State shift in Deccan volcanism at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, possibly induced by impact
Paul R. Renne, Courtney J. Sprain, Mark A. Richards, Stephen Self, Loÿc Vanderkluysen, Kanchan Pande
Science 2 October 2015:
Vol. 350 no. 6256 pp. 76-78
DOI: 10.1126/science.aac7549
Materials/Methods, Supplementary Text, Tables, Figures, and/or References (PDF)
“Bolide impact and flood volcanism compete as leading candidates for the cause of terminal-Cretaceous mass extinctions. High-precision 40Ar/39Ar data indicate that these two mechanisms may be genetically related, and neither can be considered in isolation. The existing Deccan Traps magmatic system underwent a state shift approximately coincident with the Chicxulub impact and the terminal-Cretaceous mass extinctions, after which ~70% of the Traps’ total volume was extruded in more massive and more episodic eruptions. Initiation of this new regime occurred within ~50,000 years of the impact, which is consistent with transient effects of impact-induced seismic energy. Postextinction recovery of marine ecosystems was probably suppressed until after the accelerated volcanism waned. ”
