John W. Geissman

Is the vertebrate-defined Permian-Triassic boundary in the Karoo Basin, South Africa, the terrestrial expression of the end-Permian marine event?

The end-Permian extinction records the greatest ecological catastrophe in Earth history. The vertebrate fossil record in the Karoo Basin, South Africa, has been used for more than a century as the standard for understanding turnover in terrestrial ecosystems, recently claimed to be in synchrony with the marine crisis. Workers assumed that systematic turnover at the Dicynodon assemblage zone boundary, followed by the appearance of new taxa directly above the base of the Lystrosaurus assemblage zone, is the continental expression of the end-Permian event and recovery. To test this hypothesis, we present the first highprecision age on strata close to the inferred Permian-Triassic boundary. A U-Pb isotope dilution–thermal ionization mass spectrometry zircon age of 253.48 ± 0.15 Ma (early Changhsingian) is from a silicified ash layer ~60 m below the current vertebrate-defined boundary at Old Lootsberg Pass (southern South Africa). This section yields newly discovered plants and vertebrates, and is dominated by a normal polarity signature. Our collective data suggest that the Dicynodon-Lystrosaurus assemblage zone boundary is stratigraphically higher than currently reported, and older than the marine extinction event. Therefore, the turnover in vertebrate taxa at this biozone boundary probably does not represent the biological expression of the terrestrial end-Permian mass extinction. The actual Permian-Triassic boundary in the Karoo Basin is either higher in the Katberg Formation or is not preserved. The currently accepted model of the terrestrial ecosystem response to the crisis, both in this basin and its extension globally, requires reevaluation.

Geology of the coastal Chiapas (Mexico) Miocene plutons and the Tonalá shear zone: Syntectonic emplacement and rapid exhumation during sinistral transpression

Late Miocene plutons in coastal Chiapas, Mexico, represent the roots of an extinct magmatic arc. Miocene granitoids of calc-alkaline composition and arc chemistry intruded into and were deformed within the Tonala mylonite belt in the middle to upper crust. The mylonite belt is a crustal-scale shear zone extending along the western margin of the Chiapas Massif for ∼150 km. Deformation is characterized by a dominantly subhorizontal lineation and subvertical foliation along a strikingly linear zone that trends ∼310°. Mylonitic fabrics contain ambiguous but dominantly sinistral shear indicators. Intrusions are interpreted as syntectonic on the basis of similar U-Pb zircon crystallization age estimates (ca. 10 Ma) and the cooling age estimates obtained on neoformed micas in the mylonite. The plutons are elongated, their long axis is parallel to shear zone, and some plutons show markedly asymmetric outcrop patterns, with sheared tails that trail behind the intrusions and that are consistent with sinistral displacement. Parts of plutons were mylonitized by continuous deformation in the Tonala shear zone, locally developing intricate pseudotachylyte and cataclasite veins slightly oblique to the mylonite foliation. Outside of the shear zone, plutons preserve magmatic fabrics. These observations are consistent with features common to syntectonic granites interpreted to have been emplaced along strike-slip shear zones in a transpressional setting. We interpret the Tonala mylonites as representing a relict transform boundary that was slightly oblique to the Polochic-Motagua fault system, which accommodated over 100 km of sinistral displacement between the Chortis block (on the Caribbean plate) and Chiapas (on the North America plate) in late Miocene time.

Magmatic flow paths and palaeomagnetism of the Miocene Stoddard Mountain laccolith, Iron Axis region, Southwestern Utah, USA

Abstract The Stoddard Mountain laccolith is part of a complex of Early Miocene laccoliths intruded along the western edge of the Colorado Plateau in the Iron Axis region of Southwestern Utah. Most Colorado Plateau laccoliths (e.g. Henry and La Sal Mountains) are considered to be fed by a central axial feeder system. However, detailed mapping in the Iron Axis region suggests that the Stoddard Mountain laccolith was fed laterally from the west. Structural and field data suggest the quartz monzonitic magma initially migrated laterally eastward at ∼1 km depth as a sill before spreading laterally north-south where it inflated to ∼1–1.5 km thickness. To test the model of a lateral feeder system, data were collected from 32 palaeomagnetic sites and 76 AMS stations (763 accepted specimens) sampled over the ∼54 km2 exposed part of the N-S oval-shaped laccolith. The in situ AMS fabrics, inferred to correlate with magmatic fabrics, typically show NE trending lineations in the north and S-SE trending lineations in the south part of the intrusion. The palaeomagnetic data are interpreted to indicate a very minimal amount of post-emplacement deformation of the intrusion. The overall lack of westerly-directed and steep magnetic lineations argues against emplacement via a central axial feeder system.

