Cited by 365Paleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsOrigins and Evolution of LifeGeological and Geochemical Analysis

Early Archaean Microorganisms Preferred Elemental Sulfur, Not Sulfate

Philippot, Pascal, Van Zuilen, Mark, Lepot, Kevin, Thomazo, Christophe, Farquhar, James, Van Kranendonk, Martin J.·2007·Science

Abstract

Microscopic sulfides with low 34 S/ 32 S ratios in marine sulfate deposits from the 3490-million-yearold Dresser Formation, Australia, have been interpreted as evidence for the presence of early sulfate-reducing organisms on Earth. We show that these microscopic sulfides have a mass-independently fractionated sulfur isotopic anomaly (Δ 33 S) that differs from that of their host sulfate (barite). These microscopic sulfides could not have been produced by sulfate-reducing microbes, nor by abiologic processes that involve reduction of sulfate. Instead, we interpret the combined negative δ 34 S and positive Δ 33 S signature of these microscopic sulfides as evidence for the early existence of organisms that disproportionate elemental sulfur.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.1145861

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  • Geochemical isotope evidence attests to the existence of processes performed by sulfate reducers-sulfate/sulfite reduction and sulfur disproportionation-in the early Archaean era, around 3.4 billion years ago.

    “It is furthermore supported by geochemical isotope evidence that attests to the existence of processes performed by sulfate reducers—sulfate/sulfite reduction and sulfur disproportionation—in the early Archaean era, around 3.4 billion years ago [173–175].”

    From Early bioenergetic evolution (2013) · cites this paper as [174]

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Authors
Philippot, P., Van Zuilen, M., Lepot, K., Thomazo, C., Farquhar, J., & Van Kranendonk, M. J.
Affiliations
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • Equipe Géobiosphère Actuelle et Primitive, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS and Université Denis Diderot, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris cedex, France.
Corresponding author
Philippot, Pascal
Venue
Science
Published
2007-09-14
Volume
317
Issue
5844
Pages
1534-1537
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W2049155474
Cited by
365
References
32
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 33
FWCI
17.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
  • Digital Access to Libraries (Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), l'Université de Namur (UNamur) and the Université Saint-Louis (USL-B)) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › Geological and Geochemical Analysis
Keywords
elemental sulfur, sulfur isotopes, sulfate-reducing bacteria, Dresser Formation, barite, early Earth, microbial sulfur cycling
MeSH terms
Australia, Barium Sulfate, Cold Climate, Hydrogen Sulfide, Oxidation-Reduction, Sulfates, Sulfur, Sulfur Isotopes, Temperature, Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria, Geologic Sediments

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