New mass extinction event identified by geologists

Source: BBC

New mass extinction event identified by geologists

By Alex Berezow
Science writer
1 hour ago Science & Environment

Over the past 450 million years, life on Earth has been devastated by five mass extinction events that are widely recognised by geologists.

Now, an international team of researchers proposes adding a sixth mass extinction to the list.

The team believes it has accumulated sufficient evidence to promote the Capitanian event to the rank of mass extinction.

The extinction occurred approximately 262 million years ago.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

The researchers, led by Dr David Bond of the University of Hull, presented their case in the Geological Society of America Bulletin.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-32397220