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Isotopic evidence for Mesoarchaean anoxia and changing atmospheric sulphur chemistry

Author

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  • James Farquhar

    (University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA)

  • Marc Peters

    (Geologisch-Paläontologisches Institut und Museum der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 24, 48149 Münster, Germany)

  • David T. Johnston

    (University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA)

  • Harald Strauss

    (Geologisch-Paläontologisches Institut und Museum der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 24, 48149 Münster, Germany)

  • Andrew Masterson

    (University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA)

  • Uwe Wiechert

    (Freie Universität Berlin, Malteserstr. 74-100, Haus B, C und N, 12249 Berlin, Germany)

  • Alan J. Kaufman

    (University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA)

Abstract

The observation of non-mass-dependent sulphur isotope ratios in sedimentary rocks more than ∼2.4 billion years old and the disappearance of this signal in younger sediments is taken as evidence for the transition from an anoxic to oxic atmosphere around 2.4 Gyr ago. But now, the preservation of a non mass-dependent signal that differs from that of preceding and following periods in the Archean is demonstrated. The findings support the original idea of an anoxic early atmosphere before 2.4 Gyr ago, and at the same time identifies variability within the isotope record that suggests changes in pre-2.4 Gya atmospheric pathways for non-mass-dependent chemistry and in the ultraviolet transparency of an evolving early atmosphere.

Suggested Citation

  • James Farquhar & Marc Peters & David T. Johnston & Harald Strauss & Andrew Masterson & Uwe Wiechert & Alan J. Kaufman, 2007. "Isotopic evidence for Mesoarchaean anoxia and changing atmospheric sulphur chemistry," Nature, Nature, vol. 449(7163), pages 706-709, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:449:y:2007:i:7163:d:10.1038_nature06202
    DOI: 10.1038/nature06202
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    Cited by:

    1. Kumar, Satish & Cuntz, Manfred & Musielak, Zdzislaw E., 2015. "Fractal and multifractal analysis of the rise of oxygen in Earth’s early atmosphere," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 296-303.

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