Thermogenic carbon release from the Central Atlantic magmatic province caused major end-Triassic carbon cycle perturbations

Abstract

The Central Atlantic magmatic province (CAMP), the end-Triassic mass extinction (ETE), and associated major carbon cycle perturbations occurred synchronously around the Triassic–Jurassic (T–J) boundary (201 Ma). Negative carbon isotope excursions (CIEs) recorded in marine and terrestrial sediments attest to the input of isotopically light carbon, although the carbon sources remain debated. Here, we explore the effects of mantle-derived and thermogenic carbon released from the emplacement of CAMP using the long-term ocean–atmosphere–sediment carbon cycle reservoir (LOSCAR) model. We have tested a detailed emission scenario grounded by numerous complementary boundary conditions, aiming to model the full extent of the carbon cycle perturbations around the T–J boundary. These include three negative CIEs (i.e., Marshi/Precursor, Spelae/Initial, Tilmanni/Main) with sharp positive CIEs in between. We show that a total of ∼24,000 Gt C (including ∼12,000 Gt thermogenic C) replicates the proxy data. These results indicate that thermogenic carbon generated from the contact aureoles around CAMP sills represents a credible source for the negative CIEs. An extremely isotopically depleted carbon source, such as marine methane clathrates, is therefore not required. Furthermore, we also find that significant organic carbon burial, in addition to silicate weathering, is necessary to account for the positive δ13C intervals following the negative CIEs.