Timing, Duration, and Causes of Mass Extinctions
A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 March 2022) | Viewed by 4087
Special Issue Editors
Interests: igneous, sedimentary, and petroleum geochemistry; geochronology; isotope geochemistry
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The significance of mass extinctions for reconstructing the past, understanding the present, and preparing for future environmental change is of utmost interest throughout the sciences. Biological reductions characterizing mass extinctions in the sedimentary record often coincide with prominent geochemical variations in paleo-environments. Understanding the triggers and the global unfolding of mass extinctions requires the reconstruction of complex interactions and multiple feedbacks between organic and inorganic constituents in the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Just as importantly, we ask what processes are responsible for the Earth’s return to life-enhancing conditions. Geochemical signatures held in the rock record rarely provide unambiguous answers, but collectively, they form an increasing base of knowledge from which we can better understand both triggers and consequences associated with life-altering processes on Earth.
This dedicated Special Issue will address questions that probe dramatic geochemical changes on Earth leading to mass extinctions. We invite contributions focused on broad or specific aspects of geochemistry and geochronology of mass extinction events. We warmly welcome both seasoned scientists and newcomers to be part of this Special Issue and look forward to working together with you.
Dr. Svetoslav V. Georgiev
Prof. Dr. Holly J. Stein
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- mass extinctions
- geochronology
- geochemistry
- elemental cycling
- stable isotopes
- large igneous provinces (LIPS)
