Study: Deadly volcanic eruptions led to twin mass extinctions about 260 million years ago
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MRIGAKSHI DIXIT
Throughout Earth's geological history, there have been multiple, catastrophic mass extinctions that wiped off animals from the planet.
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Experts believe that long before dinosaurs, the planet was dominated by a variety of animals, ranging from Titanophoneus to armored reptiles.
SCIENCE
Now, a team of researchers has discovered evidence of a dual mass extinction that occurred approximately 260 million years ago - nearly 3 million years apart.
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These volatile events resulted in the demise of these strange beasts around 260 million years ago during the Earth's Capitanian Age.
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According to the China University of Geosciences, these two mass extinctions were caused by massive volcanic eruptions.
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The volcanic eruptions occurred in southwest China, in an area known as the Emeishan Large Igneous Province, according to the study.