Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Site Tools

  • AAAS
  • Subscribe
  • Feedback

Site Search

Search Advanced

Science 15 May 1998:
Vol. 280. no. 5366, pp. 1039 - 1045
DOI: 10.1126/science.280.5366.1039
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Research Articles

U/Pb Zircon Geochronology and Tempo of the End-Permian Mass Extinction

S. A. Bowring, * D. H. Erwin, Y. G. Jin, M. W. Martin, K. Davidek, W. Wang

The mass extinction at the end of the Permian was the most profound in the history of life. Fundamental to understanding its cause is determining the tempo and duration of the extinction. Uranium/lead zircon data from Late Permian and Early Triassic rocks from south China place the Permian-Triassic boundary at 251.4 ± 0.3 million years ago. Biostratigraphic controls from strata intercalated with ash beds below the boundary indicate that the Changhsingian pulse of the end-Permian extinction, corresponding to the disappearance of about 85 percent of marine species, lasted less than 1 million years. At Meishan, a negative excursion in delta 13C at the boundary had a duration of 165,000 years or less, suggesting a catastrophic addition of light carbon.

S. A. Bowring, M. W. Martin, and K. Davidek are in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02319, USA. D. H. Erwin is in the Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC 20560, USA. Y. G. Jin and W. Wang are at the Laboratory of Paleobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Academia Sinica, Nanjing, 210008, People's Republic of China.
*   To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Climate changes caused by degassing of sediments during the emplacement of large igneous provinces.
C. Ganino and N. T. Arndt (2009)
Geology 37, 323-326
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Magmatic anhydrite-sulfide assemblages in the plumbing system of the Siberian Traps.
C. Li, E. M. Ripley, A. J. Naldrett, A. K. Schmitt, and C. H. Moore (2009)
Geology 37, 259-262
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
CHANGE AND STABILITY IN PERMIAN BRACHIOPOD COMMUNITIES FROM WESTERN TEXAS.
T. D. OLSZEWSKI and D. H. ERWIN (2009)
Palaios 24, 27-40
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Longevity of the Permian Emeishan mantle plume (SW China): 1 Ma, 8 Ma or 18 Ma?.
J. G. SHELLNUTT, M.-F. ZHOU, D.-P. YAN, and Y. WANG (2008)
Geological Magazine 145, 373-388
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
ERWIN, D. H. 2006. Extinction. How Life on Earth Nearly Ended 250 Million Years Ago.: ix + 296 pp. Princeton, Oxford: Princeton University Press. Price US $24.95 (hard covers). ISBN 0 691 00524 9..
I. Metcalfe (2008)
Geological Magazine 145, 151-152
   Full Text »    PDF »
Changes in the global carbon cycle occurred as two episodes during the Permian-Triassic crisis.
S. Xie, R. D. Pancost, J. Huang, P. B. Wignall, J. Yu, X. Tang, L. Chen, X. Huang, and X. Lai (2007)
Geology 35, 1083-1086
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Bryozoan paleoecology indicates mid-Phanerozoic extinctions were the product of long-term environmental stress.
C. M. Powers and D. J. Bottjer (2007)
Geology 35, 995-998
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Evaluation of different models for the origin of the Siberian Traps.
A. V. Ivanov (2007)
Geological Society of America Special Papers 430, 669-691
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Timing of recovery from the end-Permian extinction: Geochronologic and biostratigraphic constraints from south China.
D. J. Lehrmann, J. Ramezani, S. A. Bowring, M. W. Martin, P. Montgomery, P. Enos, J. L. Payne, M. J. Orchard, W. Hongmei, and W. Jiayong (2006)
Geology 34, 1053-1056
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
ENVIRONMENTAL AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROLS ON THE INITIATION AND GROWTH OF A MIDDLE TRIASSIC (ANISIAN) REEF COMPLEX ON THE GREAT BANK OF GUIZHOU, GUIZHOU PROVINCE, CHINA.
J. L. PAYNE, D. J. LEHRMANN, S. CHRISTENSEN, J. WEI, and A. H. KNOLL (2006)
Palaios 21, 325-343
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A Permian-Triassic boundary section at Quinn River Crossing, northwestern Nevada, and implications for the cause of the Early Triassic chert gap on the western Pangean margin.
