Active methanogenesis during the melting of Marinoan snowball Earth

Zhouqiao Zhao, Bing Shen (), Jian-Ming Zhu (), Xianguo Lang (), Guangliang Wu, Decan Tan, Haoxiang Pei, Tianzheng Huang, Meng Ning and Haoran Ma
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Zhouqiao Zhao: Peking University
Bing Shen: Peking University
Jian-Ming Zhu: China University of Geosciences
Xianguo Lang: Chengdu University of Technology
Guangliang Wu: China University of Geosciences
Decan Tan: Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Haoxiang Pei: Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences
Tianzheng Huang: Peking University
Meng Ning: Peking University
Haoran Ma: Peking University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Geological evidence indicates that the deglaciation of Marinoan snowball Earth ice age (~635 Myr ago) was associated with intense continental weathering, recovery of primary productivity, transient marine euxinia, and potentially extensive CH4 emission. It is proposed that the deglacial CH4 emissions may have provided positive feedbacks for ice melting and global warming. However, the origin of CH4 remains unclear. Here we report Ni isotopes (δ60Ni) and Yttrium-rare earth element (YREE) compositions of syndepositional pyrites from the upper most Nantuo Formation (equivalent deposits of the Marinoan glaciation), South China. The Nantuo pyrite displays anti-correlations between Ni concentration and δ60Ni, and between Ni concentration and Sm/Yb ratio, suggesting mixing between Ni in seawater and Ni from methanogens. Our study indicates active methanogenesis during the termination of Marinoan snowball Earth. This suggests that methanogenesis was fueled by methyl sulfides produced in sulfidic seawater during the deglacial recovery of marine primary productivity.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21114-6

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