Iron phosphate in the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation of South China: A previously undocumented marine phosphate sink

Schwid, Maxwel F.; Xiao, Shuhai; Hiatt, Eric E.; Fang, Yihang; Nolan, Morrison

doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2020.109993

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…Microbial colonization also explains the occurrence of concordant phosphatic laminae in mudstone levels, because benthic, microbially mediated phosphogenesis was a dominant process in Precambrian marine settings (cf. She et al, 2013;Drummond et al, 2015;Pufahl & Groat, 2017;Zhang et al, 2019). The continuous geometry, close association with microbial lamination and the seemingly nodular character of phosphatic layers associated with low-angle cross-stratifications (for example, Fig.…”

Section: Facies Association 6 -Phosphate Rich Storm Dominated Middle ...mentioning

confidence: 98%

Sedimentary evolution and sequence stratigraphy of Ediacaran high‐grade phosphorite–dolomite–shale successions of the Bocaina Formation (Corumbá Group), Central Brazil: Implications for the Neoproterozoic phosphogenic event

et al. 2023

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Extensive phosphorite deposition is observed in the Neoproterozoic after a prolonged hiatus during most of the Mesoproterozoic era. This event is thought to represent an important record of major palaeoenvironmental, palaeoceanographic and biotic changes that shaped Neoproterozoic ecosystems, suggesting close relationships between phosphogenesis and the preservation of key Ediacaran biotas. However, high‐grade Ediacaran phosphorite deposits are relatively uncommon, diminishing the opportunity to test current phosphate mineralization–deposition models and their implications for Neoproterozoic research. In this scenario, widespread Ediacaran phosphorite–dolomite–shale successions of the Bocaina Formation (Corumbá Group – Central Brazil) are poorly explored in international literature. Nevertheless, recent advances in phosphate exploration gave access to continuous drill core sections and freshly opened mine pits, revealing an unprecedented record of complex phosphatic successions featuring the occurrence of Ediacaran microfossils assigned to the Doushantuo–Pertatataka assemblages. This work seeks to constrain main lithofacies, sequence stratigraphy and depositional settings from these phosphatic successions in order to analyse the sedimentary evolution of the unit under the current Neoproterozoic phosphorite research framework. These results indicate that the Bocaina Formation records secular sustained phosphate deposition. These deposits are related to unprecedented, microbialite reef rim phosphorites deposited during a lower accretionary rimmed platform stage, followed by the deposition of Doushantuo‐like, whole platform phosphorites associated with a later, drowned platform stage, therefore, reinforcing the evidence for the operation of strong allogeneic controls on phosphate mineralization–concentration. In addition, this study concludes that fossiliferous Ediacaran phosphatic deposits such as the Bocaina Formation are important to understanding Neoproterozoic phosphogenic events, because they may record the transition from a Precambrian to Phanerozoic‐like phosphogenesis associated with the instauration of the Ediacaran–Cambrian phosphatic taphonomic window. This evidence hints that the growing dataset from the Bocaina Formation may bring new, exciting perspectives for Neoproterozoic research as a whole.

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Section: Facies Association 6 -Phosphate Rich Storm Dominated Middle ...mentioning

confidence: 98%

Sedimentary evolution and sequence stratigraphy of Ediacaran high‐grade phosphorite–dolomite–shale successions of the Bocaina Formation (Corumbá Group), Central Brazil: Implications for the Neoproterozoic phosphogenic event

et al. 2023

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“…In the anoxic bottom water, these iron−phosphorus complexes deoxidize phosphorus and release it into the water column, and with the strong upwelling action, the deep phosphorus-rich seawater enters the shallow ocean. 23 All the geochemical evidence mentioned above indicate that the late Neoproterozoic ocean changed from anoxic to oxidizing environment, 45 and the oxidation−reduction interface gradually shifted from shallow ocean to deep ocean with the expansion of seawater oxidation range. Wen et al 62 analyzed δ 97/95 Mo of phosphorite in Meishucun Formation, Yunnan Province, and proposed that the early Cambrian ocean inherited the oxidation−reduction layered structure of Precambrian ocean, and the surface water was in oxidation environment, which changed to reduction environment in depth, and even wedge-shaped sulfide water column may be locally developed at the bottom.…”

Section: Paleo-marine Environment Of the Ediacaran-early Cambrian In ...mentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The Ediacaran-early Cambrian phosphorus mineralization in China mainly developed in the Yangtze platform and the northern margin of the northwestern Tarim block, especially the Yangtze platform in south China, which is widely distributed in Yunnan, Guizhou, Hubei etc. In the past, many scholars have carried out detailed studies on the geological characteristics, process mineralogy, radioisotope chronology, enrichment mechanism, and mineralization of phosphorite deposits on the Yangtze platform. − This paper summarizes the geological and geochemical characteristics of the Ediacaran-early Cambrian phosphorus-rich sedimentary series in South China, as well as the evolution characteristics of the paleo-marine environment in South China during the Ediacaran-early Cambrian transition period.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geochemical Characteristics of Trace Elements and Mineralization Model of the Ediacaran-Early Cambrian Phosphorites, South China

