Probing the Memory of Earth Anoxia: New Stable Isotope Constraints on the Rise of Oxygen

Información del proyecto

ANOXIA-MEM

Identificador del acuerdo de subvención: 708117

DOI

10.3030/708117

Proyecto cerrado

Fecha de la firma de la CE 8 Marzo 2016

Fecha de inicio 1 Abril 2016

Fecha de finalización 31 Marzo 2018

Financiado con arreglo a

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Coste total

€ 185 076,00

Aportación de la UE

€ 185 076,00

Coordinado por

UNIVERSITE DE BREST
France

Objetivo

Atmospheric anoxia prevailed throughout the majority of Earth history, making oxygen and the animal life it supports relative newcomers to our planet. O2 accumulated in Earth’s atmosphere during two dramatic oxygenation events at ~2400 and ~600 million years ago (Ma). Both of these events were accompanied by profound biological and geochemical revolution, including the origin of animal life, making them amongst the most important events the Earth system has ever witnessed. Because the composition of Earth’s ancient atmosphere cannot be measured directly, its history must be examined using models constrained by geochemical proxies. The disappearance of sulfur isotope mass-independent fractionation (S-MIF) from the sedimentary record ca. 2320 Ma is considered the “smoking gun” evidence for the permanent oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere. However, it was recently suggested that weathering of older S-MIF bearing sediments resulted in a prolonged S-MIF “memory effect” that lasted ~200 Ma or more, thus obscuring the true history of atmospheric oxygenation. Here I propose new hypotheses to test, for the first time, the importance of the S-MIF memory effect at the onset of atmospheric oxygenation. I will evaluate specific sulfur, strontium, and oxygen isotope signals from exciting new samples obtained through a recent French drilling program to help resolve this fundamental problem in Earth system evolution. As an American Experienced Researcher, this Marie Curie project, ANOXIA-MEM, is designed to harmonize my unique isotope geochemistry skills with the knowledge, resources, and training capacity of two renowned French isotope laboratories for the maximum benefit of all parties. This project promises new tools and analyses that are uniquely poised to upset the prevailing paradigm for Earth’s atmospheric oxygenation.

Ámbito científico (EuroSciVoc)

• humanidades › historia y arqueología › historia
• ciencias naturales › ciencias químicas › electroquímica › electrólisis
• ciencias naturales › ciencias químicas › química inorgánica › metales alcalinotérreos
• ciencias naturales › ciencias de la tierra y ciencias ambientales conexas › geoquímica › geoquímica de isótopos
• ciencias naturales › ciencias físicas › astronomía › ciencias planetarias › planetas

Palabras clave

• Great Oxidation Event
• multiple sulfur isotopes
• multiple oxygen isotopes
• stable isotope geochemistry

Programa(s)

• H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions PROGRAMA PRINCIPAL
  
• H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
  

Tema(s)

• MSCA-IF-2015-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF)
  

Régimen de financiación

MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

Convocatoria de propuestas

H2020-MSCA-IF-2015

Coordinador

UNIVERSITE DE BREST

• Aportación neta de la UEn: € 185 076,00
• Dirección: RUE MATTHIEU GALLOU 3 ; 29200 BREST ; Francia
• Región: Bretagne › Bretagne › Finistère
• Tipo de actividad: Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
• Coste total: € 185 076,00