The DOI matches its Crossref record; 37 of the 37 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Fluctuations in Precambrian atmospheric oxygenation recorded by chromium isotopes
Open accessAbstract
Geochemical data suggest that oxygenation of the Earth's atmosphere occurred in two broad steps. The first rise in atmospheric oxygen is thought to have occurred between approximately 2.45 and 2.2 Gyr ago, leading to a significant increase in atmospheric oxygen concentrations and concomitant oxygenation of the shallow surface ocean. The second increase in atmospheric oxygen appears to have taken place in distinct stages during the late Neoproterozoic era ( approximately 800-542 Myr ago), ultimately leading to oxygenation of the deep ocean approximately 580 Myr ago, but details of the evolution of atmospheric oxygenation remain uncertain. Here we use chromium (Cr) stable isotopes from banded iron formations (BIFs) to track the presence of Cr(VI) in Precambrian oceans, providing a time-resolved picture of the oxygenation history of the Earth's atmosphere-hydrosphere system. The geochemical behaviour of Cr is highly sensitive to the redox state of the surface environment because oxidative weathering processes produce the oxidized hexavalent [Cr(VI)] form. Oxidation of reduced trivalent [Cr(III)] chromium on land is accompanied by an isotopic fractionation, leading to enrichment of the mobile hexavalent form in the heavier isotope. Our fractionated Cr isotope data indicate the accumulation of Cr(VI) in ocean surface waters approximately 2.8 to 2.6 Gyr ago and a likely transient elevation in atmospheric and surface ocean oxygenation before the first great rise of oxygen 2.45-2.2 Gyr ago (the Great Oxidation Event). In approximately 1.88-Gyr-old BIFs we find that Cr isotopes are not fractionated, indicating a decline in atmospheric oxygen. Our findings suggest that the Great Oxidation Event did not lead to a unidirectional stepwise increase in atmospheric oxygen. In the late Neoproterozoic, we observe strong positive fractionations in Cr isotopes (delta(53)Cr up to +4.9 per thousand), providing independent support for increased surface oxygenation at that time, which may have stimulated rapid evolution of macroscopic multicellular life.
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In the citing paper
“Using similar arguments of O2-sensitive weathering, transport, and fractionation, isotopes of Cu (76), Cr (77), Fe (78), U (79), Mo [e.g., (80, 81)], and Se (82) indicates an anoxic Archean atmosphere.”
From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [77]
In the citing paper
“Those authors argued that increases in δ 53 Cr of +0.04 to +0.29‰ in IFs at 2.7, and again at 1.8 Ga, are the direct result of Cr(III) being oxidized to Cr(VI) and that oxidation of Cr must have been catalyzed by oxidized Mn 2+ in the form of MnO2.”
From Trace elements at the intersection of marine biological and geochemical evolution (2016) · cites this paper as Frei et al., 2009
In the citing paper
“Muted δ 53 Cr variations (-0.3 to +0.3‰) at this time were taken as being indicative of Cr cycling in reduced form (Konhauser et al., 2011), in contrast with highly variable values coincident with ocean oxygenation in the Neoproterozoic (up to +4.9‰; Frei et al., 2009).”
From Trace elements at the intersection of marine biological and geochemical evolution (2016) · cites this paper as Frei et al., 2009
In the citing paper
“For instance, small variations in Cr isotope composition in 2.8-2.6 Ga IF were first suggested to document brief pulses in atmospheric oxygen, which mobilized Cr via oxidative weathering and led to Cr sequestration in IF prior to the GOE”
From Trace elements at the intersection of marine biological and geochemical evolution (2016) · cites this paper as Frei et al., 2009
Citations
Cites
Dating the rise of atmospheric oxygen
Bekker, A., Holland, H. D., Wang, P.-L., Rumble, D., Stein, H. J., Hannah, J. L., Coetzee, L. L., & Beukes, N. J. (2004) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature02260 · Cited by 1,435
A new model for Proterozoic ocean chemistry
Canfield, D. E. (1998) · Nature · doi:10.1038/24839 · Cited by 1,243
Self-citationTracing the stepwise oxygenation of the Proterozoic ocean
Scott, C., Lyons, T. W., Bekker, A., Shen, Y., Poulton, S. W., Chu, X., & Anbar, A. D. (2008) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature06811 · Cited by 1,098
Self-citationTHE EARLY HISTORY OF ATMOSPHERIC OXYGEN: Homage to Robert M. Garrels
Canfield, D. E. (2005) · Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences · doi:10.1146/annurev.earth.33.092203.122711 · Cited by 1,032
Self-citationA Whiff of Oxygen Before the Great Oxidation Event?
