Multiple Negative Molybdenum Isotope Excursions in the Doushantuo Formation (South China) Fingerprint Complex Redox-Related Processes in the Ediacaran Nanhua Basin
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-16-2019
Publication Title
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Volume
261
First page number:
191
Last page number:
209
Abstract
The Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation offers one of the most complete and extensively studied records of end-Neoproterozoic biotic and environmental change. Here, we report multiple coeval negative molybdenum (Mo) isotope excursions (to as low as δ98MoNIST+0.25 = −2.24 ± 0.10‰; 2SD) in shales from four separate sites in South China (Rongxi, Taoying, Wuhe, and Yuanjia) that preserve the Doushantuo Formation. The negative δ98Mo excursions appear coincident with previously discovered and seemingly peculiar redox-sensitive element (RSE) patterns in the same sedimentary rocks. We propose that these geochemical trends can be explained by some combination of (a) enhanced local marine oxygenation in the sedimentary basin where the Doushantuo Formation was originally deposited (the Nanhua Basin) and (b) changes in the degree of connectivity between this paleo basin and the open ocean. Enhanced local marine oxygenation, by exposing more sediments in the Nanhua basin to H2S-poor conditions, could have hindered quantitative tetrathiomolybdate formation within these sediments. Local marine oxygenation could have also stimulated the operation of a Mn oxide shuttle. Today, both of these processes are shown to promote the retention of lighter-mass Mo isotopes in sediments and also govern RSE enrichment patterns. Alternatively, or in addition, the Nanhua Basin may not have maintained an uninterrupted connection with the open ocean during the entirety of the Ediacaran Period. The negative δ98Mo excursions occur coincident with sea level highstands that could have also exposed more sediments in the basin to H2S poor conditions and/or catalyzed the operation of a local Mn oxide shuttle. When trying to infer temporal changes in ancient global ocean redox, it is important to consider the influence of sea level changes and associated variations in local depositional conditions on stratigraphic trends in RSE enrichments and isotope compositions.
Disciplines
Earth Sciences | Geochemistry
Language
English
Repository Citation
Ostrander, C. M.,
Sahoo, S. K.,
Kendall, B.,
Jiang, G.,
Planavsky, N. J.,
Lyons, T. W.,
Nielsen, S. G.,
Owens, J. D.,
Gordon, G. W.,
Romaniello, S. J.,
Anbar, A. D.
(2019).
Multiple Negative Molybdenum Isotope Excursions in the Doushantuo Formation (South China) Fingerprint Complex Redox-Related Processes in the Ediacaran Nanhua Basin.
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 261
191-209.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2019.07.016