Sulfate triple-oxygen-isotope evidence confirming oceanic oxygenation 570 million years ago

Haiyang Wang, Yongbo Peng (), Chao Li (), Xiaobin Cao, Meng Cheng and Huiming Bao ()
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Haiyang Wang: Nanjing University
Yongbo Peng: Nanjing University
Chao Li: Chengdu University of Technology
Xiaobin Cao: Nanjing University
Meng Cheng: Chengdu University of Technology
Huiming Bao: Nanjing University

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract The largest negative inorganic carbon isotope excursion in Earth’s history, namely the Ediacaran Shuram Excursion (SE), closely followed by early animal radiation, has been widely interpreted as a consequence of oceanic oxidation. However, the primary nature of the signature, source of oxidants, and tempo of the event remain contested. Here, we show that carbonate-associated sulfate (CAS) from three different paleocontinents all have conspicuous negative 17O anomalies (Δ′17OCAS values down to −0.53‰) during the SE. Furthermore, the Δ′17OCAS varies in correlation with its corresponding δ34SCAS and δ18OCAS as well as the carbonate δ13Ccarb, decreasing initially followed by a recovery over the ~7-Myr SE duration. In a box-model examination, we argue for a period of sustained water-column ventilation and consequently enhanced sulfur oxidation in the SE ocean. Our findings reveal a direct involvement of mass-anomalously 17O-depleted atmospheric O2 in marine sulfate formation and thus a primary global oceanic oxygenation event during the SE.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39962-9

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