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Sulphur isotope evidence for an oxic Archaean atmosphere

Author

Listed:
  • Hiroshi Ohmoto

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • Yumiko Watanabe

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • Hiroaki Ikemi

    (The Pennsylvania State University
    Kyushu University)

  • Simon R. Poulson

    (University of Reno-Nevada)

  • Bruce E. Taylor

    (Geological Survey of Canada)

Abstract

Oxygen or what? The amount of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere is thought to have increased dramatically about 2.4 billion years ago. The strongest evidence for this increase is the presence of a chemical signature known as mass-independently fractionated sulphur isotopes (MIF-S) in rocks older than that, and its absence in younger rocks. The MIF-S signature is well established as a marker for low atmospheric oxygen levels, but a report in this issue gives pause for thought. Some rocks that formed before 2.4 billion years ago appear not to contain MIF-S. This suggests either that atmospheric oxygen levels fluctuated dramatically before 2.4 billion years ago, or that MIF-S is not the reliable indicator of low oxygen levels that is has been assumed to be.

Suggested Citation

  • Hiroshi Ohmoto & Yumiko Watanabe & Hiroaki Ikemi & Simon R. Poulson & Bruce E. Taylor, 2006. "Sulphur isotope evidence for an oxic Archaean atmosphere," Nature, Nature, vol. 442(7105), pages 908-911, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:442:y:2006:i:7105:d:10.1038_nature05044
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05044
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    Cited by:

    1. Kumar, Satish & Cuntz, Manfred & Musielak, Zdzislaw E., 2015. "Fractal and multifractal analysis of the rise of oxygen in Earth’s early atmosphere," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 296-303.

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