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Anomalous δ15N values in the Neoarchean associated with an abundant supply of hydrothermal ammonium

Author

Listed:
  • Ashley N. Martin

    (Leibniz University Hannover
    Northumbria University)

  • Eva E. Stüeken

    (University of St Andrews)

  • Michelle M. Gehringer

    (University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU))

  • Monika Markowska

    (Northumbria University
    Max Planck Institut für Chemie)

  • Hubert Vonhof

    (Max Planck Institut für Chemie)

  • Stefan Weyer

    (Leibniz University Hannover)

  • Axel Hofmann

    (Auckland Park)

Abstract

Unusually high δ15N values in the Neoarchean sedimentary record in the time period from 2.8 to 2.6 Ga, termed the Nitrogen Isotope Event (NIE), might be explained by aerobic N cycling prior to the Great Oxidation Event (GOE). Here we report strongly positive δ15N values up to +42.5 ‰ in ~2.75 – 2.73 Ga shallow-marine carbonates from Zimbabwe. As the corresponding deeper-marine shales exhibit negative δ15N values that are explained by partial biological uptake from a large ammonium reservoir, we interpret our data to have resulted from hydrothermal upwelling of 15N-rich ammonium into shallow, partially oxic waters, consistent with uranium isotope variations. This work shows that anomalous N isotope signatures at the onset of the NIE temporally correlate with extensive volcanic and hydrothermal activity both locally and globally, which may have stimulated primary production and spurred biological innovation in the lead-up to the GOE.

Suggested Citation

  • Ashley N. Martin & Eva E. Stüeken & Michelle M. Gehringer & Monika Markowska & Hubert Vonhof & Stefan Weyer & Axel Hofmann, 2025. "Anomalous δ15N values in the Neoarchean associated with an abundant supply of hydrothermal ammonium," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57091-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57091-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mathieu Ardyna & Léo Lacour & Sara Sergi & Francesco d’Ovidio & Jean-Baptiste Sallée & Mathieu Rembauville & Stéphane Blain & Alessandro Tagliabue & Reiner Schlitzer & Catherine Jeandel & Kevin Robert, 2019. "Hydrothermal vents trigger massive phytoplankton blooms in the Southern Ocean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Lee R. Kump & Mark E. Barley, 2007. "Increased subaerial volcanism and the rise of atmospheric oxygen 2.5 billion years ago," Nature, Nature, vol. 448(7157), pages 1033-1036, August.
    3. Alice Pellerin & Christophe Thomazo & Magali Ader & Camille Rossignol & Eric Siciliano Rego & Vincent Busigny & Pascal Philippot, 2024. "Neoarchaean oxygen-based nitrogen cycle en route to the Great Oxidation Event," Nature, Nature, vol. 633(8029), pages 365-370, September.
    4. Aubrey L. Zerkle & Simon W. Poulton & Robert J. Newton & Colin Mettam & Mark W. Claire & Andrey Bekker & Christopher K. Junium, 2017. "Onset of the aerobic nitrogen cycle during the Great Oxidation Event," Nature, Nature, vol. 542(7642), pages 465-467, February.
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