Redox heterogeneity of subsurface waters in the M esoproterozoic ocean
Open accessAbstract
A substantial body of evidence suggests that subsurface water masses in mid‐Proterozoic marine basins were commonly anoxic, either euxinic (sulfidic) or ferruginous (free ferrous iron). To further document redox variations during this interval, a multiproxy geochemical and paleobiological investigation was conducted on the approximately 1000‐m‐thick M esoproterozoic (L ower R iphean) A rlan M ember of the K altasy F ormation, central R ussia. Iron speciation geochemistry, supported by organic geochemistry, redox‐sensitive trace element abundances, and pyrite sulfur isotope values, indicates that basinal calcareous shales of the A rlan M ember were deposited beneath an oxygenated water column, and consistent with this interpretation, eukaryotic microfossils are abundant in basinal facies. The Rhenium–Osmium (R e–O s) systematics of the A rlan shales yield depositional ages of 1414 ± 40 and 1427 ± 43 Ma for two horizons near the base of the succession, consistent with previously proposed correlations. The presence of free oxygen in a basinal environment adds an important end member to P roterozoic redox heterogeneity, requiring an explanation in light of previous data from time‐equivalent basins. Very low total organic carbon contents in the Arlan Member are perhaps the key—oxic deep waters are more likely (under any level of atmospheric O2) in oligotrophic systems with low export production. Documentation of a full range of redox heterogeneity in subsurface waters and the existence of local redox controls indicate that no single stratigraphic section or basin can adequately capture both the mean redox profile of Proterozoic oceans and its variance at any given point in time.
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Limited reactive iron enrichment and muted enrichment of redox-sensitive trace elements in basinal shales from the Kaltasy Formation are consistent with at least weakly oxygenated conditions in some deep-shelf environments contemporaneous with euxinic and ferruginous conditions in similar depositional environments elsewhere.
“Limited reactive iron enrichment and muted enrichment of redox-sensitive trace elements in basinal shales from the Kaltasy Formation in central Russia (∼1.4 Gya) are consistent with at least weakly oxygenated conditions in some deep-shelf environments contemporaneous with euxinic and ferruginous conditions in similar depositional environments elsewhere (Sperling et al. 2014).”
From The History of Ocean Oxygenation (2022) · cites this paper as Sperling et al. 2014
A weakly oxygenated redox state would be difficult to distinguish from oxic depositional conditions using iron speciation or trace element enrichments.
“This redox state would be difficult to distinguish from oxic depositional conditions using iron speciation or trace element enrichments (Scholz 2018, Sperling et al. 2014)”
From The History of Ocean Oxygenation (2022) · cites this paper as Sperling et al. 2014
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- Authors
- Sperling, E. A., Rooney, A. D., Hays, L., Sergeev, V. N., Vorob'eva, N. G., Sergeeva, N. D., Selby, D., Johnston, D. T., & Knoll, A. H.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Russian Academy of Sciences (RU)
- Geological Institute Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
- Institute of Geology Ufimian Scientific Center Russian Academy of Sciences Ufa Russia
- Durham University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Sperling, E. A.
- Knoll, A. H.
- Venue
- Geobiology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-05-29
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 373-386
- ISSN
- 1472-4669 (ISSN-L)
- 1472-4677
- OpenAlex
- W1969060008
- Cited by
- 149
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 4
- FWCI
- 7.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Locations
- Geobiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Durham Research Online (Durham University) (acceptedVersion)
- Durham Research Online (Durham University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Keywords
- iron speciation, redox-sensitive elements, pyrite sulfur isotopes, total organic carbon, free oxygen, Proterozoic stratigraphy
- MeSH terms
- Iron, Organic Chemicals, Oxidation-Reduction, Russia, Seawater, Sulfides, Sulfur Isotopes, Trace Elements, Evolution, Planetary
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