The Neoarchaean to Palaeoproterozoic Transvaal Supergroup of the Kaapvaal Craton,southern Africa,is one of the best-preserved and most complete stratigraphic records across a critical in juncture in the Earth’s history.
In China, most Precambrian banded iron formations （BIFs） are situated in the North China Craton. The Yuanjiacun iron depos- it, located in the Ltlliang area, is arguably the most representative Superior-type BIF. Th...In China, most Precambrian banded iron formations （BIFs） are situated in the North China Craton. The Yuanjiacun iron depos- it, located in the Ltlliang area, is arguably the most representative Superior-type BIF. This iron deposit is coherent with the sedimentary rock succession of the Yuanjiacun Formation in the lower Lliliang Group, and was interpreted to be deposited at 2.3-2.1 Ga, based on ages of overlying and underlying volcanic strata. This age overlaps with the time range of the Great Oxidation Event （GOE, 2.4-2.2 Ga）. The Yuanjiacun BIF consists mainly of subhedral-xenomorphic magnetite and quartz and rarely other minerals with a lower degree of metamorphism, from greenschist to lower amphibolite facies. The geochemical characteristics of this BIF are similar to those of Superior-type BIFs. Prominent positive La, Y, and Eu anomalies normalized by the Post Archean Australian Shale （PAAS） indicate that the primary chemical precipitate is a result of solutions that repre- sent mixtures of seawater and high-T hydrothermal fluids. The contamination from crustal detritus found is negligible based on low abundances of Al2O3 and TiO2 （〈0.5%） and of trace elements such as Th, Hf, Zr, and Sc （〈1.5 ppm）, as well as the lack of co-variations between Al2O3 and TiO2. In particular, the Yuanjiacun BIF samples do not display significant negative Ce anom- alies like those of the Archean iron formations, but rather, the Yuanjiacun BIF samples exhibit prominent positive Ce anoma- lies, low Y/Ho ratios, and high light to heavy REE （（Pr/Yb）sN） ratios, which are essentially consistent with the late Paleoprote- rozoic （〈2.0 Ga） BIFs around the world. These characteristics of the Yuanjiacun BIF samples imply that the ancient ocean （2.3-2.1 Ga） was redox-stratified from oxic shallow water to deeper anoxic water. The specific redox conditions of the ancient ocean may be related to the GOE, which gave rise to the oxidation of Ce and Mn in the upper water, and to the presence of a Mn oxide shuttle in the ocean, resulting in varying REE patterns due to the precipitation and dissolution of this Mn oxide shut tle under different redox states. Therefore, the Yuanjiacun BIF appears to have formed near the redoxcline and lower-level reduced marine water.展开更多
During Earth’s 4.6 billion-year history,its surface has experienced environmental changes that drastically impacted habitability.The changes have been mostly attributed to near-surface processes or astronomical event...During Earth’s 4.6 billion-year history,its surface has experienced environmental changes that drastically impacted habitability.The changes have been mostly attributed to near-surface processes or astronomical events with little consideration of Earth’s deep interior.Recent progresses in high-pressure geochemistry and geophysics,however,indicate that deep Earth processes may have played a dominant role in the surface(Mao and Mao,2020).展开更多
This paper briefly introduces the conception and research history of the Great Oxidation Event(GOE) in the early Paleoproterozoic and summarizes the primary geological and geochemical records of this event. On the bas...This paper briefly introduces the conception and research history of the Great Oxidation Event(GOE) in the early Paleoproterozoic and summarizes the primary geological and geochemical records of this event. On the basis of these, we overview the significant progress in three fields of the GOE: the timing and process of its startup, its mechanisms, and its climatic-ecological effects. The records of mass-independent fractionation of sulfur isotopes suggest that the startup of the GOE might be multi-episodic, which is obviously inconsistent with the single-episodic opinion obtained from atmospheric model simulations. The fundamental mechanism of the GOE was the source of the atmospheric Oexceeding the sink, but it remains uncertain whether it was due to the increase in the source or the decrease in the sink. The GOE substantially affected the climate,biological evolution, and biogeochemical cycles, but the specific processes remain elusive. In consideration of the current progress, we propose four aspects for future explorations, including the construction of geological and geochemical proxies for extremely low atmospheric oxygen content(pO), how the GOE changed the evolutions of Earth’s habitability and the processes in deep Earth, and constraining the mechanism of the GOE by coupling geological events with different time scales.展开更多
