Evidence for perturbation of the carbon cycle in the Middle Frasnian punctata Zone (late Devonian)

New carbon isotopic data from the Devonian of Ardennes (Belgium) and partly from the Holy Cross Mountains (Poland) highlight an abrupt and high-amplitude negative excursion in the punctata conodont Zone. Published information from Moravia and China suggests that this Middle Frasnian negative excursion, jointly with the preceding large-scale positive shift, should be used as a global chemostratigraphic marker. Causation scenarios for this negative 'punctata Event' are correlated neither with major biota turnover nor major sea-level changes, but may be related to: (1) the Alamo Impact Event, that led to (2) the massive dissociation of methane hydrates and (3) the rapid onset of global warming. Keywords: punctata Event, Frasnian, carbon isotopes, Ardennes, Belgium.