Two-billion-year-old evaporites capture Earth's great oxidation

Clara Blättler; Mark Claire; Anthony Robert Prave; K. Kirsimäe; J. A. Higgins; P. V. Medvedev; A. E. Romashkin; D. V. Rychanchik; Aubrey Lea Zerkle; K. Paiste; T. Kreitsmann; I. L. Millar; J. A. Hayles; H. Bao; A. V. Turchyn; Matthew Robert Warke; A. Lepland

doi:10.1126/science.aar2687

Two-billion-year-old evaporites capture Earth's great oxidation

Clara Blättler, Mark Claire, Anthony Robert Prave, K. Kirsimäe, J. A. Higgins, P. V. Medvedev, A. E. Romashkin, D. V. Rychanchik, Aubrey Lea Zerkle, K. Paiste, T. Kreitsmann, I. L. Millar, J. A. Hayles, H. Bao, A. V. Turchyn, Matthew Robert Warke, A. Lepland

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Major changes in atmospheric and ocean chemistry occurred in the Paleoproterozoic Era (2.5–1.6 billion years ago). Increasing oxidation dramatically changed Earth’s surface, but few quantitative constraints exist on this important transition. This study describes the sedimentology, mineralogy, and geochemistry of a remarkably preserved two-billion-year-old and ~800 meter-thick evaporite succession from the Onega Basin in Russian Karelia. The deposit consists of a basal unit dominated by halite (~100 m) followed by anhydrite-magnesite (~500 m) and dolomite-magnesite (~200 m) dominated units. The evaporite minerals robustly constraint marine sulfate concentrations to at least 10 millimoles per kilogram of water, representing an oxidant reservoir equivalent to over 20% of the modern ocean-atmosphere oxidizing capacity. These results show that substantial amounts of surface oxidant accumulated during this critical transition in Earth’s oxygenation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	320-323
Number of pages	5
Journal	Science
Volume	360
Issue number	6386
Early online date	22 Mar 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aar2687
Publication status	Published - 20 Apr 2018

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10.1126/science.aar2687

Blattler_2018_Science_GreatOxidation_AAM
© 2018 he Author(s). This work has been made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aar2687
Accepted author manuscript, 3.33 MB

H2020 ERC Starting Grant OXYGEN: OXYGEN: Quantifying the evolution of Earth's atmosphere with novel isotope systems and modelling
Claire, M. (PI)
European Research Council
1/06/16 → 31/05/21
Project: Standard

Mark Claire
- mc229st-andrews.acuk
- School of Earth & Environmental Sciences - Honorary Reader
Person: Honorary
Tony Prave
- ap13st-andrews.acuk
- School of Earth & Environmental Sciences - Emeritus Professor
- St Andrews Isotope Geochemistry
Person: Emeritus Professor

Cite this

Blättler, C., Claire, M., Prave, A. R., Kirsimäe, K., Higgins, J. A., Medvedev, P. V., Romashkin, A. E., Rychanchik, D. V., Zerkle, A. L., Paiste, K., Kreitsmann, T., Millar, I. L., Hayles, J. A., Bao, H., Turchyn, A. V., Warke, M. R., & Lepland, A. (2018). Two-billion-year-old evaporites capture Earth's great oxidation. Science, 360(6386), 320-323. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aar2687

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title = "Two-billion-year-old evaporites capture Earth's great oxidation",

abstract = "Major changes in atmospheric and ocean chemistry occurred in the Paleoproterozoic Era (2.5–1.6 billion years ago). Increasing oxidation dramatically changed Earth{\textquoteright}s surface, but few quantitative constraints exist on this important transition. This study describes the sedimentology, mineralogy, and geochemistry of a remarkably preserved two-billion-year-old and ~800 meter-thick evaporite succession from the Onega Basin in Russian Karelia. The deposit consists of a basal unit dominated by halite (~100 m) followed by anhydrite-magnesite (~500 m) and dolomite-magnesite (~200 m) dominated units. The evaporite minerals robustly constraint marine sulfate concentrations to at least 10 millimoles per kilogram of water, representing an oxidant reservoir equivalent to over 20% of the modern ocean-atmosphere oxidizing capacity. These results show that substantial amounts of surface oxidant accumulated during this critical transition in Earth{\textquoteright}s oxygenation.",

