Sedimentological and paleoecological aspects of the Norian–Rhaetian transition (Late Triassic) in the Xuanhan area of the Sichuan Basin, Southwest China

• Published in: Palaeoworld Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 334 - 345
• Main Authors: Lu, Ning, Wang, Yong-Dong, Popa, Mihai Emilian, Xie, Xiao-Ping, Li, Li-Qin, Xi, Shu-Na, Xin, Cun-Lin, Deng, Chun-Tao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2019
• Subjects: Norian–Rhaetian; Paleoclimate; Plant paleoecology; Sedimentary analysis; Sichuan Basin; Sichuan Basin; Paleoclimate; Plant paleoecology; Norian–Rhaetian; Sedimentary analysis
• ISSN: 1871-174X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.palwor.2019.04.006

The end-Triassic mass extinction is one of the five big extinction events in the Phanerozoic, and its impact on marine organisms has been extensively studied. However, whether the terrestrial ecosystem had begun to deteriorate or even collapsed prior to the end-Triassic mass extinction remains controversial and the related studies in Asia are very limited. In this study, we provide a comprehensive investigation of the sedimentary environments, their implications for floral changes, and the paleoecology during the Norian–Rhaetian transition in Xuanhan area, northeastern Sichuan Basin, Southwest China. The sedimentary environments and climatic conditions changed coupling the transgression and regression caused by the tectonic movements. Climatic oscillations were identified during the Norian–Rhaetian transition in the Xuanhan area, including a short-term cooling event. The diversity and composition of the plant communities changed through the Norian–Rhaetian transition in Xuanhan area, but the terrestrial ecosystem as a whole didn’t collapse or deteriorate prior to the end-Triassic mass extinction.