Mercury evidence of Deccan volcanism driving the Latest Maastrichtian warming event

Abstract The timing and ecological impacts of the Deccan Traps large igneous province eruption are vigorously debated. Pre–Cretaceous-Paleogene (KPg) boundary volcanism have been widely identified in marine sediments, but direct evidence terrestrial remains rare. We used mercury concentrations isotopic compositions, a proxy for volcanic activity, to assess on environments. studied two drill cores across KPg eastern China that represent different depositional environments: clastic deposits Jiaolai Basin carbonate Pingyi Basin. Both exhibit strong Hg enrichment prior boundary. Near consistent mass-independent fractionation (MIF) odd-Hg isotopes (odd-MIF) likely indicates volcanogenic source spikes below Odd-MIF likewise suggest with signature lower Δ199Hg values before after spike interval. level can be stratigraphically correlated beginning Latest Maastrichtian warming event (LMWE) is strong, negative carbon-isotope excursion (CIE) both δ13Corg (organic matter) δ13Ccarb (carbonate), suggesting disturbance global carbon cycle induced by major pulse volcanism. Our discovery ter-restrial record pre-KPg provides robust influence during LMWE.