Relationship of pyroclastic volcanism and lake-water acidification to Jehol Biota mass mortality events (Early Cretaceous, northeastern China)

• Published in: Chemical geology Vol. 428; pp. 59 - 76
• Main Authors: Zhou, Lian, Algeo, Thomas J., Feng, Lanping, Zhu, Rixiang, Pan, Yongxin, Gao, Shan, Zhao, Laishi, Wu, Yuanbao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.06.2016
• Subjects: Boron; Brackish; Calderas; China; Fossil lagerstätte; Lacustrine facies; Maar; Molybdenum isotopes; Mortality; Productivity; Rare earth metals; Vertebrates; Volcanic activity; Watersheds; Weathering; INW, China, People's Rep., Liaoning Prov; Vertebrates; Maar; Molybdenum isotopes; Boron; Lacustrine facies; Fossil lagerstätte
• ISSN: 0009-2541; 1872-6836
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2016.02.029

Geochemical analysis of the 14.4-m-thick lacustrine succession of the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation (Jehol Group) has yielded new insights concerning vertebrate mass mortality events in the Lake Sihetun volcanic caldera in western Liaoning Province (northeastern China) that produced the Jehol Biota fossil lagerstätten. The long-term evolution of the caldera system resulted in a shift from felsic to mafic magma chemistry, accompanied by a reduced frequency of pyroclastic eruptions, declining hydrothermal activity, and lower lacustrine productivity. The basal Tetrapod Beds exhibit strong hydrothermal influence, as indicated by enrichments of boron (B), certain alkalis (Rb, Cs), rare-earth elements (REEs), yttrium (Y), and many metals (e.g., Co, Cr, Cu, Ge, Mo, Ni, Sb, U, V, and W), and by strongly negative molybdenum isotope compositions (δ98Mo to –2.50‰) that may record large fractionations between molybdate and thiomolybdate species in the Sihetun caldera hydrothermal system. In contrast, the overlying Fish Beds and Non-Fossiliferous Beds have an elemental and Mo-isotopic composition similar to calc-alkaline basalts (δ98Mo=–0.29±0.04‰) in the surrounding watershed, suggesting weathering of Yixian Formation volcanic rocks as the major source of sediment. During its <700-kyr-long history, Lake Sihetun was affected by four environmental cycles, each commencing with a series of pyroclastic eruptions that triggered systematic changes in lakewater chemistry. Following each eruption interval, enhanced weathering of volcanic ash in the surrounding watershed caused lakewater pH to decrease and lacustrine productivity to increase. Continued weathering of bases from basement volcanic rocks subsequently produced alkaline conditions in the lake, leading to precipitation of authigenic carbonate layers and lower lacustrine productivity. Analysis of geochemical redox proxies strongly suggests that the Lake Sihetun water column was completely oxic, in contrast to earlier inferences of a stratified anoxic water column, and that ubiquitous lamination in the lacustrine succession was due to other factors such as widespread microbial mats and/or rapid sediment deposition. [Display omitted] •The world-famous Jehol Biota fossil lagerstätte accumulated in Ancient Lake Sihetun.•Lake Sihetun was an Early Cretaceous volcanic caldera lake (maar) in NE China.•Lake sediments record four cycles of pyroclastic eruption and lake chemistry change.•Lakewater chemistry fluctuated from acidic to alkaline during each eruption cycle.•Low molybdenum isotope values (δ98/95Mo=–2.50‰) document hydrothermal inputs.