Should the Permian/Triassic boundary be defined by the carbon isotope shift?

Abstract

The autors propose that definition of the Permian-Triassic boundary by the onset of a pronounced negative shift in the carbon isotopic composition of the oceanic carbonate system (recorded presently also in the Meishan section, China) is worth of very serious consideration. Such a definition would this chronostratigraphic boundary to reflecting an important geological event, thus marking a step toward the definition of chronostratigraphic intervals as meaningful units of geological time. Such a definitionwould permit precise correlation of geographically widely separated geological sections.