Anbar, A. D., Duan, Y., Lyons, T. W., Arnold, G. L., Kendall, B., Creaser, R. A., Kaufman, A. J., Gordon, G. W., Scott, C., Garvin, J., et al. (2007) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1140325 · Cited by 1,024
Late-Neoproterozoic Deep-Ocean Oxygenation and the Rise of Animal Life
Canfield, D. E., Poulton, S. W., & Narbonne, G. M. (2007) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1135013 · Cited by 1,000
Self-citationOxidation of the Ediacaran Ocean
Fike, D. A., Grotzinger, J. P., Pratt, L. M., & Summons, R. E. (2006) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature05345 · Cited by 989
Canfield, D. E., & Teske, A. (1996) · Nature · doi:10.1038/382127a0 · Cited by 869
Self-citationSurface reactions of chromium in soils and waters
Fendorf, S. E. (1995) · Geoderma · doi:10.1016/0016-7061(94)00062-f · Cited by 680
Multiple sulfur isotopes and the evolution of the atmosphere
Farquhar, J., & Wing, B. A. (2003) · Earth and Planetary Science Letters · doi:10.1016/s0012-821x(03)00296-6 · Cited by 638
Cited by
Sorted by citations
The rise of oxygen in Earth's early ocean and atmosphere
Lyons, T. W., Reinhard, C. T., & Planavsky, N. J. (2014) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature13068 · Cited by 2,810
The Evolution and Future of Earth’s Nitrogen Cycle
Canfield, D. E., Glazer, A. N., & Falkowski, P. G. (2010) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1186120 · Cited by 2,697
Self-citationGlutathione catalysis and the reaction mechanisms of glutathione-dependent enzymes
Deponte, M. (2012) · Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects · doi:10.1016/j.bbagen.2012.09.018 · Cited by 1,150
Bekker, A., Slack, J. F., Planavsky, N., Krapez, B., Hofmann, A., Konhauser, K. O., & Rouxel, O. J. (2010) · Economic Geology · doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.105.3.467 · Cited by 1,013
Low Mid-Proterozoic atmospheric oxygen levels and the delayed rise of animals
Planavsky, N. J., Reinhard, C. T., Wang, X., Thomson, D., McGoldrick, P., Rainbird, R. H., Johnson, T., Fischer, W. W., & Lyons, T. W. (2014) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1258410 · Cited by 763
Metadata
- Authors
- Frei, R., Gaucher, C., Poulton, S. W., & Canfield, D. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- Newcastle University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Frei, Robert
- Venue
- Nature
- Published
- 2009-09
- Volume
- 461
- Issue
- 7261
- Pages
- 250-253
- ISSN
- 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-4687
- OpenAlex
- W2060563278
- Cited by
- 653
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 59 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 46 · 2018: 63 · 2017: 47 · 2016: 47 · 2015: 47 · 2014: 35 · 2013: 43 · 2012: 31
- FWCI
- 23.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
- University of Southern Denmark Research Portal (University of Southern Denmark) (submittedVersion)
- Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
- Funders
- Danmarks Grundforskningsfond
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
- Keywords
- Great Oxidation Event, chromium isotopes, banded iron formations, hexavalent chromium, oxidative weathering, Precambrian oceans, iron oxide, Precambrian
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Atmosphere, Chromium, Chromium Isotopes, Iron, Oceans and Seas, Oxidation-Reduction, Oxides, Oxygen, Seawater, Manganese Compounds, Biodiversity, History, Ancient
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