Browsing by Author "Bekker, Andrey"

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    Chemostratigraphy of the Early Paleoproterozoic carbonate successions (Kaapvaal and Wyoming cratons)
    Bekker, Andrey (Virginia Tech, 2001-08-24)
    Evidence of three glaciations in Paleoproterozoic successions of North America and at least one on three other continents, suggests that these glaciations were of global extent. In common with the Neoproterozoic record, carbonates cap the glacials. However, the relationship between biogeochemical cycling of carbon and ice ages has not been fully appreciated. This research involved the sedimentology and isotope stratigraphy of carbonates and shales in Paleoproterozoic glacially-influenced successions of Wyoming and South Africa. Carbonates of the Vagner Formation cap the middle of three diamictites in the Snowy Pass Supergroup, Medicine Bow Mountains, WY. The Duitschland Formation occurs between two glacial horizons in South Africa. Limestones retain negative d13C values for over 60 m in the Vagner Formation, and for over 100 m in the lower part of the Duitschland Formation. Isotope compositions of TOC from the lower part of the Duitschland Formation reveal pronounced enrichment resulting in significantly lower fractionation between organic and inorganic carbon. This is similar to enrichment noted in Neoproterozoic cap carbonates. Combined with strongly positive carbon isotope compositions in upper Duitschland carbonates, the data from the Vagner Formation underscores strongly positive-to-negative carbon isotope trends bracketing Paleoproterozoic glaciations. These trends mimic those noted in Neoproterozoic glacial successions and possibly indicate a recurrence of global glaciations. The Slaughterhouse and Nash Fork formations significantly postdate the glacial epoch. Both the lower part of the Nash Fork Formation, Medicine Bow Mountains and the Slaughterhouse Formation, Sierra Madre contains carbonates with 13C-enrichment >+6â ° and locally up to +28%, whereas carbonates higher in the Nash Fork Formation have d13C values between 0 and 2.5%. This dramatic change in the composition of the Paleoproterozoic ocean is constrained at ca. 2.1 Ga (Karhu, 1993). Carbonates in the Rawhide Canyon section of the Whalen Group in the Hartville Uplift (the easternmost exposure of the Wyoming Craton) display δ13C values up to +8.2% suggesting correlation with the Slaughterhouse and Nash Fork formations and their deposition on continuous carbonate platform along the margin of the Wyoming Craton. These data support an open-marine, and therefore a global origin for the ca. 2.2-2.1 Ga carbon isotope excursion.
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    Proterozoic ocean redox and biogeochemical stasis
    Reinhard, Christopher T.; Planavsky, Noah J.; Robbins, Leslie J.; Partin, Camille A.; Gill, Benjamin C.; Lalonde, Stefan V.; Bekker, Andrey; Konhauser, Kurt O.; Lyons, Timothy W. (National Academy of Sciences, 2013)
    The partial pressure of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere has increased dramatically through time, and this increase is thought to have occurred in two rapid steps at both ends of the Proterozoic Eon (~2.5-0.543 Ga). However, the trajectory and mechanisms of Earth's oxygenation are still poorly constrained, and little is known regarding attendant changes in ocean ventilation and seafloor redox.We have a particularly poor understanding of ocean chemistry during the mid-Proterozoic (~1.8-0.8 Ga). Given the coupling between redoxsensitive trace element cycles and planktonic productivity, various models for mid-Proterozoic ocean chemistry imply different effects on the biogeochemical cycling of major and trace nutrients, with potential ecological constraints on emerging eukaryotic life. Here, we exploit the differing redox behavior of molybdenum and chromium to provide constraints on seafloor redox evolution by coupling a large database of sedimentary metal enrichments to a mass balance model that includes spatially variant metal burial rates.We find that the metal enrichment record implies a Proterozoic deep ocean characterized by pervasive anoxia relative to the Phanerozoic (at least ~30-40% of modern seafloor area) but a relatively small extent of euxinic (anoxic and sulfidic) seafloor (less than ~1-10% of modern seafloor area). Our model suggests that the oceanicMo reservoir is extremely sensitive to perturbations in the extent of sulfidic seafloor and that the record of Mo and chromium enrichments through time is consistent with the possibility of a Mo-N colimited marine biosphere during many periods of Earth's history.
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    A template for an improved rock-based subdivision of the pre-Cryogenian timescale
    Shields, Graham A.; Strachan, Robin A.; Porter, Susannah M.; Halverson, Galen P.; Macdonald, Francis A.; Plumb, Kenneth A.; de Alvarenga, Carlos J.; Banerjee, Dhiraj M.; Bekker, Andrey; Bleeker, Wouter; Brasier, Alexander; Chakraborty, Partha P.; Collins, Alan S.; Condie, Kent; Das, Kaushik; Evans, David AD D.; Ernst, Richard; Fallick, Anthony E.; Frimmel, Hartwig; Fuck, Reinhardt; Hoffman, Paul F.; Kamber, Balz S.; Kuznetsov, Anton B.; Mitchell, Ross N.; Poire, Daniel G.; Poulton, Simon W.; Riding, Robert; Sharma, Mukund; Storey, Craig; Stueeken, Eva; Tostevin, Rosalie; Turner, Elizabeth; Xiao, Shuhai; Zhang, Shuanhong; Zhou, Ying; Zhu, Maoyan (Geological Society of America, 2021-07-07)
    The geological timescale before 720 Ma uses rounded absolute ages rather than specific events recorded in rocks to subdivide time. This has led increasingly to mismatches between subdivisions and the features for which they were named. Here we review the formal processes that led to the current timescale, outline rock-based concepts that could be used to subdivide pre-Cryogenian time and propose revisions. An appraisal of the Precambrian rock record confirms that purely chronostratigraphic subdivision would require only modest deviation from current chronometric boundaries, removal of which could be expedited by establishing event-based concepts and provisional, approximate ages for eon-, era-and period-level subdivisions. Our review leads to the following conclusions: (1) the current informal four-fold Archean subdivision should be simplified to a tripartite scheme, pending more detailed analysis, and (2) an improved rock-based Proterozoic Eon might comprise a Paleoproterozoic Era with three periods (early Paleoproterozoic or Skourian, Rhyacian, Orosirian), Mesoproterozoic Era with four periods (Statherian, Calymmian, Ectasian, Stenian) and a Neoproterozoic Era with four periods ( pre-Tonian or Kleisian, Tonian, Cryogenian and Ediacaran). These proposals stem from a wide community and could be used to guide future development of the pre-Cryogenian timescale by international bodies.