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A light carbon reservoir recorded in zircon-hosted diamond from the Jack Hills

Author

Listed:
  • Alexander A. Nemchin

    (Western Australian School of Mines, Curtin University of Technology, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia)

  • Martin J. Whitehouse

    (Laboratory for Isotope Geology, Swedish Museum of Natural History)

  • Martina Menneken

    (Institut für Mineralogie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Corrensstrasse 24, 48149 Münster, Germany)

  • Thorsten Geisler

    (Institut für Mineralogie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Corrensstrasse 24, 48149 Münster, Germany)

  • Robert T. Pidgeon

    (Western Australian School of Mines, Curtin University of Technology, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia)

  • Simon A. Wilde

    (Western Australian School of Mines, Curtin University of Technology, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia)

Abstract

An early carbon reservoir The recent discovery of diamond and graphite inclusions in zircon grains formed over 4 billion years ago in the Jack Hills meta-sedimentary belt in Western Australia has given geologists a glimpse of Earth's earliest known carbon reservoir. New ion microprobe analyses of the carbon isotope composition of these inclusions reveal low carbon isotopic ratios, which could reflect deep subduction of biogenic surface carbon. Though this is not unambiguous evidence for life on Earth as early as 4,250 million years ago, as low carbon isotope values can also be produced by certain inorganic chemical reactions.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander A. Nemchin & Martin J. Whitehouse & Martina Menneken & Thorsten Geisler & Robert T. Pidgeon & Simon A. Wilde, 2008. "A light carbon reservoir recorded in zircon-hosted diamond from the Jack Hills," Nature, Nature, vol. 454(7200), pages 92-95, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:454:y:2008:i:7200:d:10.1038_nature07102
    DOI: 10.1038/nature07102
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