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Carbon isotope evidence for the stepwise oxidation of the Proterozoic environment

Nature volume 359, pages 605–609 (1992)Cite this article

Abstract

The oxidation of the Earth's crust and the increase in atmospheric oxygen early in Earth history have been linked to the accumulation of reduced carbon in sedimentary rocks. Trends in the carbon isotope composition of sedimentary organic carbon and carbonate show that during the Proterozoic aeon (2.5–0.54 Gyr ago) the organic carbon reservoir grew in size, relative to the carbonate reservoir. This increase, and the concomitant release of oxidizing power in the environment, occurred mostly during episodes of global rifting and orogeny.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, 94035, USA

    David J. Des Marais

  2. Institut für Geologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Postfach 102148, 4630, Bochum, 1, Germany

    Harald Strauss

  3. Bureau of Mineral Resources, GPO Box 378, Canberra, Australian Capital Territories, 2605, Australia

    Roger E. Summons

  4. Biogeochemical Laboratories, Departments of Geological Sciences and of Chemistry, Geology Building, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, USA

    J. M. Hayes

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  1. David J. Des Marais
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  2. Harald Strauss
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  3. Roger E. Summons
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  4. J. M. Hayes
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Marais, D., Strauss, H., Summons, R. et al. Carbon isotope evidence for the stepwise oxidation of the Proterozoic environment. Nature 359, 605–609 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/359605a0

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