E. A. Sperling and J. C. Ingle Jr. (2006)
Geological Society of America Bulletin 118, 733-746
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Permian-Triassic boundary in the central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica.
J. W. Collinson, W. R. Hammer, R. A. Askin, and D. H. Elliot (2006)
Geological Society of America Bulletin 118, 747-763
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Carbon isotopic evidence for terminal-Permian methane outbursts and their role in extinctions of animals, plants, coral reefs, and peat swamps.
G. J. Retallack and E. S. Krull (2006)
Geological Society of America Special Papers 399, 249-268
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Triassic Evolution of the Yangtze Platform in Guizhou Province, People's Republic of China.
P. Enos, D. J. Lehrmann, W. Jiayong, Y. Youyi, X. Jiafei, D. H. Chaikin, M. Minzoni, A. K. Berry, and P. Montgomery (2006)
Geological Society of America Special Papers 417, 1-105
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The magnetic polarity time scale across the Permian-Triassic boundary.
M. B. Steiner (2006)
Geological Society, London, Special Publications 265, 15-38
   Abstract »    PDF »
Late Permian to Early Triassic transition in central and NE Spain: biotic and sedimentary characteristics.
A. Arche and J. Lopez-Gomez (2006)
Geological Society, London, Special Publications 265, 261-280
   Abstract »    PDF »
Direct radiometric dating of the Devonian-Mississippian time-scale boundary using the Re-Os black shale geochronometer.
D. Selby and R. A. Creaser (2005)
Geology 33, 545-548
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Play analysis and leading-edge oil-reservoir development methods in the Permian basin: Increased recovery through advanced technologies.
S. P. Dutton, E. M. Kim, R. F. Broadhead, W. D. Raatz, C. L. Breton, S. C. Ruppel, and C. Kerans (2005)
AAPG Bulletin 89, 553-576
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Pulsed origination and extinction in the marine realm.
(2005)
Paleobiology 31, 6-20
Geochemistry of the end-Permian extinction event in Austria and Italy: No evidence for an extraterrestrial component.
C. Koeberl, K. A. Farley, B. Peucker-Ehrenbrink, and M. A. Sephton (2004)
Geology 32, 1053-1056
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Origination, extinction, and mass depletions of marine diversity.
(2004)
Paleobiology 30, 522-542
Comment on "Bedout: A Possible End-Permian Impact Crater Offshore of Northwestern Australia".
A. Glikson (2004)
Science 306, 613b
   Full Text »    PDF »
Age and Timing of the Permian Mass Extinctions: U/Pb Dating of Closed-System Zircons.
R. Mundil, K. R. Ludwig, I. Metcalfe, and P. R. Renne (2004)
Science 305, 1760-1763
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Vertebrate extinction across Permian-Triassic boundary in Karoo Basin, South Africa: Reply.
G.J. Retallack (2004)
Geological Society of America Bulletin 116, 1295-1296
   Full Text »    PDF »
Large Perturbations of the Carbon Cycle During Recovery from the End-Permian Extinction.
J. L. Payne, D. J. Lehrmann, J. Wei, M. J. Orchard, D. P. Schrag, and A. H. Knoll (2004)
Science 305, 506-509
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Paleoproterozoic intraplate magmatism and basin development on the Kaapvaal Craton: Age, paleomagnetism and geochemistry of ~1.93 to ~1.87 Ga post-Waterberg dolerites.
R.E. Hanson, W.A. Gose, J.L. Crowley, J. Ramezani, S.A. Bowring, D.S. Bullen, R.P. Hall, J.A. Pancake, and J. Mukwakwami (2004)
South African Journal of Geology 107, 233-254
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Pelagic radiolarian and conodont biozonation in the Permo-Triassic boundary interval and correlation to the Meishan GSSP.
X. Wenchen, Z. Ning, W. Guoqing, and Y. Kakuwa (2004)
Micropaleontology 50, 27-44
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A LATE PERMIAN CHINESE GASTROPOD SPECIES, POSSIBLY LARVAL, IN THE MIDDLE PENNSYLVANIAN OF NEW MEXICO.
(2004)
Journal of Paleontology 78, 420-423
Chondritic Meteorite Fragments Associated with the Permian-Triassic Boundary in Antarctica.
A. R. Basu, M. I. Petaev, R. J. Poreda, S. B. Jacobsen, and L. Becker (2003)