Zhang,

Zhu

2024

ACS Omega

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As a nonrenewable resource, phosphate rock is an important support for the development and survival of the national economy. The regional distribution and output of phosphate rock in China are extremely uneven, and the amount of high-quality ore resources is relatively poor, which seriously restricts the development and utilization of phosphate rock resources in China. This paper briefly summarizes the distribution characteristics of phosphate rock resources and summarizes the characteristics and research progress of Ediacaran-early Cambrian phosphorus mineralization types, geological characteristics, and deposit genesis of the Yangtze platform in South China. The Ediacaran-early Cambrian sedimentary phosphorite deposits in China are mainly distributed in Yunnan, Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan and Hunan provinces of the Yangtze platform, in which the early Cambrian phosphate deposits are also rich in rare earth elements, associated with uranium, nickel, molybdenum, vanadium, and other beneficial metal elements. The increase of atmospheric oxygen content at the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary may have promoted the extensive oxygenation of the late Neoproterozoic oceans, so the Ediacaran-early Cambrian oceans generally showed a reductive environment, and there may be dynamic chemical stratification of the oxidation zone-sulfide zone-iron zone. Up to the early Cambrian, the redox stratified structure of Precambrian seawater may still be inherited, showing that the surface water is an oxidizing environment, changing to a reduction environment, and even wedge-shaped sulfide water is developed at the bottom of the deep basin. The main phosphorus sources are deep phosphorus-rich seawater, continental weathering, and deep hydrothermal activity of Ediacaran-early Cambrian marine sedimentary phosphorite deposits in South China. The genetic mechanisms of phosphorite deposits in the Yangtze platform in South China are mainly biogenic, upwelling phosphorus-forming theory, mechanical mineralization, and syn-sedimentary hot water mixed genesis. In the future, it is still necessary to further explore the internal relationship between phosphorus deposits and major geological events, the in situ analysis of microstructure of phosphate rock ores, and the genetic mechanism of phosphate deposits and the reconstruction of paleo-marine environment.

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“…In addition to involvement in sedimentary phosphogenesis, there are several forms through which iron is linked with phosphatic deposits. The iron phosphates are considered to be a significant long-term sink for phosphorus in marine sediments [37]. Indeed, the presence of the Fe(II)-Fe(III) hydroxychloride crystals in the sediment can significantly enhance the P sequestration under anoxic conditions by forming iron-phosphate complexes and slowing down their oxidation and transformation, e.g., [38,39].…”

Section: Marine Sedimentary Phosphate Depositsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phosphate Rocks: A Review of Sedimentary and Igneous Occurrences in Morocco

et al. 2021

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Phosphate rocks are a vital resource for world food supply and security. They are the primary raw material for phosphoric acid and fertilizers used in agriculture, and are increasingly considered to be a potential source of rare earth elements. Phosphate rocks occur either as sedimentary deposits or igneous ores associated with alkaline rocks. In both cases, the genesis of high-grade phosphate rocks results from complex concentration mechanisms involving several (bio)geochemical processes. Some of these ore-forming processes remain poorly understood and subject to scientific debate. Morocco holds the world’s largest deposits of sedimentary phosphate rocks, and also possesses several alkaline complexes with the potential to bear igneous phosphate ores that are still largely underexplored. This paper summarizes the main geological features and driving processes of sedimentary and igneous phosphates, and discusses their global reserve/resource situation. It also provides a comprehensive review of the published data and information on Moroccan sedimentary and igneous phosphates. It reveals significant knowledge gaps and a lack of data, inter alia, regarding the geochemistry of phosphates and basin-scale correlations. Owing to the unique situation of Moroccan phosphates on the global market, they clearly deserve more thorough studies that may, in turn, help to constrain future resources and/or reserves, and answer outstanding questions on the genesis of phosphates.

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Iron phosphate in the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation of South China: A previously undocumented marine phosphate sink

Cited by 13 publications

References 71 publications

Sedimentary evolution and sequence stratigraphy of Ediacaran high‐grade phosphorite–dolomite–shale successions of the Bocaina Formation (Corumbá Group), Central Brazil: Implications for the Neoproterozoic phosphogenic event

Sedimentary evolution and sequence stratigraphy of Ediacaran high‐grade phosphorite–dolomite–shale successions of the Bocaina Formation (Corumbá Group), Central Brazil: Implications for the Neoproterozoic phosphogenic event

Geochemical Characteristics of Trace Elements and Mineralization Model of the Ediacaran-Early Cambrian Phosphorites, South China

Phosphate Rocks: A Review of Sedimentary and Igneous Occurrences in Morocco

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