Hot clasts and cold blasts: thermal heterogeneity in boiling-over pyroclastic density currents

Abstract Partial thermal remanent magnetization data from clasts in pyroclastic density current (PDC) deposits provide information on the emplacement temperatures of both lithic and juvenile magmatic clasts contained in the deposits. We collected palaeomagnetic data from clasts in PDC deposits emplaced during historical eruptions of two volcanoes in Ecuador, the 2006 eruption at Tungurahua and the 1877 eruption at Cotopaxi. These eruptions were characterized by emplacement of PDCs mainly related to boiling-over activity. The deposits of these eruptions are similar and are characterized by cauliflower-textured juvenile scoria clasts up to 1 m in diameter and a diverse assemblage of lithic clasts surrounded by an unwelded ashy matrix. On the basis of progressive thermal demagnetization experiments, we infer that emplacement temperatures for most of the lithic clasts in PDC deposits are below 90 °C. In contrast, palaeomagnetic data from juvenile clasts from the same deposits provide emplacement temperatures higher than 540 °C. These data indicate the PDC were thermally heterogeneous over short length scales (decimetres) also after deposition. We hypothesize that PDCs emplaced by the boiling-over mechanism cool quickly owing to atmosphere entrainment, causing the juvenile clasts to form a rind that retains heat and that also prevents lithic clasts from appreciable heating. Several deposits on Cotopaxi, despite being morphologically similar to the PDC deposits, contain both cold lithic and juvenile clasts, which we interpret to be lahar deposits formed by PDCs travelling across glacial ice and snow. Rare deposits containing both hot lithic and hot juvenile clasts are classified as well-mixed, hot PDCs, and were erupted during a more energetic phase at Tungurahua.

Paleontology of the blaauwater 67 and 65 farms, South Africa: Testing the daptocephalus/lystrosaurus biozone boundary in a stratigraphic framework

Abstract: Vertebrate paleontologists have proposed a model for the terrestrial end-Permian event in the Karoo Basin, South Africa. The scenario envisions vegetational collapse that resulted in a phased extinction of vertebrate taxa in the uppermost Daptocephalus Assemblage Zone and overlying Lystrosaurus Assemblage Zone. These biodiversity patterns are placed into composite stratigraphic sections at key localities, several of which are in close spatial proximity. We present a stratigraphic framework at two of these localities, Old Lootsberg Pass and Tweefontein, physically correlated over ∼ 2 km distance into which new and previously reported fossils are placed. Glossopterid-dominated megafloras occur in both the Daptocephalus and Lystrosaurus biozones, along with palynological assemblages. Katbergia, a burrow used by others as an indicator of the transition and post-transition interval, occurs in paleosols much lower in the upper Daptocephalus Assemblage Zone, along with various subhorizontal cylindrical structures interpreted as vertebrate burrows. New vertebrate specimens include: (1) a large skull of either Daptocephalus leoniceps or Dicynodon sp.; (2) a partial skull with large canine assignable to either Dicynodon, Daptocephalus, or Lystrosaurus mccaigi; (3) a Lystrosaurus canine in grayish-red siltstone; (4) a skull of Lystrosaurus murrayi; and (5) a non-diagnostic post-cranial skeleton of lystrosaurid affinity. These fossils are combined with the published Karoo-vertebrate dataset to test the stratigraphic position of the Daptocephalus and Lystrosaurus Assemblage Zone boundary. We conclude that: (1) glossopterids in the Lystrosaurus Assemblage Zone indicate persistence of the clade past what is considered to be an extinction event; (2) the presence of palynomorphs known from recovery clades above the proposed vertebrate-biozone boundary indicate that these groups were present in the basin, but outside of the megafloral taphonomic window; (3) the position of the proposed vertebrate assemblage-zone boundary is stratigraphically inconsistent and varies in its reported stratigraphic position at a minimum of 25 m, and up to 70 m, across a distance of only ∼ 2 km; and (4) terrestrial ecosystem dynamics only can be assessed when a high resolution stratigraphic framework is developed into which biostratigraphic data are placed and, thereafter, patterns can be evaluated.

