Trace element content of sedimentary pyrite as a new proxy for deep-time ocean–atmosphere evolution

Large, Ross R.; Halpin, Jacqueline A.; Danyushevsky, Leonid V.; Масленников, В. В.; Bull, SW; Long, John A.; Gregory, Daniel D.; Lounejeva, E; Lyons, Timothy W.; Sack, Patrick J.; McGoldrick, Peter; Calver, Clive R.

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2013.12.020

Cited by 408 publications

(279 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Potential archives include the banded iron formations (e.g. [15]), pyrite (in framboidal form) [16] and shales [9,17]. Banded iron formations consist of alternating magnetite (haematite) and chert.…”

Section: Evidence For Evolving Transition Metal Availabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Goldilocks and the three inorganic equilibria: how Earth’s chemistry and life coevolve to be nearly in tune

Rickaby

2015

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

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One contribution of 18 to a discussion meeting issue 'The new chemistry of the elements' . The most revolutionary time in life's history was the advent and proliferation of oxygenic photosynthesis which forced the environment towards a greater degree of oxidation. Consideration of three inorganic chemical equilibria throughout this gradual oxygenation prescribes a phased release of trace metals to the environment, which appear to have coevolved with employment of these new chemicals by life. Evolution towards complexity was chemically constrained, and changes in availability of notably Fe, Zn and Cu paced the systematic development of complex organisms. Evolving life repeatedly catalysed its own chemical challenges via the unwitting release of new and initially toxic chemicals. Ultimately, the harnessing of these allowed life to advance to greater complexity, though the mechanism responsible for translating novel chemistry to heritable use remains elusive. Whether a chemical acts as a poison or a nutrient lies both in the dose and in its environmental history.

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Section: Evidence For Evolving Transition Metal Availabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Goldilocks and the three inorganic equilibria: how Earth’s chemistry and life coevolve to be nearly in tune

Rickaby

2015

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

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“…Both the bulk concentration of Mo and the ratio of Mo to total organic carbon (% TOC) have been used to track the concentration of Mo in sea water through geologic time [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] . The data have been used particularly to infer the record of availability of nutrients in the ocean to allow the expansion of N-fixing cyanobacteria and the diversification of eukaryotic life 1,5,[8][9][10] .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

High Molybdenum availability for evolution in a Mesoproterozoic lacustrine environment

et al. 2015

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Trace metal data for Proterozoic marine euxinic sediments imply that the expansion of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria and diversification of eukaryotes were delayed while the availability of bioessential metals such as molybdenum in the ocean was limited. However, there is increasing recognition that the Mesoproterozoic evolution of nitrogen fixation and eukaryotic life may have been promoted in marginal marine and terrestrial environments, including lakes, rather than in the deep ocean. Molybdenum availability is critical to life in lakes, just as it is in the oceans. It is, therefore, important to assess molybdenum availability to the lacustrine environment in the Mesoproterozoic. Here we show that the flux of molybdenum to a Mesoproterozoic lake was 1 to 2 orders of magnitude greater than typical fluxes in the modern and ancient marine environment. Thus, there was no barrier to availability to prevent evolution in the terrestrial environment, in contrast to the nutrient-limited Mesoproterozoic oceans.

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“…Lower S coals show higher TOC (average 35.5%, maximum 71.8%), while more pyritic samples such as 8700 have the highest S content (33.9%). The more pyritic coals also show higher Se concentrations (seam 6900 = 15.4 ppm and seam Oxyanionic elements such as Se and As are common in pyrite, with heavy metals such as Co and Tl (Swaine 1990;Finkelman et al 1999;Large et al 2014). Trace elements, such as As, Hg, Co and Cd, are incorporated into the precursor iron monosulphide at an early stage (Large et al 2014).…”

Section: Sample Description and Geochemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The more pyritic coals also show higher Se concentrations (seam 6900 = 15.4 ppm and seam Oxyanionic elements such as Se and As are common in pyrite, with heavy metals such as Co and Tl (Swaine 1990;Finkelman et al 1999;Large et al 2014). Trace elements, such as As, Hg, Co and Cd, are incorporated into the precursor iron monosulphide at an early stage (Large et al 2014). As and Se readily substitute for S in pyrite, while Hg occurs as micro-inclusions, and may be introduced through hydrothermal fluids, or scavenged from gases by pyrite (Yudovich & Ketris 2006).…”

Section: Sample Description and Geochemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-stage pyrite genesis and epigenetic selenium enrichment of Greenburn coals (East Ayrshire)

Bullock

Parnell

Perez

et al. 2018

SJG

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Carboniferous coals of the Ayrshire Coalfield are enriched in selenium (Se) relative to average UK and world compositions, substituting for sulphur in pyrite. Greenburn surface mine coals are characterized by syngenetic concretionary pyrite (c. 15% total area), occurring as bedding-parallel banding, and later-formed (epigenetic) cross-cutting pyrite in cleats (c. 9% total area). In these, sulphur isotope compositions for both syngenetic and epigenetic pyrite include isotopically light and heavy variants, suggesting diagenetic and hydrothermal fluid formation. Late/post-Visean cleat-filling pyrite is enriched in Se (up to 266 ppm) compared to the earlier-formed material (Se up to 181 ppm).Anomalous Se may have been sourced from near-by sulphidic Dalradian metamorphic rocks. Initial Se sequestration is associated with syngenetic pyrite mineralization, absorbed from seawater and pore waters, with additional Se introduced from fluids mobilized during epigenetic pyrite formation. Cleats from local brittle fracturing provided channels for fluid flow and a locus for precipitation of comparatively high-Se pyrite. Permian dolerite intrusions may have provided an enrichment source and/or fluid distribution mechanism. The Se concentrations of the Greenburn coals relate to multi-stage mineralization, with cleat-filling pyrite showing the highest Se content, and highlight the potential for high Se in similarly altered and fractured coal deposits worldwide.Supplementary material: LA-ICP-MS maps for Fe, Se, Ag, As, Cu, Hg, Pb and Te for Greenburn coal samples from seams 9300 Lime and 6900 Burnfoot Bridge are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3967860

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Trace element content of sedimentary pyrite as a new proxy for deep-time ocean–atmosphere evolution

Cited by 408 publications

References 59 publications

Goldilocks and the three inorganic equilibria: how Earth’s chemistry and life coevolve to be nearly in tune

Goldilocks and the three inorganic equilibria: how Earth’s chemistry and life coevolve to be nearly in tune

High Molybdenum availability for evolution in a Mesoproterozoic lacustrine environment

Multi-stage pyrite genesis and epigenetic selenium enrichment of Greenburn coals (East Ayrshire)

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