Antiquity and Evolutionary Status of Bacterial Sulfate Reduction: Sulfur Isotope Evidence

Schidlowski, Manfred

doi:10.1007/978-94-009-9085-2_14

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…A number of studies have used the absolute range of isotopic compositions in the geological record as a window into the biological activity of sulphur‐metabolizing organisms (e.g. Monster et al ., 1979; Schidlowski, 1 979; Canfield & Teske, 1 996; Canfield, 1 998; Shen et al ., 2001). This approach is most useful when the biological effects leave large sulphur isotope fractionations in the record (<2400 Ma; Canfield & Teske, 1 996) and requires more subtle arguments when the isotope fractionations are small (>2400 Ma; Canfield et al.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sulphur isotopes and the search for life: strategies for identifying sulphur metabolisms in the rock record and beyond

et al. 2008

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The search for life can only be as successful as our understanding of the tools we use to search for it. Here we present new sulphur isotope data (32S, 33S, 34S, 36S) from a variety of modern marine environments and use these observations, along with previously published work, to contribute to this search. Specifically, we use these new data to gain a sense of life's influences on the sulphur isotope record and to distinguish these biologically influenced signatures from their non-biological counterparts. This treatment extends sulphur isotope analyses beyond traditional (34S/32S) measures and employs trace isotope relationships (33S/32S, 36S/32S), as the inclusion of these isotopes provides unique information about biology and its role in the sulphur cycle through time. In the current study we compare and contrast isotope effects produced by sulphur-utilizing microorganisms (experimental), modern and ancient sedimentary records (observational) and non-biological reactions (theoretical). With our collective search for life now extending to neighbouring planets, we present this study as a first step towards more fully understanding the capability of the sulphur isotope system as a viable tool for life detection, both on Earth and beyond.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sulphur isotopes and the search for life: strategies for identifying sulphur metabolisms in the rock record and beyond

et al. 2008

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“…An increase in the atmospheric oxygen level during this period is supported by the lack of detrital uraninite deposits after 2.2 Ga and the widespread occurrence of redbeds (sandstone with a hematitepigmenting agent commonly fonning a coating around the sand grains) after approximately 2.0 Ga. (Red iron oxides exist in Archean marine rocks, but they are probably indicative of locally available biogenic oxygen rather than of atmospheric oxygenation, Mason & von Brunn 1977.) Such a date for the appearance of free oxygen is also consistent with the sulfur isotopic data , Hayes et al 1992. A possible explanation is that oceanic sulfate levels increased around 2.2 Ga as a consequence of an increase in oxidative weathering of pyrite on the continents, implying an increase in atmospheric P 02 • Alternative explanations include a much smaller degree of isotopic fractionation in the Archean oceans because of higher temperatures (Ohmoto & Felder 1987) or the absence of bacterial sulfate reduction during the Archean time (Schidlowski 1979), except perhaps in localized areas of the oceans. 15).…”

Section: Stage IImentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Mineral Deposits

Misra¹

2000

100

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“…Sulphur isotope measurements of Archean rocks date back into the 1970s (e.g. Schidlowski 1980), applying stable sulphur isotopes (δ 34 S) as a chemofossil for tracing microbial sulphur cycling back in time.…”

Section: Sulphur Isotope Systematicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sulphur tales from the early Archean world

Montinaro

Strauß

2016

International Journal of Astrobiology

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Sedimentary and magmatic rocks and their distinct sulphur isotopic signatures indicate the sources and processes of sulphur cycling, in particular through the analysis of all four stable sulphur isotopes (32S, 33S, 34S and 36S). Research over the past 15 years has substantially advanced our understanding of sulphur cycling on the early Earth, most notably through the discovery of mass-independently fractionated sulphur isotopic signatures. A strong atmospheric influence on the early Archean global sulphur cycle is apparent, much in contrast to the modern world. Diverse microbially driven sulphur cycling is clearly discernible, but its importance for Earth surface environments remains to be quantified.

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Antiquity and Evolutionary Status of Bacterial Sulfate Reduction: Sulfur Isotope Evidence

Cited by 4 publications

References 35 publications

Sulphur isotopes and the search for life: strategies for identifying sulphur metabolisms in the rock record and beyond

Sulphur isotopes and the search for life: strategies for identifying sulphur metabolisms in the rock record and beyond

Understanding Mineral Deposits

Sulphur tales from the early Archean world

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