In terrestrial settings, the Permo-Triassic mass extinction is commonly linked to major changes in sedimentological and climatic conditions that include a switch from meandering to braided fluvial systems and increased aridity. We examined the predominantly terrestrial strata of North China to reveal that, on the contrary, there was little substantial sedimentological change during the Permo-Triassic mass extinction. The crisis level occurs in the upper Sunjiagou Formation, where a range of environments, including low-sinuosity rivers, distally terminating alluvial fans, and mud-dominated coastal plains are recorded. A major sedimentological change occurred slightly higher, within the lowest Triassic, and involved a switch to braided fluvial and shallow lacustrine/fluviodeltaic conditions of the Liujiagou Formation. Later in the Early Triassic, fine-grained, playa lake, and alluvial plain facies became widespread (Heshanggou Formation). Paleosols are present throughout the basin fill and record a transition from Aridisols and Vertisols in the Late Permian to Inceptisols in the Early Triassic followed by gleyed Aridisols, Vertisols, and Inceptisols later in the Early Triassic. Previously reported aeolian facies from Lower Triassic strata were not encountered in this study and were unlikely to have occurred given the prevalence of lacustrine and fluvial conditions at this time. Overall, the North China Basin experienced an increase in seasonal rainfall in the latest Permian and a base-level rise that introduced marine conditions into the southwest of the basin. During the Early Triassic, seasonal or interannual rainfall was frequent, with strong evaporation in a hot climate. Overall, substantial sedimentological changes occurred in the terrestrial Permo-Triassic environments of North China, but despite earlier claims from studies in North China and elsewhere, there was no abrupt transition in fluvial styles around the Permo-Triassic mass extinction.
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Research Article|
May 27, 2022
Sedimentology of the latest Permian to Early Triassic in the terrestrial settings of the North China Basin: Low-latitude climate change during a warming-driven crisis
Kaixuan Ji;
Kaixuan Ji
1
State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, School of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China2
School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
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Paul B. Wignall;
Paul B. Wignall
2
School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
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Jinnan Tong;
Jinnan Tong
1
State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, School of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
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Yingyue Yu;
Yingyue Yu
1
State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, School of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
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Wenwei Guo;
Wenwei Guo
1
State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, School of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
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Wenchao Shu;
Wenchao Shu
1
State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, School of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
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Daoliang Chu
Daoliang Chu
1
State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, School of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
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GSA Bulletin (2022)
Article history
received:
29 Jul 2021
rev-recd:
07 Mar 2022
accepted:
28 Mar 2022
first online:
27 May 2022
Citation
Kaixuan Ji, Paul B. Wignall, Jinnan Tong, Yingyue Yu, Wenwei Guo, Wenchao Shu, Daoliang Chu; Sedimentology of the latest Permian to Early Triassic in the terrestrial settings of the North China Basin: Low-latitude climate change during a warming-driven crisis. GSA Bulletin 2022; doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B36260.1
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Index Terms/Descriptors
- Asia
- China
- clastic rocks
- climate change
- Far East
- fluvial environment
- Henan China
- lacustrine environment
- lithofacies
- lithostratigraphy
- Lower Triassic
- Mesozoic
- North China Basin
- paleoclimatology
- paleoenvironment
- Paleozoic
- Permian
- petrography
- sandstone
- sedimentary rocks
- Shaanxi China
- Shanxi China
- terrestrial environment
- Triassic
- Upper Permian
- Heshanggou Formation
- Sunjiagou Formation
- Liujiagou Formation
- Jiyuan China
- Yima China
- Yuzhou China
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