Cenomanian-Turonian boundary event

The Cenomanian-Turonian boundary event, also known as the Cenomanian-Turonian extinction, Cenomanian-Turonian oceanic anoxic event (OAE 2), and referred to also as the Bonarelli event, was one of two anoxic extinction events in the Cretaceous period. (The other being the earlier Selli event, or OAE 1a, in the Aptian.) The Cenomanian-Turonian oceanic anoxic event is considered to be the most recent truly global oceanic anoxic event in Earth's geologic history. Selby et al. in 2009 concluded the OAE 2 occurred approximately 91.5 ± 8.6 Ma, though estimates published by Leckie et al. (2002) are given as 93–94 Ma. The Cenomanian-Turonian boundary has been refined in 2012 to 93.9 ± 0.15 Ma. There was a large carbon cycle disturbance during this time period, signified by a large positive carbon isotope excursion. However, apart from the carbon cycle disturbance, there were also large disturbances in the ocean's nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulphur, and iron cycles.