Cited by 129Paleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsGeology and Paleoclimatology ResearchGeochemistry and Elemental Analysis

Oxygen isotope composition of the Phanerozoic ocean and a possible solution to the dolomite problem

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Ryb, Uri, Eiler, John M.·2018·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Abstract

Significance: The elemental and isotopic compositions of seawater have evolved throughout Earth’s history, in tandem with major climatic, tectonic and biologic events, including the emergence and diversification of life. Over geological timescales, the oxygen isotope composition of seawater reflects a global balance between mineral–rock reactions occurring at the Earth’s surface (weathering and sedimentation) and crustal (hydrothermal alteration) environments. We put constraints on the oxygen isotope composition of seawater throughout the Phanerozoic and demonstrate that this value has remained stable. This stability suggests that the fluxes of globally averaged oxygen isotope exchange, associated with weathering and hydrothermal alteration reactions, have remained proportional through time and is consistent with the hypothesis that a steady-state balance exists between seafloor hydrothermal activity and surface weathering.

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Crossref · 10.1073/pnas.1719681115

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  • The burial-hydrothermal dolomitization model is supported by petrographic observations and geochemical evidence from Phanerozoic and Proterozoic dolostones.

    “This model is supported by many petrographic observations (e.g., coarse dolomite cements, saddle dolomites) and geochemical evidence (e.g., elemental and isotopic compositions) from both Phanerozoic (7) and Proterozoic dolostones (8).”

    From Massive formation of early diagenetic dolomite in the Ediacaran ocean: Constraints on the "dolomite problem" (2020) · cites this paper as [7]

    The cited paper reports isotopic evidence from Phanerozoic dolostones and concludes that its data are consistent with dolomitization during deep circulation of seawater (Significance, pp. 2, 5). It does not provide the cited petrographic evidence of coarse cements or saddle dolomites. In the citing sentence, the separate citation (8) is attached to Proterozoic dolostones, so that portion is not attributed to this source. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • No geological process is known to reduce TΔ47 values.

    “Because no geological process is known to reduce T Δ47 values (7, 23-25)”

    From Massive formation of early diagenetic dolomite in the Ediacaran ocean: Constraints on the "dolomite problem" (2020) · cites this paper as [7]

    The Significance section (p. 3) says solid-state isotopic reordering, if it occurred in the calcites discussed, would shift clumped-isotope temperatures toward higher values. That supports the point for this process, but the paper does not establish the broader claim that no geological process can reduce TΔ47 values. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  • Most of the studied dolomite samples must have formed at temperatures below 100 °C, which is inconsistent with an origin via the widely accepted burial-hydrothermal dolomitization model.

    “these results suggest that most of our dolomite samples must have formed at temperatures below 100 °C, which is inconsistent with an origin via the widely accepted burial-hydrothermal dolomitization model (5,7).”

    From Massive formation of early diagenetic dolomite in the Ediacaran ocean: Constraints on the "dolomite problem" (2020) · cites this paper as [7]

    The source supports a deep-burial account of dolomite formation: it says pre-Cenozoic dolomites mostly formed above plausible shallow-sediment temperatures (p. 4) and concludes that its data are consistent with dolomitization at kilometer-scale burial depths (p. 5). It does not establish 100 °C as a cutoff that rules out burial dolomitization; its reported mean crystallization temperatures for Paleozoic and Mesozoic dolomites are both below 100 °C (p. 3). The temperature inference about 'our dolomite samples' belongs to the citing authors, not this source. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Original TΔ47 signatures are subject to secondary alteration via meteoric diagenesis, recrystallization, and solid-state reordering during geological burial, all of which shift values to higher-than-original TΔ47 values.

    “Original T Δ47 signatures are subject to secondary alteration via meteoric diagenesis, recrystallization, and solid-state reordering during geological burial, all of which result in shifts to higher-than-original T Δ47 values (7,(23)(24)(25).”

    From Massive formation of early diagenetic dolomite in the Ediacaran ocean: Constraints on the "dolomite problem" (2020) · cites this paper as [7]

    The Significance section (p. 3) says burial-related diagenetic alteration can record elevated clumped-isotope temperatures and that solid-state reordering, if it occurred, would shift those temperatures higher. But the paper does not establish that meteoric diagenesis and recrystallization necessarily shift TΔ47 higher; it discusses meteoric water as a possible cause of changes in δ18O. It also expects the dolomites selected for this study to retain their crystallization temperatures (p. 2). (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Clumped isotopes show little change in Phanerozoic δ18Oseawater.

    “In addition, clumped isotopes show little change in Phanerozoic δ18Oseawater [e.g., (235)].”

    From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [235]

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Authors
Ryb, U., & Eiler, J. M.
Affiliations
California Institute of Technology (US)
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published
2018-06-11
Volume
115
Issue
26
Pages
6602-6607
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
OpenAlex
W2808659521
Cited by
129
References
69
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 8
FWCI
9.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • CaltechAUTHORS (California Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Science Foundation (EAR-1624827)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
Keywords
seawater oxygen isotopes, Phanerozoic, dolomite problem, weathering, hydrothermal alteration, seafloor hydrothermal activity, isotope exchange
MeSH terms
Calcium Carbonate, Fossils, Magnesium, Oceans and Seas, Oxygen, Oxygen Isotopes, Seawater, Temperature, Time Factors, Geologic Sediments, History, Ancient, Climate Change

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