Variations in atmospheric sulphur chemistry on early Earth linked to volcanic activity

Philippot, Pascal; Zuilen, Mark A. van; Rollion‐Bard, Claire

doi:10.1038/ngeo1534

Cited by 99 publications

(115 citation statements)

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“…A similar negative correlation was recently proposed by Philippot et al (2012) to reflect mixing between a sulfide sulfur isotopic composition resulting from a photolytic elemental sulfur source and a sulfide sulfur isotopic composition reflecting mass-dependent bacterial (or abiological) reduction of photolytic sulfate in the ocean.…”

Section: Black Shalementioning

confidence: 77%

“…An alternative view for explaining the multiple sulfur isotopic composition of Paleoarchean barite was recently advocated by Philippot et al (2012), acknowledging an earlier proposition by Bao et al (2008). These authors concluded that the multiple sulfur isotopic composition of Paleoarchean barite reflects a photolytic sulfate source where the original sulfur isotopic composition might have been modified by bacterial or abiological sulfate reduction.…”

Section: Baritementioning

confidence: 89%

“…The possibility of a microbial origin of Paleoarchean (barite-hosted) microscopic pyrite was previously suggested, e.g., by Shen et al (2001) and Philippot et al (2007, but alternative views have been proposed (e.g., Bao et al, 2008;Philippot et al, 2012;see below).…”

Section: Baritementioning

confidence: 99%

“…These authors concluded that the multiple sulfur isotopic composition of Paleoarchean barite reflects a photolytic sulfate source where the original sulfur isotopic composition might have been modified by bacterial or abiological sulfate reduction. However, in order to fully explain their reported sulfide sulfur isotope data, Philippot et al (2012) propose the mixing of photolytic sulfate (subsequently modified by bacterial sulfate reduction) and photolytic elemental sulfur (resulting from a specific MIF-S source reaction), defining a series of different arrays in a ı 34 S-33 S diagram (their felsic volcanic array, respectively felsic volcanic wedge), mostly with a negative slope.…”

Section: Baritementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The guiding principle in respective discussions has been the observation that a negative 33 S value would be indicative of photolytic sulfate as the ultimate sulfur source (with a positive ı 34 S value as evident from the Archean barite deposits; e.g., Roerdink et al, 2012 In contrast, Philippot et al (2007Philippot et al ( , 2012 reported a substantial number of multiple sulfur isotope results for pyrite from Paleoarchean sedimentary successions in Western Australia (Dresser Formation) and South Africa (Mapepe Formation) exhibiting a negative correlation between ı 34 S and 33 S with a set of arrays going through the origin. These authors conclude that the entire range of multiple sulfur isotope values measured for Paleoarchean sulfides and sulfates, including strongly negative ı 34 S and positive 33 S values (the felsic volcanic array of Philippot et al, 2012) can be satisfactorily explained by a mixing of sulfide sulfur derived from a photolytic elemental sulfur source and sulfide sulfur derived from sulfate reduction of photolytic oceanic sulfate. A specific MIF-S source reaction associated with pulses of felsic volcanism is advocated as the principal cause for observed extreme sulfur isotope signatures, but the involvement of different processes of microbially driven sulfur cycling is acknowledged.…”

Section: Multiple Sulfur Isotope Systematics and Applications To The mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Paleoarchean sulfur cycling: Multiple sulfur isotope constraints from the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa

