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Widespread iron-rich conditions in the mid-Proterozoic ocean
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 08:56 authored by Planavsky, NJ, Peter McGoldrickPeter McGoldrick, Scott, CT, Li, C, Reinhard, CT, Kelly, AE, Chu, X, Bekker, A, Love, GD, Lyons, TWThe chemical composition of the ocean changed markedly with the oxidation of the Earth’s surface1, and this process has profoundly influenced the evolutionary and ecological history of life2,3. The early Earth was characterized by a reducing ocean–atmosphere system, whereas the Phanerozoic eon (less than 542 million years ago) is known for a stable and oxygenated biosphere conducive to the radi- ation of animals. The redox characteristics of surface environments during Earth’s middle age (1.8–1billion years ago) are less well known, but it is generally assumed that the mid-Proterozoic was home to a globally sulphidic (euxinic) deep ocean2,3. Here we present iron data from a suite of mid-Proterozoic marine mudstones. Contrary to the popular model, our results indicate that ferruginous (anoxic and Fe21-rich) conditions were both spatially and tem- porally extensive across diverse palaeogeographic settings in the mid-Proterozoic ocean, inviting new models for the temporal dis- tribution of iron formations and the availability of bioessential trace elements during a critical window for eukaryotic evolution.
History
Publication title
NatureVolume
477Issue
7365Pagination
448-452ISSN
0028-0836Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Nature Publishing GroupPlace of publication
Macmillan Building, 4 Crinan St, London, England, N1 9XwRights statement
Copyright Statement: © 2011 Nature Publishing Group Official URL field: http://www.nature.com/Repository Status
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