Large-scale fluctuations in Precambrian atmospheric and oceanic oxygen levels from the record of U in shales

Partin, Camille A.; Bekker, Andrey; Planavsky, Noah J.; Scott, Clint; Gill, Benjamin C.; Li, C.; Подковыров, В. Н.; Маслов, А. В.; Konhauser, Kurt O.; Lalonde, Stefan V.; Love, Gordon D.; Poulton, Simon W.; Lyons, Timothy W.

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2013.03.031

Cited by 338 publications

(236 citation statements)

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“…A poorly oxygenated atmosphere-ocean system in the Archean is indicated by several lines of evidence in the sedimentary record (Farquhar et al, 2000;Bekker et al, 2010;Sverjensky and Lee, 2010;Lyons et al, 2014), such as abundant banded iron formations (BIF), common occurrence of redox-sensitive detrital minerals, and preservation of sulfur mass-independent fractionation (S-MIF). In addition, the low concentrations of some redox-sensitive elements (e.g., Mo, U) in sedimentary archives suggest low seawater concentrations of these elements because of their limited oxidative mobilization from the Archean continental crust (Scott et al, 2008;Partin et al, 2013). The Great Oxidation Event (GOE) is marked by a permanent increase of atmospheric O 2 content to >0.001% present atmospheric level (PAL), starting between 2.45 and 2.32 Ga (Pavlov and Kasting, 2002;Bekker et al, 2004;Gumsley et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Great Oxidation Event (GOE) is marked by a permanent increase of atmospheric O 2 content to >0.001% present atmospheric level (PAL), starting between 2.45 and 2.32 Ga (Pavlov and Kasting, 2002;Bekker et al, 2004;Gumsley et al, 2017). This transition was accompanied by the appearance of new mineral species containing redox-sensitive elements in their highest oxidation states, reduction in BIF deposition, disappearance of S-MIF, and an increase in seawater Mo, U, and sulfate concentrations Schrö der et al, 2008;Scott et al, 2008Scott et al, , 2014Sverjensky and Lee, 2010;Hazen et al, 2011;Planavsky et al, 2012;Reuschel et al, 2012;Partin et al, 2013;Reinhard et al, 2013a). The latter part of the GOE was marked by a protracted episode of elevated organic carbon burial (Lomagundi Event) between ca.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The latter part of the GOE was marked by a protracted episode of elevated organic carbon burial (Lomagundi Event) between ca. 2.22 and 2.06 Ga, which suggests a long-lasting, but transient increase in atmosphere-ocean O 2 contents to levels that may not have occurred again until the Neoproterozoic Oxidation Event (NOE) (Karhu and Holland, 1996;Scott et al, 2008Scott et al, , 2014Kump et al, 2011;Planavsky et al, 2011Planavsky et al, , 2012Planavsky et al, , 2014Bekker and Holland, 2012;Partin et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Behaving largely conservatively in oxygenated seawater, trace metals such as Mo, Cr, Re, and U are removed to anoxic sediments at higher rates compared with oxygenated sediments, with removal rates dependent on the specific chemistry of the water column and underlying sediment pore fluids (e.g., Morford and Emerson, 1999;Tribovillard et al, 2006). Chromium, U, and Re become authigenically enriched in sediments overlain by an anoxic water column (at both high and low levels of dissolved H 2 S) and, to a lesser extent, in anoxic sediments overlain by mildly oxygenated bottom waters (Crusius et al, 1996;Morford and Emerson, 1999;Morford et al, 2005;Partin et al, 2013;Reinhard et al, 2013a). By contrast, high authigenic Mo enrichments in sediments require the accumulation of dissolved H 2 S in the water column.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On a global scale, that inventory will be controlled mainly by the collective state of marine redox conditions-once pervasive oxidative continental weathering and the associated riverine flux of dissolved anionic metal complexes are established (Scott et al, 2008;Partin et al, 2013;Reinhard et al, 2013a). In an ancient ocean that was more anoxic than today, a globally higher rate of metal burial in seafloor sediments should occur, leading to a decrease in seawater metal concentrations and thus lower metal enrichments in coeval ORM (Scott et al, 2008;Sahoo et al, 2012;Partin et al, 2013;Reinhard et al, 2013a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A model for the oceanic mass balance of rhenium and implications for the extent of Proterozoic ocean anoxia

