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Cycles of nutrient trace elements in the Phanerozoic ocean
Citation
Large, RR and Halpin, JA and Lounejeva, E and Danyushevsky, LV and Maslennikov, VV and Gregory, D and Sack, PJ and Haines, PW and Long, JA and Makoundi, C and Stepanov, AS, Cycles of nutrient trace elements in the Phanerozoic ocean, Gondwana Research, 28, (4) pp. 1282-1293. ISSN 1342-937X (2015) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Crown copyright 2015
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.gr.2015.06.004
Abstract
Availability of nutrients in the ocean can be a major factor affecting bioproductivity, burial of carbon and release
of oxygen. However, the nutrient trace element (TE) composition of the palaeo-ocean cannot be measured directly.
Here we present a comprehensive global dataset on the TE content of marine sedimentary pyrite in
black shales, dating back 700 million years, and demonstrate a systematic cyclic evolution of pyrite TE composition
with time. The nutrient TE, molybdenum, selenium, cadmium and thallium measured in pyrite, and phosphorus
measured on whole rock, rise sharply at 560 to 550 Ma followed by several cycles of TE variation
through the Palaeozoic and into theMesozoic. A number of factors could explain the trends.We suggest that variations
in continental uplift, erosion and nutrient flux rates were possible drivers of the oceanic nutrient cycles.
The cyclic patterns through the Phanerozoic suggest periods of nutrient-rich oceans that fostered key evolutionary
events, followed by nutrient-poor oceans that encompass several major mass extinction events.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | sedimentary pyrite, palaeo-ocean chemistry, mass extinction, ocean nutrients, metalliferous shales evolution |
| Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
| Research Group: | Geology |
| Research Field: | Structural geology and tectonics |
| Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Group: | Expanding knowledge |
| Objective Field: | Expanding knowledge in the earth sciences |
| UTAS Author: | Large, RR (Professor Ross Large) |
| UTAS Author: | Halpin, JA (Dr Jacqueline Halpin) |
| UTAS Author: | Lounejeva, E (Ms Elena Lounejeva) |
| UTAS Author: | Danyushevsky, LV (Professor Leonid Danyushevsky) |
| UTAS Author: | Gregory, D (Dr Daniel Gregory) |
| UTAS Author: | Makoundi, C (Mr Charles Makoundi) |
| UTAS Author: | Stepanov, AS (Mr Sasha Stepanov) |
| ID Code: | 102215 |
| Year Published: | 2015 |
| Funding Support: | Australian Research Council (DP150102578) |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 67 |
| Deposited By: | Centre for Ore Deposit Research - CODES CoE |
| Deposited On: | 2015-08-04 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-10-30 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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