The Link between Large Igneous Provinces and the Two Mass Extinctions in Permian: Review of Recent Progress

The two mass extinction events in the Permian, debated and investigated by geologists, have been a hottest of issues. In the Permo—Triassic boundary (PTB, about 252 Ma) mass extinction, more than 90% of marine species went extinct, and biogeochemical cycles were disrupted globally. The other smaller mass extinction occurred at the Guadalupian—Lopingian boundary (GLB, end-Guadalupian, about 260 Ma). Although the origin of the two mass extinction events has been unclear, it is a coincidence that a temporal link between the two mass extinction events and flood basalts volcanisms of the Siberian and Emeishan large igneous provinces. Generally,the volcanism has been considered to be a major cause of mass extinction which caused a sharp deterioration of global climate due to a large quantity of volatile gases and volcanic ash production. This paper reviews, around the coupling relationship between the two mass extinction events and the large igneous provinces, research results of volatile gases release from geological processes associated with large igneous provinces. In the end, we summarize some controversies at the current stage and put forward some suggestions for Emeishan large igneous province.