic and chemical characteristics of Italian magmas cannot be reconciled with an ocean-island basalt (OIB)–like primary magma composition due to the substantial overprinting by crustal- and or subduction-related components.