Triple oxygen isotope insight into terrestrial pyrite oxidation.

ABSTRACT: The mass-independent minor oxygen isotope compositions (Δ'¹⁷O) of atmospheric O₂ and [Formula: see text] are primarily regulated by their relative partial pressures, [Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text] Pyrite oxidation during chemical weathering on land consumes [Formula: see text] and generates sulfate that is carried to the ocean by rivers. The Δ'¹⁷O values of marine sulfate deposits have thus been proposed to quantitatively track ancient atmospheric conditions. This proxy assumes direct [Formula: see text] incorporation into terrestrial pyrite oxidation-derived sulfate, but a mechanistic understanding of pyrite oxidation-including oxygen sources-in weathering environments remains elusive. To address this issue, we present sulfate source estimates and

SUBMITTER: Hemingway JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7149429 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature