title: Isotopic evidence for massive oxidation of organic matter following the great oxidation event.
abstract: The stable isotope record of marine carbon indicates that the Proterozoic Eon began and ended with extreme fluctuations in the carbon cycle. In both the Paleoproterozoic [2500 to 1600 million years ago (Ma)] and Neoproterozoic (1000 to 542 Ma), extended intervals of anomalously high carbon isotope ratios (δ(13)C) indicate high rates of organic matter burial and release of oxygen to the atmosphere; in the Neoproterozoic, the high δ(13)C interval was punctuated by abrupt swings to low δ(13)C, indicating massive oxidation of organic matter. We report a Paleoproterozoic negative δ(13)C excursion that is similar in magnitude and apparent duration to the Neoproterozoic anomaly. This Shunga-Francevillian anomaly may reflect intense oxidative weathering of rocks as the result of the initial establishment of an oxygen-rich atmosphere.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Lee R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Kump
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Junium
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Arthur
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brasier
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fallick
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Melezhik
authors.forename: Aivo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lepland
authors.forename: Alenka E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Crne
authors.forename: Genming
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D001272:Atmosphere; D057486:Carbon Cycle; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D002254:Carbonates; D018534:Earth, Planet; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D055601:Organic Chemistry Phenomena; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen; D012426:Russia; D013995:Time
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002254:Carbonates; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D010100:Oxygen