Organic remains in late Palaeoproterozoic granular iron formations and implications for the origin of granules

Dodd, Matthew S.; Papineau, Dominic; She, Zhenbing; Fogel, Marilyn L.; Nederbragt, Sandra; Pirajno, Franco

doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2018.02.016

Cited by 32 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 95 publications

(127 reference statements)

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“…Furthermore, while clays in BIF could have been water column precipitates, and clays in pelite detrital, this difference in origin still permits both clay-types being suspended in the water column, and therefore open to capture and preserve OM. This principle is also applicable to iron formations, as granular iron formations contain similar clay types (minnesotaite, greenalite, stilpnomelane 46,47 ) to banded iron formations, and have been found to exhibit higher organic carbon contents in clay-rich varieties 47 , and organic matter is found in clays within these clay-rich granular iron formations, as is found in pelites. Therefore, the comparison of OM-clay associations in BIF and pelite is appropriate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Minimal biomass deposition in banded iron formations inferred from organic matter and clay relationships

et al. 2019

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The cycling of iron and organic matter (OM) is thought to have been a major biogeochemical cycle in the early ferruginous oceans which contributed to the deposition of banded iron formations (BIF). However, BIF are deficient in OM, which is postulated to be the result of near-complete oxidation of OM during iron reduction. We test this idea by documenting the prevalence of OM in clays within BIF and clays in shales associated with BIF. We find in shales >80% of OM occurs in clays, but <1% occurs in clays within BIF. Instead, in BIF OM occurs with 13C-depleted carbonate and apatite, implying OM oxidation occurred. Conversely, BIF which possess primary clays would be expected to preserve OM in clays, yet this is not seen. This implies OM deposition in silicate-bearing BIF would have been minimal, this consequently stifled iron-cycling and primary productivity through the retention of nutrients in the sediments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Minimal biomass deposition in banded iron formations inferred from organic matter and clay relationships

et al. 2019

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“…Sample preparation and analytical details follow a previously devised protocol (Dodd et al, 2018). A suite of standard materials that span a range of δ 13 C values from -26‰ to -6‰, was analysed within each run.…”

Section: Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Analyses of bulk rock powders for carbonate were conducted in the Cardiff School of Earth Sciences with a Thermo Finnigan Delta V Advantage mass spectrometer connected to a Gas Bench II. Sample preparation and analytical details follow a previously devised protocol (Dodd et al, 2018).…”

Section: Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Widespread occurrences of variably crystalline 13C-depleted graphitic carbon in banded iron formations

Dodd

She

Manikyamba

et al. 2019

Earth and Planetary Science Letters

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Almost all evidence for the oldest traces of life on Earth rely on particles of graphitic carbon preserved in rocks of sedimentary protolith. Yet, the source of carbon in such ancient graphite is debated, as it could possibly be non-biological and/or non-indigenous in origin. Here we describe the co-occurrence of poorly crystalline and crystalline varieties of graphitic carbon with apatite in ten different and variably metamorphosed banded iron formations (BIF) ranging in age from 1,800 to >3,800 Myr. In Neoarchean to Palaeoproterozoic BIF subjected to low-grade metamorphism, 13 C-depleted graphitic carbon occurs as inclusions in apatite, and carbonate and arguably represents the remineralisation of syngenetic biomass. In BIF subjected to high-grade metamorphism, 13 C-depleted graphite co-occurs with poorly crystalline graphite (PCG), as well as apatite, carbonate, pyrite, amphibole and greenalite. Retrograde minerals such as greenalite, and veins cross-cutting magnetite layers contain PCG. Crystalline graphite can occur with apatite and orthopyroxene, and sometimes it has PCG coatings. Crystalline graphite is interpreted to represent the metamorphosed product of syngenetic organic carbon deposited in BIF, while poorly crystalline graphite was precipitated from CO -H fluids partially sourced from the syngenetic carbon, along with fluid-deposited apatite and carbonate. The isotopic signature of the graphitic carbon and the distribution of fluiddeposited graphite in highly metamorphosed BIF is consistent with carbon in the fluids being derived from the thermal cracking of syngenetic biomass deposited in BIF, but, extraneous sources of carbon cannot be ruled out as a source for PCG. The results here show that apatite + graphite is a common mineral assemblage in metamorphosed BIF. The mode of formation of this assemblage is, however, variable, which has important implications for the timing of life's emergence on Earth.

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“…Papineau et al (2017) mencionan patrones fractales semejantes en gránulos con fósiles de microorganismos en cherts estromatolíticos del Paleoproterozoico del área del Lago superior (Norteamérica) y concluyen que la oxidación diagenética de materia orgánica a través de reacciones químicas oscilantes contribuyó a la formación de estos esferoides sedimentarios. Asímismo, Dodd et al (2018) fundamentan que la génesis de las formaciones de hierro granular (Granular Iron Formations, GIFs) depositadas en las plataformas continentales de fi nales del Paleoproterozoico implican actividad microbiana y reacciones químicas oscilantes, de ahí el potencial de estos gránulos como bioseñales en los estudios de bioquímica del Precámbrico y en Astrobiología.…”

Section: Silicifi Caciónunclassified

Fosildiagénesis del anélido Rotularia spirulaea (Lamarck, 1818) (Polychaeta, Serpulidae) en el Eoceno del dominio pirenaico occidental

Elorza

Astibia

2018

Spanish J. Palaeontol.

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The presence of the fossil polychaete Rotularia spirulaea (Lamarck, 1818) in Eocene deposits (middle Lutecian – upper Bartonian and (?) Priabonian) belonging to the western Pyrenean Domain is verified. In this paper, a fossildiagenetic study has been carried out. Fossils from three areas, corresponding to diff erent depositional settings, have been analysed. In area 1, sediments of the Ardanatz Sandstone and Ilundain Marls formations [Pamplona Basin and adjoining areas (Navarre)], were sampled. Here, the specimens of R. spirulaea were not substantially affected by taphonomic reworking and the original microstructure of the carbonate tube is preserved. The test consists of a thick external shell layer, composed of three zones in succession, and another extremely thin inner shell layer. The lumen of the tube is filled in by fine-grained sediment and/or calcitic cement. In area 2 , which includes the town of Anderatz and several outcrops of the Urbasa mountain range (Navarre), Urbasa-Andia Formation and overlying deposits, as well as in area 3 , located on the upper part of the calciclastic fl ysch of Punta Galea (Biscay), fossils are included in sediments deposited in high-energy environments. In this case, the microstructure of R. spirulaea tube is not completely recognized due to intense, early diagenetic silicifi cation aff ecting the tests. The lumen is filled in with fragments of foraminifera and calcareous algae, quartz-feldespathic sediment and cemented by calcite. Therefore, in zones 2 and 3 the fossildiagenetic processes are substantially different from those recognized in zone 1.

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Organic remains in late Palaeoproterozoic granular iron formations and implications for the origin of granules

Cited by 32 publications

References 95 publications

Minimal biomass deposition in banded iron formations inferred from organic matter and clay relationships

Minimal biomass deposition in banded iron formations inferred from organic matter and clay relationships

Widespread occurrences of variably crystalline 13C-depleted graphitic carbon in banded iron formations

Fosildiagénesis del anélido Rotularia spirulaea (Lamarck, 1818) (Polychaeta, Serpulidae) en el Eoceno del dominio pirenaico occidental

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