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Fluctuations in Precambrian atmospheric oxygenation recorded by chromium isotopes

Author

Listed:
  • Robert Frei

    (Institute of Geography and Geology and Nordic Center for Earth Evolution (NordCEE), University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Claudio Gaucher

    (Institute of Geography and Geology and Nordic Center for Earth Evolution (NordCEE), University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
    Facultad de Ciencias, Iguá 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay)

  • Simon W. Poulton

    (School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK)

  • Don E. Canfield

    (Nordic Center for Earth Evolution (NordCEE) and Institute of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55)

Abstract

The rise and fall of oxygen The oxygenation of Earth's atmosphere is thought to have occurred in two broad steps, but details of the process remain uncertain. Frei et al. use stable chromium (Cr) isotopes from banded iron formations, which are sedimentary rocks containing large amounts of oxygen as iron oxides, to track the presence of Cr(VI) in Precambrian oceans, providing a time-resolved picture of the oxygenation of Earth's atmosphere–hydrosphere system. Their data suggest a transient elevation in atmospheric and surface ocean oxygenation prior to the first great rise of oxygen 2.45 to 2.2 billion years ago (the Great Oxidation Event). Chromium is not fractionated in 1.88-billion-year-old banded iron formations, indicating a decline in atmospheric oxygen. The authors propose that the Great Oxidation Event did not lead to a unidirectional stepwise increase in atmospheric oxygen.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Frei & Claudio Gaucher & Simon W. Poulton & Don E. Canfield, 2009. "Fluctuations in Precambrian atmospheric oxygenation recorded by chromium isotopes," Nature, Nature, vol. 461(7261), pages 250-253, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:461:y:2009:i:7261:d:10.1038_nature08266
    DOI: 10.1038/nature08266
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniel R. Hummer & Joshua J. Golden & Grethe Hystad & Robert T. Downs & Ahmed Eleish & Chao Liu & Jolyon Ralph & Shaunna M. Morrison & Michael B. Meyer & Robert M. Hazen, 2022. "Evidence for the oxidation of Earth’s crust from the evolution of manganese minerals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
    2. 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.
    3. Guoxiong Chen & Qiuming Cheng & Timothy W. Lyons & Jun Shen & Frits Agterberg & Ning Huang & Molei Zhao, 2022. "Reconstructing Earth’s atmospheric oxygenation history using machine learning," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.

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