| Title | Low mid-Proterozoic atmospheric oxygen levels and the delayed rise of animals |
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| Author | Planavsky, N J; Reinhard, C T; Wang, X; Thomson, D; McGoldrick, P; Rainbird, R H ; Johnson, T; Fischer, W W; Lyons, T W |
| Source | Science vol. 346, 6209, 2014 p. 635-638, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1258410 |
| Year | 2014 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20182346 |
| Publisher | American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Subjects | Nature and Environment; Animals |
| Program | GEM: Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals PGE/Base Metals - Victoria Island (NWT and Nunavut) |
| Released | 2014 10 30 |
| Abstract | The oxygenation of Earth's surface fundamentally altered global biogeochemical cycles and ultimately paved the way for the rise of metazoans at the end of the Proterozoic. However, current estimates for
atmospheric oxygen (O2) levels during the billion years leading up to this time vary widely. On the basis of chromium (Cr) isotope data from a suite of Proterozoic sediments from China, Australia, and North America, interpreted in the context of data
from similar depositional environments from Phanerozoic time, we find evidence for inhibited oxidation of Cr at Earth's surface in the mid-Proterozoic (1.8 to 0.8 billion years ago). These data suggest that atmospheric O2 levels were at most 0.1% of
present atmospheric levels. Direct evidence for such low O2 concentrations in the Proterozoic helps explain the late emergence and diversification of metazoans. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 310923 |
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