The first continuous δ¹³C record across the Late Silurian Lau Event on Gotland, Sweden

The positive δ¹³C excursion associated with the Late Silurian Lau Event is recognized globally and is the most prominent carbon isotope excursion of the Phanerozoic. We present new δ¹³C data (195 samples) and the first continuous carbon isotope stratigraphy across the stratigraphic range of this bioevent based on two drill cores from Gotland, the informal type area for the Lau Event. The positive δ¹³C anomaly reaches a peak value of 9.01‰ in an interval correlated to the Icriodontid conodont Zone in the upper Eke Formation, an interval with generally impoverished fauna and strongly dominated by one single conodont species, Panderodus equicostatus, and a mass-occurrence of oncoids. The distinct morphology of this Late Ludfordian Carbon Isotope Excursion, including a well-defined rising limb, a plateau and a falling limb can be used for intercontinental correlation of the strata.