Strong positive fractionation of chromium isotopes in iron formation of the Jacadigo Group (Brazil) – A link to enhanced atmospheric oxygenation during the Late Neoproterozoic

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  • Trygvi Bech Árting
  • Paulo César Boggiani
  • Claudio Gaucher
  • Henrique Albuquerque Fernandes
  • Frei, Robert

Cr isotopes recorded in iron formations (IF) are considered to have the potential to reflect the isotope signatures in respective ambient surface seawater. The ∼600 Ma Fe and Mn deposits pertaining to the Banda Alta Formation (Urucum district, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil), comprise the world's youngest and largest Neoproterozoic sedimentary Fe and Mn formations (MnF). Shale normalized Rare Earth Element and Yttrium (REY) patterns of drillcore samples show flat, positively sloped patterns with absent Europium anomalies and near- to supra-chondritic Yttrium-Holmium ratios with negative Cerium anomalies, which imply intermittent mixing of freshwater with seawater. Redox sensitive element enrichment factors (MoEF, UEF, CrEF) show positive correlation, indicating varying redox conditions across the Jacadigo Basin, with ephemeral euxinic conditions. The Cr isotope signatures across the Urucum IF (δ53Crauth at: Morraria Grande + 0.93 ± 0.34 ‰, 2σ, n = 28; Morro do Rabichão + 0.5 ± 0.4 ‰, 2σ, n = 3; and Morro do Urucum ca. + 0.64 ‰, n = 1) are statistically indistinguishable from previously published surface outcrop samples at Morro do Urucum. Our new data support: (1) a stable supply of oxidized Cr potentially from continental sources at the time of deposition, implying high atmospheric O2 levels in the Late Neoproterozoic; (2) insignificant alteration of the authigenic Cr isotope signals by tropical weathering despite surface iron up-concentration and leaching of carbonates, and (3) lack of isotope effects that would be associated with non-quantitative reduction processes and accompanying particulate transport to the chemical sediments in the Jacadigo Basin. The combined information from (isotope)geochemical data presented herein speak for a deposition of the Urucum IFs in restricted, periodically ice-covered and stratified sub-basins with partial connection to the open ocean, and for the presence of a sufficiently oxidative atmosphere which promoted a continuous supply of the surface waters with isotopically heavy Cr from the weathering landmasses at this time.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftGondwana Research
Vol/bind124
Sider (fra-til)39-60
ISSN1342-937X
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2023

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
We thank Vectorial Ltd. for access to the Santa Cruz deposit field sites and drillcore, in particular, Raphael Henson, who provided guidance in the Vectorial mine and shared his knowledge. Thanks to technicians Toby Leeper, Toni Larsen, Cristina Nora Jensen de Olsen and Martin Heckscher. We also thank our colleagues Anja Frank, Robert Klaebe, Sylvie Bruggmann, and Jesper A. Frederiksen for vivid discussions. Thanks to Fabrício A. Caxito who accompanied us in the field, and to Sebastian Viehmann, who provided powder aliquots of samples from his and coworkers work on M. Urucum and M. Rabichão. Detailed comments by an anonymous reviewer and suggestions for improvements by associate editor Franco Pirajno are greatly acknowledged. This research is financed by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (grant 11-103378 to RF), and by CNPq ( Proc2014/01233-0 ) and FAPESP (Proc 2014/01233-0 to PCB).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)

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