Focal mechanism of prehistoric earthquakes deduced from pseudotachylyte fabric

Fault pseudotachylytes form by frictional melting during seismic slip and therefore are widely interpreted as “earthquake fossils.” Rapid movement along a rupture surface typically forms a pseudotachylyte generation vein, the thickness of which increases with earthquake magnitude. The direction and sense of seismic slip cannot always be determined due to the generally complex geometry of pseudotachylyte veins. Here we show, for the first time, that the orientation of the magnetic fabric of fault pseudotachylytes indicates both direction and sense of seismic slip. The magnetic fabric, acquired in a manner similar to that of other magmas, arises in this case from the asymmetric preferred orientation of paramagnetic grains during viscous shear of the friction melt. This kinematic information, coupled with fault plane orientation and generation vein thickness, provides new and critical insight for the earthquake focal mechanism. The magnetic fabric of pseudotachylytes therefore not only constitutes a valuable kinematic criterion for these fault rocks, but also could expand our knowledge of prehistoric seismic events.

The use of palaeomagnetism and rock magnetism to understand volcanic processes: introduction

Abstract This Special Publication provides a snapshot of our understanding of volcanic processes through the use of palaeomagnetic and rock magnetic techniques. Here, we provide a context for the book, placing individual chapters within the milieu of previous work, including some magnetic techniques that were not used in the particular studies described herein. Thermoremanent magnetization is a powerful tool to understand processes related to heating and cooling of rocks, including estimating the temperature of emplacement of pyroclastic deposits, which may allow us to better understand the rates of cooling during eruption and transport. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and anisotropy of remanence are used primarily to investigate rock fabrics, and allow the interpretation of flow dynamics in dykes, lava flows and pyroclastic deposits, as well as the location of the eruptive vents. Rock magnetic characteristics can help in the correlation of volcanic deposits but also provide means to date volcanic deposits and to better understand the processes of cooling of the deposits, as the magnetic minerals can change with temperature. In addition, volcanic rocks may be key recorders of past magnetic fields, allowing a better understanding of changes in field intensity and, perhaps, providing clues of how the magnetic field is formed.

Coseismic magnetization of fault pseudotachylytes: 1. Thermal demagnetization experiments

Fault pseudotachylytes form by quenching of silicate liquids produced through coseismic frictional melting. Here we show that in natural pseudotachylytes the main carrier of magnetic remanence blocked in during cooling of the frictional melt is fine-grained magnetite. This confirms previous studies on friction melt experiments. Stoichiometric magnetite, produced during earthquakes by the breakdown of ferromagnesian silicates, records the ambient magnetic field during seismic slip. We find that most fault pseudotachylytes exposed in the Santa Rosa Mountains, southern California, a classic pseudotachylyte locality, acquired their natural remanent magnetization (NRM) upon cooling of the frictional melt through the range of magnetization blocking temperatures of the magnetite grains and this primarily constitutes a thermal remanent magnetization. NRM intensities typical of most pseudotachylyte veins range from 1 to 60·10−4 Am2/kg. A few specimens, however, contain magnetizations significantly higher than that caused by the Earths field as well as magnetization directions that are highly variable over short distances. Other magnetization processes, possibly related to coseismic electric currents, may be involved during the seismogenic process to control NRM acquisition.

Empirical evidence for stability of the 405-kiloyear Jupiter–Venus eccentricity cycle over hundreds of millions of years

