Orbitally-paced climate change in the early Cambrian and its implications for the history of the Solar System

Zhang, Tan; Li, Yifan; Tang, Fan; Silva, Anne‐Christine Da; Shi, Jingli; Gao, Qi; Kuang, Mingzhi; Liu, Wangwei; Gao, Zhiqian; Li, M.

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117420

Cited by 36 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 102 publications

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“…We compare our reconstructed Earth–Moon distance from the Joffre Member BIF to previous geological estimates from the Precambrian ( 16 – 19 , 27 , 46 – 50 ) to Cambrian ( 28 , 29 ) and to a number of theoretical models ( 8 , 13 , 51 , 52 ) in Fig. 5 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Compilation of various geological data from the Precambrian to Cambrian and theoretical models for lunar recession history. ( A ) Geological reconstructions based on cyclostratigraphy are from the Joffre BIF at 2,459 ± 1.3 Ma (this study), the Xiamaling Formation (XM) ( 27 ), the Quongzhusi Formation (Q) ( 29 ), and Alum Shale (AS) ( 28 ). Reconstructions based on tidal laminae are from the Elatina-Reynella rhythmites (ER) ( 16 , 17 ), two alternative estimates from the Big Cottonwood Formation (BC) (ref.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Estimates for the late Paleoproterozoic to Cambrian ( Fig. 5 A ) are partly based on the Milankovitch cycle ratio approach ( 27 – 29 ), and partly on tidal rhythmites ( 16 , 17 , 46 , 47 ) and stromatolite growth bands ( 18 , 19 ). These results show a further increase of the Earth–Moon distance with time relative to the Joffre Member datum.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To estimate the precession frequency p from the identified climatic precession signal, previous studies have employed methods that are based on the identification of spectral peaks associated with the individual astronomical (Milankovitch) cycle components, as determined from time series analysis of linearly tuned climate proxy records ( 26 , 27 , 29 ). Importantly, climatic precession is composed of various frequency components that are designated as combinations of the astronomical precession frequency p and one of the fundamental planetary g i frequencies of planet i , which describe the rotation of a planet’s elliptical orbit on its orbital plane ( p + g i ).…”

Section: Reconstructing the Precession Period Earth–moon Distance And...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the more recent parts of the geological record, exceptional records of Milankovitch forcing have been identified in a wide range of depositional settings (from deep marine to lacustrine) where sedimentation occurred under relatively quiet and stable conditions over long intervals of time [i.e., millions of years ( 23 )]. These well-preserved Phanerozoic records have been analyzed using cyclostratigraphic approaches to determine changes in past values of p ( 24 – 30 ). Unfortunately, high-quality records that have been unequivocally linked to Milankovitch forcing become increasingly scarce deeper in geological time, especially since the Milankovitch cyclicities need to be independently verified by high-precision geochronology.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Milankovitch cycles in banded iron formations constrain the Earth–Moon system 2.46 billion years ago

Lantink

Davies

Ovtcharova

et al. 2022

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The long-term history of the Earth–Moon system as reconstructed from the geological record remains unclear when based on fossil growth bands and tidal laminations. A possibly more robust method is provided by the sedimentary record of Milankovitch cycles (climatic precession, obliquity, and orbital eccentricity), whose relative ratios in periodicity change over time as a function of a decreasing Earth spin rate and increasing lunar distance. However, for the critical older portion of Earth’s history where information on Earth–Moon dynamics is sparse, suitable sedimentary successions in which these cycles are recorded remain largely unknown, leaving this method unexplored. Here we present results of cyclostratigraphic analysis and high-precision U–Pb zircon dating of the lower Paleoproterozoic Joffre Member of the Brockman Iron Formation, NW Australia, providing evidence for Milankovitch forcing of regular lithological alternations related to Earth’s climatic precession and orbital eccentricity cycles. Combining visual and statistical tools to determine their hierarchical relation, we estimate an astronomical precession frequency of 108.6 ± 8.5 arcsec/y, corresponding to an Earth–Moon distance of 321,800 ± 6,500 km and a daylength of 16.9 ± 0.2 h at 2.46 Ga. With this robust cyclostratigraphic approach, we extend the oldest reliable datum for the lunar recession history by more than 1 billion years and provide a critical reference point for future modeling and geological investigation of Precambrian Earth–Moon system evolution.

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