The evolution of life on Earth is marked by catastrophic extinction events, one of which occurred ca. 200 Ma at the transition from the Triassic Period to the Jurassic Period (Tr-J boundary), apparently contemporaneous with the eruption of the world's largest known continental igneous province, the Central Atlantic magmatic province. The temporal relationship of the Tr-J boundary and the province's volcanism is clarified by new multi-disciplinary (stratigraphic, palynologic, geochronologic, paleomagnetic, geochemical) data that demonstrate that development of the Central Atlantic magmatic province straddled the Tr-J boundary and thus may have had a causal relationship with the climatic crisis and biotic turnover demarcating the boundary

A revision of the stratigraphy of late Palaeozoic and early Mesozoic carbonates (Bih Formation) in the Musandam Mountains near Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), clarifies the presence of deposits that are age-equivalent to the Late Permian and Early Triassic Khuff Formation. Biostratigraphic markers including benthic foraminifera and calcareous algae indicate a Permian age for the stratigraphically oldest outcrops ranging from late Wuchiapingian to late Changhsingian (K4 and K3 reservoir units in the subsurface). A Late Induan – Early Olenekian (Early Triassic) age is documented for the stratigraphically youngest outcrops. Sedimentological features, stacking patterns and microfacies of the Permian outcrops show strong affinity to the KS3 and KS2 Khuff sequences, dominated by high-energy bioclastic pack- and grainstone. The depositional environment of the Bih Formation is further characterised by a palynological evaluation of claystones and by XRD analysis of clay minerals. Spectral gamma-ray data from the outcrop, which indicate Uranium depletion following the extinction of Permian foraminifera, help to pinpoint the position of the Permian – Triassic boundary and to correlate the measured section with the subsurface. Some stratigraphic intervals in outcrop are affected by strong secondary dolomitisation and do not reflect the same diagenetic patterns as their subsurface counterparts. Patterns of secondary dolomitisation, however, indicate the flow of formation water and thus mimic pore-fluid flow in the subsurface reservoirs. The depositional facies show clear resemblances to the reservoir facies, and the studied outcrops most likely represent the best analogue to the Khuff reservoirs in the UAE and in the North Dome/South Pars field area, offshore Qatar and Iran.

New investigations in the Nanpanjiang Basin indicate that the onset of the iconic microbialites associated with the Paleozoic-Mesozoic boundary was Early Triassic in age. Bathymetry (water agitation, oxygenation, light penetration) and clastic load are shown to have exerted a direct control on the growth of microbialites. Carbonate supersaturation is also required for the deposition of the microbialites. Bathymetric control is further corroborated by the topographic inheritance of a latest Permian pull-apart basin into Early Triassic times, with a distribution of basal Early Triassic microbialites (BETM) restricted to uplifted blocks. This control is also reflected by the accumulation of carbonaceous black shales in adjacent troughs. The geographically most extensive Nanpanjiang BETM bloomed on a large NW–SE trending uplifted block exceeding 12,000 km2 (Luolou Platform) centered on northwestern Guangxi. Post-Triassic displacements along the Youjiang Fault obscure the paleogeographic relation of BETM exposed west of this fault.\ud Triassic foraminifers occur in the basal most BETM episode, which is locally bracketed by high-energy grainstones made of reworked Permian foraminifers. Therefore, the Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB) is within the unconformity that separates the Late Permian Heshan Fm. from the basal most BETM. Where accommodation space was sufficient, up to five event surfaces are associated with the unconformity. Microfacies analysis supports chemical dissolution but did not reveal evidence for subaerial erosion, although intercalated grainstone made of Permian foraminifers indicate reworking. Chemical dissolution and mechanical erosion both conceivably contributed to the genesis of the unconformity. The upward shift from tabulated to domical microbial build-ups is accompanied by accumulation of coquinoid lenses between domes, which indicates deepening of the Luolou Platform BETM. The main drowning resulting from both regional tectonic subsidence and a global sea-level rise led to the cessation of the BETM that were buried under predominant fine siliciclastics. Any concomitant change in sea water chemistry appears unlikely