Significance Rhythmic climate cycles of various assumed frequencies recorded in sedimentary archives are increasingly used to construct a continuous geologic timescale. However, the age range of valid theoretical orbital solutions is limited to only the past 50 million years. New U–Pb zircon dates from the Chinle Formation tied using magnetostratigraphy to the Newark–Hartford astrochronostratigraphic polarity timescale provide empirical confirmation that the unimodal 405-kiloyear orbital eccentricity cycle reliably paces Earth’s climate back to at least 215 million years ago, well back in the Late Triassic Period. The Newark–Hartford astrochronostratigraphic polarity timescale (APTS) was developed using a theoretically constant 405-kiloyear eccentricity cycle linked to gravitational interactions with Jupiter–Venus as a tuning target and provides a major timing calibration for about 30 million years of Late Triassic and earliest Jurassic time. While the 405-ky cycle is both unimodal and the most metronomic of the major orbital cycles thought to pace Earth’s climate in numerical solutions, there has been little empirical confirmation of that behavior, especially back before the limits of orbital solutions at about 50 million years before present. Moreover, the APTS is anchored only at its younger end by U–Pb zircon dates at 201.6 million years before present and could even be missing a number of 405-ky cycles. To test the validity of the dangling APTS and orbital periodicities, we recovered a diagnostic magnetic polarity sequence in the volcaniclastic-bearing Chinle Formation in a scientific drill core from Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona) that provides an unambiguous correlation to the APTS. New high precision U–Pb detrital zircon dates from the core are indistinguishable from ages predicted by the APTS back to 215 million years before present. The agreement shows that the APTS is continuous and supports a stable 405-kiloyear cycle well beyond theoretical solutions. The validated Newark–Hartford APTS can be used as a robust framework to help differentiate provinciality from global temporal patterns in the ecological rise of early dinosaurs in the Late Triassic, amongst other problems.

Early Cenozoic exhumation and paleotopography in the Arkansas River valley, southern Rocky Mountains, Colorado

New thermochronometric, geochronologic, and clumped isotope data from the Mosquito Range, Arkansas Hills, and Arkansas River valley (Colorado, USA) constrain the magnitude and timing of Laramide deformation in this region, as well as the development of a low-relief Eocene erosion surface found throughout the southern Rocky Mountains. Apatite (U-Th-Sm)/He thermochronometry from seven vertical transects near the lower Arkansas River valley were collected to assess exhumation histories. New paleomagnetic data from the latest Cretaceous Whitehorn Granodiorite is presented to assess the effect of possible upper crustal tilting on these transects. These data, in combination with new zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronometry and 40Ar/39Ar and zircon U-Th-Pb geochronology from the Whitehorn Granodiorite support inverse thermal history models that imply ~3–5 km of differential (west side up) exhumation between the Mosquito Range–Arkansas Hills (5–7 km total exhumation from 80 and 60 Ma) and the Royal Gorge region to the east (<1–2 km exhumation since ca. 120 Ma). Challenges in extracting reliable thermal histories from this data set include samples with significant grain-to-grain age variability, and the observation of upward younging age-elevation relationships in parts of several vertical transects. The former problem is common in Proterozoic crystalline rocks with protracted cooling histories, deriving from complications including helium implantation and radiation damage. We demonstrate, through the application of clumped isotopic data on colocated carbonate samples, that the latter complication likely arises from post-exhumation hydrothermal reheating driven by paleotopography and overlying late Eocene to early Miocene ignimbrite sequences. By comparing multiple closely spaced vertical transects in Proterozoic rocks including a transect collected in Cretaceous plutonic rocks and transects overlain by mid-Cenozoic ignimbrites with those that are not, we demonstrate that reliable thermal histories can be obtained from complex thermochronometric data sets through careful data evaluation and intertransect thermal history comparisons. Interpreting the thermochronometric data in the context of the spatial distribution of mid-Cenozoic ignimbrites in this region also provides new insights into the development of the low-relief Eocene erosion surface in the Rocky Mountains. We observe rapid and extensive Laramide exhumation while ignimbrite deposition is confined to narrow paleovalleys within a paleosurface of moderate relief in the Arkansas Hills and Mosquito Range. Where Laramide exhumation is minimal, the ignimbrites blanket a low-relief paleoerosion surface. The former paleolandscape was entirely formed in the Paleocene, based on our low-temperature thermochronometric data, while the latter paleosurface may well record a much longer evolutionary history, possibly partially inheriting an older paleolandscape. The compound nature of the Eocene erosion surface in this region may provide insight into the development of such surfaces throughout the Rocky Mountains. LITHOSPHERE; v. 10; no. 2; p. 239–266; GSA Data Repository Item 2017402 | Published online 21 December 2017 https://doi.org/10.1130/L673.1