This paper compiles lithostratigraphic and geochronological data obtained for the Palaeoproterozoic glacial diamictite-bearing successions,and thereby provides insights into understanding the geological processes caus...This paper compiles lithostratigraphic and geochronological data obtained for the Palaeoproterozoic glacial diamictite-bearing successions,and thereby provides insights into understanding the geological processes causing the Huronian Glaciation Event.The majority of evidence for appearances of this glaciation event can be related to the Kenorland supercontinent breakup,allied to significant atmospheric change,as well as blooms of biogeochemical oxygenic photosynthesis.In this paper,the Huronian Glaciation Event is constrained to have occurred synchronously during 2.29-2.25 Ga,accompanied by dramatic environmental changes characteristic of the Great Oxidation Event which includes the pre- 2.3 Ga hydrosphere oxidation and the post-2.3 Ga atmosphere oxygenation.展开更多
The carbon cycle is an important process that regulates Earth's evolution.We compare two typical periods,in the Paleoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic,in which many geological events occurred.It remains an open quest...The carbon cycle is an important process that regulates Earth's evolution.We compare two typical periods,in the Paleoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic,in which many geological events occurred.It remains an open question when modern plate tectonics started on Earth and how it has influenced the carbon cycle through time.In the Paleoproterozoic,intense weathering in a highly CO_(2)and CH_(4)rich atmosphere caused more nutritional elements to be carried into the ocean.Terrestrial input boosted high biological productivity,deposition of sediments and the formation of an altered oceanic crust,which may have promoted an increase in the oxygen content.Sediment lubrication and a decrease in mantle potential temperature made cold and deep subduction possible,which carried more carbon into the deep mantle.Carbon can be stored in the mantle as diamond and carbonated mantle rocks,being released by arc and mid-ocean ridge outgassing at widely different times.From the Paleoproterozoic through the Neoproterozoic to the Phanerozoic,the carbon cycle has promoted the evolution of a habitable Earth.展开更多
The Great Oxidation Event(GOE)during the early Paleoproterozoic represents the first significant buildup in Earth’s atmospheric oxygen and resulted in a series of significant changes in the Earth’s surface environme...The Great Oxidation Event(GOE)during the early Paleoproterozoic represents the first significant buildup in Earth’s atmospheric oxygen and resulted in a series of significant changes in the Earth’s surface environment.Among them is the 2.22(or 2.33)–2.06 Ga Lomagundi-Jatuli Event(LJE),which is globally,the largest magnitude and longest duration,marine carbonate positive carbon isotope excursion(δ^(13)C_(V-PDB)>10‰)known.This event has attracted the attention of scholars all over the world.However,except for a high positive carbon isotope excursion(δ^(13)C_(V-PDB)>10‰)recently identified from marine carbonate rocks within the Daposhan Formation in the lower Fanhe Group(or the Sanchazi Group)in the Longgang Block in the northeast North China Craton(NCC),Paleoproterozoic carbonates in the NCC are characterized by a low-amplitude positive carbon isotope excursion(δ^(13)C_(V-PDB)<5‰).This feature is significantly different from the high positive carbon isotope excursion characteristics of carbonates deposited during the LJE period in other cratons.To determine whether there are large-scale and reliable sedimentary records of the LJE in the NCC and the reasons for the low positive δ^(13)C excursion of the Paleoproterozoic carbonates obtained by the previous studies,we conducted field investigations,carbon-oxygen isotopes,and whole-rock major and trace element geochemical analyses of Liaohe Group carbonate rocks from the Anshan area in the northwestern margin of the Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt in the northeast NCC.Our results show that the Gaojiayu Formation of the Liaohe Group in the Anshan area has high positive δ^(13)C_(V-PDB) values from 8.6‰ to 12.4‰ and δ^(18)O_(V-SMOW) values of 17.9‰-27.4‰(δ^(18)O_(V-PDB) values ranging from−12.6‰to -3.4‰).This provides solid evidence for the preservation of reliable sedimentary records of the LJE in the northeastern NCC.Deposition of the high positive δ^(13)C excursion(>10‰)of marine carbonate rocks occurred at about 2.15 Ga.Lithological comparisons of different sections and whole-rock geochemical results show that the high positive δ^(13)C excursion is mainly controlled by the stratigraphic interval and depositional ages;the changes of sedimentary facies and diagenesis have no significant effects on reducing of the δ^(13)C values.The intrusion of mafic sills into carbonates has resulted in synchronous decrease of C-O isotopes near the contact zones,but the decreasing amplitude of δ^(13)C is less than 3‰.Therefore,our study firstly identified marine carbonates with high positive δ^(13)C excursion(>10‰)from the Gaojiayu Formation,which provides robust evidence for global correlation of the LJE,which has implications for its genesis and global significance.Moreover,due to global near-synchronization of the LJE,the carbon-oxygen isotope chemical stratigraphy of carbonate rocks deposited during the LJE period,combined with geochronological data,can provide new constraints on the stratigraphic subdivision and correlations of Paleoproterozoic sedimentary successions in the NCC.展开更多
文摘The Neoarchaean to Palaeoproterozoic Transvaal Supergroup of the Kaapvaal Craton,southern Africa,is one of the best-preserved and most complete stratigraphic records across a critical in juncture in the Earth’s history.
