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Abstract: The end-Permian mass extinction is now robustly dated at 252.6±0.2Ma (U–Pb) and the Permian–Triassic (P–T) GSSP level is dated by interpolation at 252.5Ma. An isotopic geochronological timescale for the Late Permian–Early Triassic, based on recent accurate high-precision U–Pb single zircon dating of volcanic ashes, together with calibrated conodont zonation schemes, is presented. The duration of the Early Triassic (Induan+Olenekian stages) is estimated at only 5.5 million years. The duration of the Induan Stage (Griesbachian+Dienerian sub-stages) is estimated at ca. one million years and the early Olenekian (Smithian sub-stage) at 0.7 million years duration. Considering this timescale, the “delayed” recovery following the end-Permian mass extinction may not in fact have been particularly protracted, in the light of the severity of the extinction. Conodonts evolved rapidly in the first 1 million years following the mass extinction leading to recognition of high-resolution conodont zones. Continued episodic global environmental and climatic stress following the extinction is recognized by multiple carbon isotope excursions, further faunal turnover and peculiar sedimentary and biotic facies (e.g. microbialites). The end-Permian mass extinction is interpreted to be synchronous globally and between marine and non-marine environments. The nature of the double-phased Late Permian extinction (at the Guadalupian–Lopingian boundary and the P–T boundary), linked to large igneous provinces, suggests a primary role for superplume activity that involved geomagnetic polarity change and massive volcanism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Tibetan Plateau and western Yunnan are known to have formed by the amalgamation of Gondwana-derived continental blocks and arc terranes as a result of Tethyan subduction followed by continental collisions during the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic. The Devonian and the southern Lancangjiang zone, western Yunnan is a critical period and key region for studying the transformation between the “Proto-Tethyan” and Paleo-Tethyan oceanic systems. New geochemical data and LA-ICPMS U–Pb zircon ages of the Late Devonian volcanogenic sediments from the southern Lancangjiang zone in western Yunnan, SW China, are presented. The studied sedimentary rocks of the Nanguang Formation are volcaniclastic rocks with high volcanic lithic content (55–65%, mostly andesite, dacite, with some rhyolite and tuffs). Whole rock geochemistry, zircon trace elements and detrital modal analyses indicate derivation from a subduction-related magmatic arc. Three tuff samples yield Late Devonian weighted mean 206 Pb/ 238 U ages of 378 ± 4 Ma, 366 ± 5 Ma and 382 ± 8 Ma, suggesting a Late Devonian depositional age. 104 zircon U–Pb analyses on 104 zircon grains from two sandstone samples present extremely tight age clusters, mostly ranging from 380 Ma to 360 Ma. This indicates a single Late Devonian igneous source. A short transport distance and a high rate of denudation and deposition within an arc-related basin are considered likely for the tuffs and volcaniclastic rocks in this study. This implies the presence of an as yet unidentified Late Devonian magmatic arc in the southern Lancangjiang zone. The cryptic Late Devonian arc is likely to represent either a continuation of Late Ordovician–Late Silurian “Proto-Tethyan” subduction or the initial stage of the Paleo-Tethyan Lincang Arc and indicates that subduction of the Changning-Menglian ocean beneath the Simao/Indochina Block occurred in the Late Devonian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]