Sheen

Kendall

Reinhard

et al. 2018

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

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Emerging geochemical evidence suggests that the atmosphere-ocean system underwent a significant decrease in O 2 content following the Great Oxidation Event (GOE), leading to a mid-Proterozoic ocean (ca. 2.0-0.8 Ga) with oxygenated surface waters and predominantly anoxic deep waters. The extent of mid-Proterozoic seafloor anoxia has been recently estimated using mass-balance models based on molybdenum (Mo), uranium (U), and chromium (Cr) enrichments in organic-rich mudrocks (ORM). Here, we use a temporal compilation of concentrations for the redox-sensitive trace metal rhenium (Re) in ORM to provide an independent constraint on the global extent of mid-Proterozoic ocean anoxia and as a tool for more generally exploring how the marine geochemical cycle of Re has changed through time. The compilation reveals that mid-Proterozoic ORM are dominated by low Re concentrations that overall are only mildly higher than those of Archean ORM and significantly lower than many ORM deposited during the ca. 2.22-2.06 Ga Lomagundi Event and during the Phanerozoic Eon. These temporal trends are consistent with a decrease in the oceanic Re inventory in response to an expansion of anoxia after an interval of increased oxygenation during the Lomagundi Event. Mass-balance modeling of the marine Re geochemical cycle indicates that the mid-Proterozoic ORM with low Re enrichments are consistent with extensive seafloor anoxia. Beyond this agreement, these new data bring added value because Re, like the other metals, responds generally to lowoxygen conditions but has its own distinct sensitivity to the varying environmental controls. Thus, we can broaden our capacity to infer nuanced spatiotemporal patterns in ancient redox landscapes. For example, despite the still small number of data, some mid-Proterozoic ORM units have higher Re enrichments that may reflect a larger oceanic Re inventory during transient episodes of ocean oxygenation. An improved understanding of the modern oceanic Re cycle and a higher temporal resolution for the Re compilation will enable further tests of these hypotheses regarding changes in the surficial Re geochemical cycle in response to variations in atmosphere-ocean oxygenation. Nevertheless, the existing Re compilation and model results are in agreement with previous Cr, Mo, and U evidence for pervasively anoxic and ferruginous conditions in mid-Proterozoic oceans.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

A model for the oceanic mass balance of rhenium and implications for the extent of Proterozoic ocean anoxia

Sheen

Kendall

Reinhard

et al. 2018

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

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Causes and consequences of mid-Proterozoic anoxia

Derry

2015

Geophys. Res. Lett.

122

135

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Evidence for low pO2 and a ferruginous ocean characterize the mid‐Proterozoic (1.8–0.8 Ga). Considerations of redox sources and sinks imply that generation of O2 via organic carbon (Corg) burial must be low to maintain a low pO2 atmosphere for geologically long intervals, yet low oxygen should result in increased Corg preservation. Marine export production must therefore be low to limit Corg burial and O2 generation. Formation of ferrous phosphate can buffer deepwater phosphate (Pi) to levels an order of magnitude or more below those in the modern ocean, limiting export production. Low deepwater Pi is consistent with the hiatus in sedimentary phosphorite deposits during the mid‐Proterozoic, and low pO2 limits formation of sedimentary iron deposits (BIF). We propose that low pO2 was maintained by P limitation resulting from ferrous phosphate buffering. The near‐absence of BIF and phosphorite deposition is direct and indirect consequences of the low pO2, respectively.

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Focused radiogenic heating of middle crust caused ultrahigh temperatures in southern Madagascar

et al. 2016

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Internal heating can cause melting, metamorphism, and crustal weakening in convergent orogens.This study evaluates the role of radiogenic heat production (RHP) in a Neoproterozoic ultrahigh-temperature metamorphic (UHTM) terrane exposed in southern Madagascar. Monazite and zircon geochronology indicates that the Paleoproterozoic Androyen and Anosyen domains (i) collided with the oceanic Vohibory Arc at~630 Ma, (ii) became incorporated into the Gondwanan collisional orogen by~580 Ma, and (iii) were exhumed during crustal thinning at 525-510 Ma. Ti-in-quartz and Zr-in-rutile thermometry reveals that UHTM occurred over >20,000 km 2 , mostly within the Anosyen domain. Assuming that U, Th, and K contents of samples from the field area are representative of the middle to lower crust during orogenesis, RHP was high enough-locally >5 μW/m 3 -to cause regional UHTM in <60 Myr. We conclude that, due in large part to the stability and insolubility of monazite at high crustal temperatures, RHP was the principal heat source responsible for UHTM, obviating the need to evoke external heat sources. Focused RHP probably thermally weakened portions of the middle crust, gravitationally destabilizing the orogen and facilitating thinning via lateral extrusion of hot crustal sections.

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Large-scale fluctuations in Precambrian atmospheric and oceanic oxygen levels from the record of U in shales

Cited by 338 publications

References 72 publications

A model for the oceanic mass balance of rhenium and implications for the extent of Proterozoic ocean anoxia

A model for the oceanic mass balance of rhenium and implications for the extent of Proterozoic ocean anoxia

Causes and consequences of mid-Proterozoic anoxia

Focused radiogenic heating of middle crust caused ultrahigh temperatures in southern Madagascar

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