基金supported by the Major State Basic Research Programme of the People’s Republic of China(Grant No.2012CB416601)the Knowledge Innovation Programme of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.KZCX2-YW-Q04-07)
文摘In China, most Precambrian banded iron formations （BIFs） are situated in the North China Craton. The Yuanjiacun iron depos- it, located in the Ltlliang area, is arguably the most representative Superior-type BIF. This iron deposit is coherent with the sedimentary rock succession of the Yuanjiacun Formation in the lower Lliliang Group, and was interpreted to be deposited at 2.3-2.1 Ga, based on ages of overlying and underlying volcanic strata. This age overlaps with the time range of the Great Oxidation Event （GOE, 2.4-2.2 Ga）. The Yuanjiacun BIF consists mainly of subhedral-xenomorphic magnetite and quartz and rarely other minerals with a lower degree of metamorphism, from greenschist to lower amphibolite facies. The geochemical characteristics of this BIF are similar to those of Superior-type BIFs. Prominent positive La, Y, and Eu anomalies normalized by the Post Archean Australian Shale （PAAS） indicate that the primary chemical precipitate is a result of solutions that repre- sent mixtures of seawater and high-T hydrothermal fluids. The contamination from crustal detritus found is negligible based on low abundances of Al2O3 and TiO2 （〈0.5%） and of trace elements such as Th, Hf, Zr, and Sc （〈1.5 ppm）, as well as the lack of co-variations between Al2O3 and TiO2. In particular, the Yuanjiacun BIF samples do not display significant negative Ce anom- alies like those of the Archean iron formations, but rather, the Yuanjiacun BIF samples exhibit prominent positive Ce anoma- lies, low Y/Ho ratios, and high light to heavy REE （（Pr/Yb）sN） ratios, which are essentially consistent with the late Paleoprote- rozoic （〈2.0 Ga） BIFs around the world. These characteristics of the Yuanjiacun BIF samples imply that the ancient ocean （2.3-2.1 Ga） was redox-stratified from oxic shallow water to deeper anoxic water. The specific redox conditions of the ancient ocean may be related to the GOE, which gave rise to the oxidation of Ce and Mn in the upper water, and to the presence of a Mn oxide shuttle in the ocean, resulting in varying REE patterns due to the precipitation and dissolution of this Mn oxide shut tle under different redox states. Therefore, the Yuanjiacun BIF appears to have formed near the redoxcline and lower-level reduced marine water.
基金support of National Science Foundation of China Grant No:U1930401
文摘During Earth’s 4.6 billion-year history,its surface has experienced environmental changes that drastically impacted habitability.The changes have been mostly attributed to near-surface processes or astronomical events with little consideration of Earth’s deep interior.Recent progresses in high-pressure geochemistry and geophysics,however,indicate that deep Earth processes may have played a dominant role in the surface(Mao and Mao,2020).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41821001, 42172216, 41873027)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDB26000000)the 111 Project of China (Grant No. BP0820004)。
文摘This paper briefly introduces the conception and research history of the Great Oxidation Event(GOE) in the early Paleoproterozoic and summarizes the primary geological and geochemical records of this event. On the basis of these, we overview the significant progress in three fields of the GOE: the timing and process of its startup, its mechanisms, and its climatic-ecological effects. The records of mass-independent fractionation of sulfur isotopes suggest that the startup of the GOE might be multi-episodic, which is obviously inconsistent with the single-episodic opinion obtained from atmospheric model simulations. The fundamental mechanism of the GOE was the source of the atmospheric Oexceeding the sink, but it remains uncertain whether it was due to the increase in the source or the decrease in the sink. The GOE substantially affected the climate,biological evolution, and biogeochemical cycles, but the specific processes remain elusive. In consideration of the current progress, we propose four aspects for future explorations, including the construction of geological and geochemical proxies for extremely low atmospheric oxygen content(pO), how the GOE changed the evolutions of Earth’s habitability and the processes in deep Earth, and constraining the mechanism of the GOE by coupling geological events with different time scales.
基金funded by the National 973-Program(Project Nos.2012CB416602,2006CB403508)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.40352003,40425006,40373007)Frontier Field Project of the State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry,Institute of Geochemistry,Chinese Academy of Sciences
文摘This paper compiles lithostratigraphic and geochronological data obtained for the Palaeoproterozoic glacial diamictite-bearing successions,and thereby provides insights into understanding the geological processes causing the Huronian Glaciation Event.The majority of evidence for appearances of this glaciation event can be related to the Kenorland supercontinent breakup,allied to significant atmospheric change,as well as blooms of biogeochemical oxygenic photosynthesis.In this paper,the Huronian Glaciation Event is constrained to have occurred synchronously during 2.29-2.25 Ga,accompanied by dramatic environmental changes characteristic of the Great Oxidation Event which includes the pre- 2.3 Ga hydrosphere oxidation and the post-2.3 Ga atmosphere oxygenation.
基金funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2019YFA0708501)。
文摘The carbon cycle is an important process that regulates Earth's evolution.We compare two typical periods,in the Paleoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic,in which many geological events occurred.It remains an open question when modern plate tectonics started on Earth and how it has influenced the carbon cycle through time.In the Paleoproterozoic,intense weathering in a highly CO_(2)and CH_(4)rich atmosphere caused more nutritional elements to be carried into the ocean.Terrestrial input boosted high biological productivity,deposition of sediments and the formation of an altered oceanic crust,which may have promoted an increase in the oxygen content.Sediment lubrication and a decrease in mantle potential temperature made cold and deep subduction possible,which carried more carbon into the deep mantle.Carbon can be stored in the mantle as diamond and carbonated mantle rocks,being released by arc and mid-ocean ridge outgassing at widely different times.From the Paleoproterozoic through the Neoproterozoic to the Phanerozoic,the carbon cycle has promoted the evolution of a habitable Earth.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41920104004,U2244213,41725011)the Fundamental Research Fund of Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences(Grant No.JKYZD202320)。
文摘The Great Oxidation Event(GOE)during the early Paleoproterozoic represents the first significant buildup in Earth’s atmospheric oxygen and resulted in a series of significant changes in the Earth’s surface environment.Among them is the 2.22(or 2.33)–2.06 Ga Lomagundi-Jatuli Event(LJE),which is globally,the largest magnitude and longest duration,marine carbonate positive carbon isotope excursion(δ^(13)C_(V-PDB)>10‰)known.This event has attracted the attention of scholars all over the world.However,except for a high positive carbon isotope excursion(δ^(13)C_(V-PDB)>10‰)recently identified from marine carbonate rocks within the Daposhan Formation in the lower Fanhe Group(or the Sanchazi Group)in the Longgang Block in the northeast North China Craton(NCC),Paleoproterozoic carbonates in the NCC are characterized by a low-amplitude positive carbon isotope excursion(δ^(13)C_(V-PDB)<5‰).This feature is significantly different from the high positive carbon isotope excursion characteristics of carbonates deposited during the LJE period in other cratons.To determine whether there are large-scale and reliable sedimentary records of the LJE in the NCC and the reasons for the low positive δ^(13)C excursion of the Paleoproterozoic carbonates obtained by the previous studies,we conducted field investigations,carbon-oxygen isotopes,and whole-rock major and trace element geochemical analyses of Liaohe Group carbonate rocks from the Anshan area in the northwestern margin of the Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt in the northeast NCC.Our results show that the Gaojiayu Formation of the Liaohe Group in the Anshan area has high positive δ^(13)C_(V-PDB) values from 8.6‰ to 12.4‰ and δ^(18)O_(V-SMOW) values of 17.9‰-27.4‰(δ^(18)O_(V-PDB) values ranging from−12.6‰to -3.4‰).This provides solid evidence for the preservation of reliable sedimentary records of the LJE in the northeastern NCC.Deposition of the high positive δ^(13)C excursion(>10‰)of marine carbonate rocks occurred at about 2.15 Ga.Lithological comparisons of different sections and whole-rock geochemical results show that the high positive δ^(13)C excursion is mainly controlled by the stratigraphic interval and depositional ages;the changes of sedimentary facies and diagenesis have no significant effects on reducing of the δ^(13)C values.The intrusion of mafic sills into carbonates has resulted in synchronous decrease of C-O isotopes near the contact zones,but the decreasing amplitude of δ^(13)C is less than 3‰.Therefore,our study firstly identified marine carbonates with high positive δ^(13)C excursion(>10‰)from the Gaojiayu Formation,which provides robust evidence for global correlation of the LJE,which has implications for its genesis and global significance.Moreover,due to global near-synchronization of the LJE,the carbon-oxygen isotope chemical stratigraphy of carbonate rocks deposited during the LJE period,combined with geochronological data,can provide new constraints on the stratigraphic subdivision and correlations of Paleoproterozoic sedimentary successions in the NCC.