author = "Clara Bl{\"a}ttler and Mark Claire and Prave, {Anthony Robert} and K. Kirsim{\"a}e and Higgins, {J. A.} and Medvedev, {P. V.} and Romashkin, {A. E.} and Rychanchik, {D. V.} and Zerkle, {Aubrey Lea} and K. Paiste and T. Kreitsmann and Millar, {I. L.} and Hayles, {J. A.} and H. Bao and Turchyn, {A. V.} and Warke, {Matthew Robert} and A. Lepland",

note = "Funding sources: Simons Foundation (SCOL 339006 to C.L.B.), European Research Council (ERC Horizon 2020 grant 678812 to M.C.), Research Council of Norway (RCN Centres of Excellence funding scheme project 223259 to K.P. and A.L.), Estonian Science Agency (PUT696 to K.K., A.L., K.P., T.K.).",

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doi = "10.1126/science.aar2687",

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AU - Blättler, Clara

AU - Claire, Mark

AU - Prave, Anthony Robert

AU - Kirsimäe, K.

AU - Higgins, J. A.

AU - Medvedev, P. V.

AU - Romashkin, A. E.

AU - Rychanchik, D. V.

AU - Zerkle, Aubrey Lea

AU - Paiste, K.

AU - Kreitsmann, T.

AU - Millar, I. L.

AU - Hayles, J. A.

AU - Bao, H.

AU - Turchyn, A. V.

AU - Warke, Matthew Robert

AU - Lepland, A.

N1 - Funding sources: Simons Foundation (SCOL 339006 to C.L.B.), European Research Council (ERC Horizon 2020 grant 678812 to M.C.), Research Council of Norway (RCN Centres of Excellence funding scheme project 223259 to K.P. and A.L.), Estonian Science Agency (PUT696 to K.K., A.L., K.P., T.K.).

PY - 2018/4/20

Y1 - 2018/4/20

N2 - Major changes in atmospheric and ocean chemistry occurred in the Paleoproterozoic Era (2.5–1.6 billion years ago). Increasing oxidation dramatically changed Earth’s surface, but few quantitative constraints exist on this important transition. This study describes the sedimentology, mineralogy, and geochemistry of a remarkably preserved two-billion-year-old and ~800 meter-thick evaporite succession from the Onega Basin in Russian Karelia. The deposit consists of a basal unit dominated by halite (~100 m) followed by anhydrite-magnesite (~500 m) and dolomite-magnesite (~200 m) dominated units. The evaporite minerals robustly constraint marine sulfate concentrations to at least 10 millimoles per kilogram of water, representing an oxidant reservoir equivalent to over 20% of the modern ocean-atmosphere oxidizing capacity. These results show that substantial amounts of surface oxidant accumulated during this critical transition in Earth’s oxygenation.

AB - Major changes in atmospheric and ocean chemistry occurred in the Paleoproterozoic Era (2.5–1.6 billion years ago). Increasing oxidation dramatically changed Earth’s surface, but few quantitative constraints exist on this important transition. This study describes the sedimentology, mineralogy, and geochemistry of a remarkably preserved two-billion-year-old and ~800 meter-thick evaporite succession from the Onega Basin in Russian Karelia. The deposit consists of a basal unit dominated by halite (~100 m) followed by anhydrite-magnesite (~500 m) and dolomite-magnesite (~200 m) dominated units. The evaporite minerals robustly constraint marine sulfate concentrations to at least 10 millimoles per kilogram of water, representing an oxidant reservoir equivalent to over 20% of the modern ocean-atmosphere oxidizing capacity. These results show that substantial amounts of surface oxidant accumulated during this critical transition in Earth’s oxygenation.

U2 - 10.1126/science.aar2687

DO - 10.1126/science.aar2687

M3 - Article

C2 - 29567810

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 360

SP - 320

EP - 323

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6386

ER -

Two-billion-year-old evaporites capture Earth's great oxidation

Abstract

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Projects

H2020 ERC Starting Grant OXYGEN: OXYGEN: Quantifying the evolution of Earth's atmosphere with novel isotope systems and modelling

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Mark Claire

Tony Prave

Cite this