Journal article
Marine sulphate captures a Paleozoic transition to a modern terrestrial weathering environment
Nature communications, Vol.16(1), 2087
03/01/2025
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57282-y
PMCID: PMC11873193
PMID: 40025066
Abstract
The triple oxygen isotope composition of sulphate minerals has been used to constrain the evolution of Earth’s surface environment (e.g., pO2, pCO2 and gross primary productivity) throughout the Proterozoic Eon. This approach presumes the incorporation of atmospheric O2 atoms into riverine sulphate via the oxidative weathering of pyrite. However, this is not borne out in recent geological or modern sulphate records, where an atmospheric signal is imperceptible and where terrestrial pyrite weathering occurs predominantly in bedrock fractures that are physically more removed from atmospheric O2. To better define the transition from a Proterozoic to a modern-like weathering regime, here we present new measurements from twelve marine evaporite basins spanning the Phanerozoic. These data display a step-like transition in the triple oxygen isotope composition of evaporite sulphate during the mid-Paleozoic (420 to 387.7 million years ago). We propose that the evolution of early root systems deepened the locus of pyrite oxidation and reduced the incorporation of O2 into sulphate. Further, the early Devonian proliferation of land plants increased terrestrial organic carbon burial, releasing free oxygen that fueled increased redox recycling of soil-bound iron and resulted in the final rise in pO2 to modern-like levels.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Marine sulphate captures a Paleozoic transition to a modern terrestrial weathering environment
- Creators
- Anna R. Waldeck - Planetary Science InstituteHaley C. Olson - Planetary Science InstitutePeter W. Crockford - Planetary Science InstituteAbby M. Couture - Wellesley CollegeBenjamin R. Cowie - Planetary Science InstituteEben B. Hodgin - Planetary Science InstituteKristin D. Bergmann - Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyKeith Dewing - Geological Survey of CanadaStephen E. Grasby - Geological Survey of CanadaRyan J. Clark - University of IowaFrancis A. Macdonald - Planetary Science InstituteDavid T. Johnston - Planetary Science Institute
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Nature communications, Vol.16(1), 2087
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41467-025-57282-y
- PMID
- 40025066
- PMCID
- PMC11873193
- NLM abbreviation
- Nat Commun
- eISSN
- 2041-1723
- Publisher
- Nature Publishing Group UK
- Grant note
- OCE-1821958; OCE-1946137 / National Science Foundation (NSF) (https://doi.org/10.13039/100000001)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/01/2025
- Academic Unit
- Iowa Geological Survey; IIHR--Hydroscience and Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9984795369502771
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