Mercury isotope evidence for recurrent photic-zone euxinia triggered by enhanced terrestrial nutrient inputs during the Late Devonian mass extinction

• Published in: Earth and planetary science letters Vol. 613; p. 118175
• Main Authors: Zheng, Wang, Gilleaudeau, Geoffrey J., Algeo, Thomas J., Zhao, Yaqiu, Song, Yi, Zhang, Yuanming, Sahoo, Swapan K., Anbar, Ariel D., Carmichael, Sarah K., Xie, Shucheng, Liu, Cong-Qiang, Chen, Jiubin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.07.2023
• Subjects: Devonian-Carboniferous boundary; Frasnian-Famennian boundary; Hangenberg; Kellwasser; mercury isotopes; photic zone euxinia; Kellwasser; Devonian-Carboniferous boundary; mercury isotopes; photic zone euxinia; Hangenberg; Frasnian-Famennian boundary
• ISSN: 0012-821X; 1385-013X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118175

Widespread oceanic anoxia marked by globally extensive deposition of organic-rich black shale during the Late Devonian was a major factor in the mass extinctions at the Frasnian-Famennian (FFB, ∼372 million years ago) and Devonian-Carboniferous boundaries (DCB, ∼359 million years ago), although the triggers for these deoxygenation events are still under debate. Here, we apply a novel paleoredox proxy, Hg isotopes, to investigate Late Devonian ocean redox variation and its causes. We found no Hg enrichments in North America across either the FFB or DCB, thus arguing against the hypothesis of global-scale volcanism as the trigger for Late Devonian environmental and biotic crises. Gradual negative shifts of both mass-independent fractionation (Δ199Hg) and mass-dependent fractionation (δ202Hg) occurred between the FFB and DCB, suggesting a progressive increase of Hg inputs associated with terrestrial organic matter. Moreover, multiple abrupt negative excursions of Δ199Hg (down to −0.19‰) along with concurrent positive shifts of δ202Hg occurred just above the FFB and across the DCB, providing strong evidence for recurrent photic-zone euxinia (PZE) that was preceded by increasing terrestrial inputs in the epicontinental seas of North America. We suggest that the increase of terrestrial inputs of nutrients, probably via expansion of vascular land plants, stimulated marine primary productivity and eventually PZE, which may have been a key kill mechanism for the Late Devonian mass extinction. •High-resolution Hg analysis of Frasnian-Famennian (FFB) and Devonian-Carboniferous (DCB) boundaries.•Lack of Hg enrichment does not support LIP eruptions during FFB and DCB biocrises.•Negative shifts of Δ199Hg (MIF) and δ202Hg (MDF) reflect rising terrigenous Hg inputs prior to the DCB.•Hg isotopes document photic zone euxinia (PZE) triggered by increased nutrient fluxes.•Hg isotopes are novel proxies of both PZE and terrestrial erosion.