Science 302, 1388-1392
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Has the utility of Dicynodon for Late Permian terrestrial biostratigraphy been overstated?.
K. D. Angielczyk and A. A. Kurkin (2003)
Geology 31, 363-366
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Mid-Triassic integrated U-Pb geochronology and ammonoid biochronology from the Balaton Highland (Hungary).
J. Palfy, J. PAlfy, R. R. Parrish, K. David, and A. VOrOs (2003)
Journal of the Geological Society 160, 271-284
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Structure and Chemistry of Zircon and Zircon-Group Minerals.
R. J. Finch, R. J. Finch, and J. M. Hanchar (2003)
Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 53, 1-25
   Full Text »    PDF »
Zircon Saturation Thermometry.
J. M. Hanchar, J. M. Hanchar, and E. B. Watson (2003)
Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 53, 89-112
   Full Text »    PDF »
Historical Development of Zircon Geochronology.
D. Davis, D. W. Davis, T. E. Krogh, and I. S. Williams (2003)
Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 53, 145-181
   Full Text »    PDF »
High-Precision U-Pb Zircon Geochronology and the Stratigraphic Record.
S. A. Bowring, S. A. Bowring, and M. D. Schmitz (2003)
Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 53, 305-326
   Full Text »    PDF »
Biomineralization and Evolutionary History.
A. H. Knoll and A. H. Knoll (2003)
Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 54, 329-356
   Full Text »    PDF »
Paleobiogeographical extinction patterns of Permian brachiopods in the Asian-western Pacific region.
(2002)
Paleobiology 28, 449-463
Land-plant diversity and the end-Permian mass extinction.
P. M. Rees (2002)
Geology 30, 827-830
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
40Ar/39Ar Dates from the West Siberian Basin: Siberian Flood Basalt Province Doubled.
M. K. Reichow, A. D. Saunders, R. V. White, M. S. Pringle, A. I. Al'Mukhamedov, A. I. Medvedev, and N. P. Kirda (2002)
Science 296, 1846-1849
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Examination of hypotheses for the Permo-Triassic boundary extinction by carbon cycle modeling.
R. A. Berner (2002)
PNAS 99, 4172-4177
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Pattern of vertebrate extinctions across an event bed at the Permian-Triassic boundary in the Karoo Basin of South Africa.
R. M.H. Smith and P. D. Ward (2001)
Geology 29, 1147-1150
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
End-Permian catastrophe by a bolide impact: Evidence of a gigantic release of sulfur from the mantle.
K. Kaiho, Y. Kajiwara, T. Nakano, Y. Miura, H. Kawahata, K. Tazaki, M. Ueshima, Z. Chen, and G. R. Shi (2001)
Geology 29, 815-818
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Life in the end-Permian dead zone.
C. V. Looy, R. J. Twitchett, D. L. Dilcher, J. H. A. Van Konijnenburg-Van Cittert, and H. Visscher (2001)
PNAS
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Rare earth elements in synthetic zircon: Part 1. Synthesis, and rare earth element and phosphorus doping.
J. M. Hanchar, R. J. Finch, P. W.O. Hoskin, E. B. Watson, D. J. Cherniak, and A. N. Mariano (2001)
American Mineralogist 86, 667-680
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Rare-earth elements in synthetic zircon: Part 2. A single-crystal X-ray study of xenotime substitution.
R. J. Finch, J. M. Hanchar, P. W. O. Hoskin, and P. C. Burns (2001)
American Mineralogist 86, 681-689
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
From the Cover: Global biodiversity and the ancient carbon cycle.
D. H. Rothman (2001)
PNAS 98, 4305-4310
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Rapid and synchronous collapse of marine and terrestrial ecosystems during the end-Permian biotic crisis.
R. J. Twitchett, C. V. Looy, R. Morante, H. Visscher, and P. B. Wignall (2001)
Geology 29, 351-354
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
AN EARLY PERMIAN FLORA WITH LATE PERMIAN AND MESOZOIC AFFINITIES FROM NORTH-CENTRAL TEXAS.
W. A. DiMichele, W. A. DiMICHELE, S. H. MAMAY, D. S. CHANEY, R. W. HOOK, and W. JOHN NELSON (2001)
Journal of Paleontology 75, 449-460
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Impact Event at the Permian-Triassic Boundary: Evidence from Extraterrestrial Noble Gases in Fullerenes.
L. Becker, R. J. Poreda, A. G. Hunt, T. E. Bunch, and M. Rampino (2001)
Science 291, 1530-1533
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Biotic Recovery from the End-Permian Mass Extinction: Behavior of the Inarticulate Brachiopod Lingula as a Disaster Taxon.
(2001)
Palaios 16, 95-101
Distribution of Ammonoids in the Lower Triassic Union Wash Formation (Eastern California): Evidence for Paleoceanographic Conditions During Recovery from the End-Permian Mass Extinction.
(2000)
Palaios 15, 535-545
Altered River Morphology in South Africa Related to the Permian-Triassic Extinction.
P. D. Ward, D. R. Montgomery, and R. Smith (2000)
Science 289, 1740-1743
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Base of the Kiaman: Its definition and global stratigraphic significance.
N.D. Opdyke, J. Roberts, J. Claoue-Long, E. Irving, and P.J. Jones (2000)
Geological Society of America Bulletin 112, 1315-1341
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
{delta}13C depth profiles from paleosols across the Permian-Triassic boundary: Evidence for methane release.
E. S. Krull and G. J. Retallack (2000)
Geological Society of America Bulletin 112, 1459-1472
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Identifying Accessory Mineral Saturation during Differentiation in Granitoid Magmas: an Integrated Approach.
P. W. O. HOSKIN, P. D. KINNY, D. WYBORN, and B. W. CHAPPELL (2000)
J. Petrology 41, 1365-1396
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Pattern of Marine Mass Extinction Near the Permian-Triassic Boundary in South China.
Y. G. Jin, Y. Wang, W. Wang, Q. H. Shang, C. Q. Cao, and D. H. Erwin (2000)
Science 289, 432-436
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Chuar Group of the Grand Canyon: Record of breakup of Rodinia, associated change in the global carbon cycle, and ecosystem expansion by 740 Ma.
K. E. Karlstrom, S. A. Bowring, C. M. Dehler, A. H. Knoll, S. M. Porter, D. J. D. Marais, A. B. Weil, Z. D. Sharp, J. W. Geissman, M. B. Elrick, et al. (2000)
Geology 28, 619-622
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Tempo of the end-Permian event: High-resolution cyclostratigraphy at the Permian-Triassic boundary.
M. R. Rampino, A. Prokoph, and A. Adler (2000)
Geology 28, 643-646
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Timing of mammal-like reptile extinctions across the Permian-Triassic boundary in South Africa.
K. G. MacLeod, R. M. H. Smith, P. L. Koch, and P. D. Ward (2000)
Geology 28, 227-230
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Timing the end-Triassic mass extinction: First on land, then in the sea?.
J. Palfy, J. K. Mortensen, E. S. Carter, P. L. Smith, R. M. Friedman, and H. W. Tipper (2000)
Geology 28, 39-42
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The delayed resurgence of equatorial forests after the Permian-Triassic ecologic crisis.
C. V. Looy, W. A. Brugman, D. L. Dilcher, and H. Visscher (1999)
PNAS 96, 13857-13862
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Source and Fate of Massive Carbon Input During the Latest Paleocene Thermal Maximum.
M. E. Katz, D. K. Pak, G. R. Dickens, and K. G. Miller (1999)
Science 286, 1531-1533
   Abstract »    Full Text »
The tempo of mass extinction and recovery: The end-Permian example.
S. A. Bowring, D. H. Erwin, and Y. Isozaki (1999)
PNAS 96, 8827-8828
   Full Text »    PDF »
The Future of the Fossil Record.
D. Jablonski (1999)
Science 284, 2114-2116
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Organic Carbon Fluxes and Ecological Recovery from the Cretaceous-Tertiary Mass Extinction.
S. D'Hondt, P. Donaghay, J. C. Zachos, D. Luttenberg, and M. Lindinger (1998)
Science 282, 276-279
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Examination of hypotheses for the Permo-Triassic boundary extinction by carbon cycle modeling.
R. A. Berner (2002)
PNAS 99, 4172-4177
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Life in the end-Permian dead zone.
C. V. Looy, R. J. Twitchett, D. L. Dilcher, J. H. A. Van Konijnenburg-Van Cittert, and H. Visscher (2001)
PNAS 98, 7879-7883
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)