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Dating the rise of atmospheric oxygen

Author

Listed:
  • A. Bekker

    (Harvard University)

  • H. D. Holland

    (Harvard University)

  • P.-L. Wang

    (Carnegie Institution of Washington)

  • D. Rumble

    (Carnegie Institution of Washington)

  • H. J. Stein

    (Colorado State University)

  • J. L. Hannah

    (Colorado State University)

  • L. L. Coetzee

    (Rand Afrikaans University)

  • N. J. Beukes

    (Rand Afrikaans University)

Abstract

Several lines of geological and geochemical evidence indicate that the level of atmospheric oxygen was extremely low before 2.45 billion years (Gyr) ago, and that it had reached considerable levels by 2.22 Gyr ago. Here we present evidence that the rise of atmospheric oxygen had occurred by 2.32 Gyr ago. We found that syngenetic pyrite is present in organic-rich shales of the 2.32-Gyr-old Rooihoogte and Timeball Hill formations, South Africa. The range of the isotopic composition of sulphur in this pyrite is large and shows no evidence of mass-independent fractionation, indicating that atmospheric oxygen was present at significant levels (that is, greater than 10-5 times that of the present atmospheric level) during the deposition of these units. The presence of rounded pebbles of sideritic iron formation at the base of the Rooihoogte Formation and an extensive and thick ironstone layer consisting of haematitic pisolites and oölites in the upper Timeball Hill Formation indicate that atmospheric oxygen rose significantly, perhaps for the first time, during the deposition of the Rooihoogte and Timeball Hill formations. These units were deposited between what are probably the second and third of the three Palaeoproterozoic glacial events.

Suggested Citation

  • A. Bekker & H. D. Holland & P.-L. Wang & D. Rumble & H. J. Stein & J. L. Hannah & L. L. Coetzee & N. J. Beukes, 2004. "Dating the rise of atmospheric oxygen," Nature, Nature, vol. 427(6970), pages 117-120, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:427:y:2004:i:6970:d:10.1038_nature02260
    DOI: 10.1038/nature02260
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    Cited by:

    1. James Andrew M. Leong & Tucker Ely & Everett L. Shock, 2021. "Decreasing extents of Archean serpentinization contributed to the rise of an oxidized atmosphere," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Bo Huang & Man Liu & Timothy M. Kusky & Tim E. Johnson & Simon A. Wilde & Dong Fu & Hao Deng & Qunye Qian, 2023. "Changes in orogenic style and surface environment recorded in Paleoproterozoic foreland successions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Benjamin T. Uveges & Gareth Izon & Shuhei Ono & Nicolas J. Beukes & Roger E. Summons, 2023. "Reconciling discrepant minor sulfur isotope records of the Great Oxidation Event," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.

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