Slowing of continental plates caused extinctions

Earth’s worst mass extinctions were caused by a slowing of the continental plates, according to new research.

It led to enormous volcanic eruptions – wiping out life by causing climatic and biological upheaval, say scientists.

The discovery is based on chemical data from ancient mudstone deposits obtained from a mile-deep borehole in Wales. Throughout the past 600 million years there have been five major mass extinctions.

The world’s biggest volcanoes lie in areas dubbed LIPS (Large Igneous Provinces).