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Three-stage formation of cap carbonates after Marinoan snowball glaciation consistent with depositional timescales and geochemistry

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  • Trent B. Thomas

    (University of Washington
    University of Washington)

  • David C. Catling

    (University of Washington
    University of Washington)

Abstract

At least two global “Snowball Earth” glaciations occurred during the Neoproterozoic Era (1000-538.8 million years ago). Post-glacial surface environments during this time are recorded in cap carbonates: layers of limestone or dolostone that directly overlie glacial deposits. Postulated environmental conditions that created the cap carbonates lack consensus largely because single hypotheses fail to explain the cap carbonates’ global mass, depositional timescales, and geochemistry of parent waters. Here, we present a global geologic carbon cycle model before, during, and after the second glaciation (i.e. the Marinoan) that explains cap carbonate characteristics. We find a three-stage process for cap carbonate formation: (1) low-temperature seafloor weathering during glaciation generates deep-sea alkalinity; (2) vigorous post-glacial continental weathering supplies alkalinity to a carbonate-saturated freshwater layer, rapidly precipitating cap carbonates; (3) mixing of post-glacial meltwater with deep-sea alkalinity prolongs cap carbonate deposition. We suggest how future geochemical data and modeling refinements could further assess our hypothesis.

Suggested Citation

  • Trent B. Thomas & David C. Catling, 2024. "Three-stage formation of cap carbonates after Marinoan snowball glaciation consistent with depositional timescales and geochemistry," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-51412-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51412-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Raymond T. Pierrehumbert, 2004. "High levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide necessary for the termination of global glaciation," Nature, Nature, vol. 429(6992), pages 646-649, June.
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