Constraints on Paleoproterozoic atmospheric oxygen levels.

ABSTRACT: The oxygenation of Earth's surface environment dramatically altered key biological and geochemical cycles and ultimately ushered in the rise of an ecologically diverse biosphere. However, atmospheric oxygen partial pressures (pO₂) estimates for large swaths of the Precambrian remain intensely debated. Here we evaluate and explore the use of carbonate cerium (Ce) anomalies (Ce/Ce*) as a quantitative atmospheric pO₂ proxy and provide estimates of Proterozoic pO₂ using marine carbonates from a unique Precambrian carbonate succession-the Paleoproterozoic Pethei Group. In contrast to most previous work, we measure Ce/Ce* on marine carbonate precipitates that formed in situ across a depth gradient, building on previous detailed sedimentology

SUBMITTER: Bellefroid EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6094116 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature