Open AccessTwo-billion-year-old evaporites capture Earth’s great oxidation
Author(s) -
Clara L. Blättler,
Mark W. Claire,
Anthony R. Prave,
Kalle Kirsimäe,
John A. Higgins,
П. В. Медведев,
A.E. Romashkin,
Dmitry V. Rychanchik,
Aubrey L. Zerkle,
Päärn Paiste,
Timmu Kreitsmann,
Ian Millar,
Justin Hayles,
Huiming Bao,
Alexandra V. Turchyn,
Matthew R. Warke,
Aivo Lepland
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 12.556
H-Index - 1186
eISSN - 1095-9203
pISSN - 0036-8075
DOI - 10.1126/science.aar2687
Subject(s) - evaporite , atmosphere (unit) , billion years , oxidizing agent , earth science , ecological succession , geology , earth (classical element) , astrobiology , paleontology , meteorology , geography , chemistry , sedimentary rock , ecology , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , galaxy , mathematical physics , biology
A strongly oxidizing Paleoproterozoic era Two billion years ago, marine sulfate concentrations were around one-third as high as modern ones, constituting an oxidizing capacity equivalent to more than 20% of that of the modern ocean-atmosphere system. Blättleret al. found this by analyzing a remarkable evaporite succession more than 1 billion years older than the oldest comparable deposit discovered to date. These quantitative results, for a time when only more qualitative information was previously available, provide a constraint on the magnitude and timing of early Earth's response to the Great Oxidation Event 2.3 billion years ago.Science , this issue p.320
Accelerating Research
Robert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom
Address
John Eccles HouseRobert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom