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Carbon Isotope Evidence for the Stepwise Oxidation of the Proterozoic EnvironmentThe 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.
Document ID
20000023170
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
DesMarais, David J.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Strauss, Harald
(Ruhr Univ. Bochum, Germany)
Summons, Roger E.
(Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics Canberra, Australia)
Hayes, J. M.
(Indiana Univ. Bloomington, IN United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
October 15, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Nature
Volume: 359
Subject Category
Geophysics
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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