Montinaro

Strauß

Mason

et al. 2015

Precambrian Research

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a b s t r a c tMass-dependent and mass-independent sulfur isotope fractionation archived in volcanic and sedimentary rocks from the Barberton Greenstone Belt (3550-3215 Ma), South Africa, provide constraints for sulfur cycling on the early Earth. Four different sample suites were studied: komatiites and tholeiites, barite, massive and disseminated sulfide ores, and non-mineralized black shales.Variable but generally slightly positive ı 34 S values between −0.7 and +5.2‰, negative 33 S values between −0.50 and −0.09‰, and a negative correlation between ı 34 S and 33 S as well as between 33 S and 36 S for komatiites and tholeiites from the Komati Formation and from the Weltevreden Formation are outside the expected range of unfractionated juvenile sulfur. Instead, results suggest alteration of oceanic crustal rock sulfur through interactions with fluids that most likely derived their sulfur from seawater.Barite from the Mapepe Formation displays positive ı 34 S values between +3.1 and +8.1‰ and negative 33 S values between −0.77 and −0.34‰. The mass-independent sulfur isotope fractionation indicates an atmospheric sulfur source, notably photolytic sulfate, whereas the positive ı 34 S values suggest bacterial sulfate reduction of the marine sulfate reservoir.Non-mineralized black shale samples from the presumed stratigraphic equivalent of the Mapepe Formation show positive ı 34 S values between 0.0 and +1.3‰ and positive 33 S values between +0.59 and +2.45‰. These results are interpreted to result from the reduction of photolytic elemental sulfur, carrying a positive 33 S signature.Positive ı 34 S values ranging from +0.7 to +3.5‰ and slightly negative 33 S values between −0.17 and −0.12‰ characterize massive and disseminated sulfides from the Bien Venue Prospect. Results suggest unfractionated juvenile magmatic sulfur source as the primary sulfur source, but a contribution from recycled seawater sulfate, which would be indicative of submarine hydrothermal activity, cannot be ruled out.Massive and disseminated sulfides from the M'hlati prospect are distinctly different from massive and disseminated sulfide from the Bien Venue Prospect. They show negative ı 34 S values between −1.2 and −0.1‰ and positive 33 S values between +2.66 and +3.17‰, thus, displaying a sizeable mass-independent A. Montinaro et al. / Precambrian Research 267 (2015) 311-322 sulfur isotopic fractionation. Again, these samples clearly exhibit the incorporation of an atmospheric MIF-S signal. The source of sulfur for these samples has positive 33 S values, suggesting a connection with photolytic elemental sulfur. In conclusion, the sulfur isotope signatures in Paleoarchean rocks from the Barberton Greenstone Belt are diverse and indicate the incorporation of different sources of sulfur. For komatiites and tholeiites, barite and massive and possibly also disseminated sulfides from Bien Venue, multiple sulfur isotopes are related to ambient seawater sulfate and its photolytic origin, while massive and disseminated sulfides from M'hlati and non-...

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Section: Black Shalementioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Baritementioning

confidence: 89%

Section: Baritementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Baritementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Multiple Sulfur Isotope Systematics and Applications To The mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Paleoarchean sulfur cycling: Multiple sulfur isotope constraints from the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa

Montinaro

Strauß

Mason

et al. 2015

Precambrian Research

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Use of Isotope Effects To Understand the Present and Past of the Atmosphere and Climate and Track the Origin of Life

Thiemens

Lin

2019

Angewandte Chemie

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Stable isotope ratio measurements have been used as a measure of a wide variety of processes, including solar system evolution, geological formational temperatures, tracking of atmospheric gas and aerosol chemical transformation, and is the only means by which past global temperatures may be determined over long time scales. Conventionally, isotope effects derive from differences of isotopically substituted molecules in isotope vibrational energy, bond strength, velocity, gravity, and evaporation/condensation. The variations in isotope ratio, such as 18O/16O (δ18O) and 17O/16O (δ17O) are dependent upon mass differences with δ17O/δ18O=0.5, due to the relative mass differences (1 amu vs. 2 amu). Relations that do not follow this are termed mass independent and are the focus of this Minireview. In chemical reactions such as ozone formation, a δ17O/δ18O=1 is observed. Physical chemical models capture most parameters but differ in basic approach and are reviewed. The mass independent effect is observed in atmospheric species and used to track their chemistry at the modern and ancient Earth, Mars, and the early solar system (meteorites).

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Use of Isotope Effects To Understand the Present and Past of the Atmosphere and Climate and Track the Origin of Life

Thiemens

Lin

2019

Angew Chem Int Ed

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Variations in atmospheric sulphur chemistry on early Earth linked to volcanic activity

Cited by 99 publications

References 46 publications

Paleoarchean sulfur cycling: Multiple sulfur isotope constraints from the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa

Paleoarchean sulfur cycling: Multiple sulfur isotope constraints from the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa

Use of Isotope Effects To Understand the Present and Past of the Atmosphere and Climate and Track the Origin of Life

Use of Isotope Effects To Understand the Present and Past of the Atmosphere and Climate and Track the Origin of Life

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