Mass-independent isotope effects in Archean (2.5 to 3.8 Ga) sedimentary sulfides determined by ion microprobe analysis

S. J. Mojzsis; C. D. Coath; J. P. Greenwood; K. D. McKeegan; T. M. Harrison

doi:10.1016/S0016-7037(00)00059-0

Mass-independent isotope effects in Archean (2.5 to 3.8 Ga) sedimentary sulfides determined by ion microprobe analysis

S. J. Mojzsis^*
, C. D. Coath
, J. P. Greenwood
, K. D. McKeegan
, T. M. Harrison

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Earth Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

196 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report sulfur isotope anomalies with Δ³³S, the deviation from a mass-dependent fractionation line for the three-isotope system (³⁴S/³²S vs. ³³ S/³²S), ranging up to ±2‰ within individual Archean sedimentary sulfides from a variety of localities. Our measurements, which are made in situ by multicollector secondary ion mass spectrometry, unequivocally corroborate prior bulk measurements of mass-independent fractionations (MIF) in sulfur and provide additional evidence for an anoxic atmosphere on the Earth before ∼2 Ga. This technique also offers new opportunities for exploring ancient sulfur metabolisms preserved in the rock record. The presence of MIF sulfur in sulfides from a >3.8-Ga Fe-rich quartzite from Akilia (island), West Greenland, is consistent with a marine sedimentary origin for this rock.

Translated title of the contribution	Mass-independent isotope effects in Archean (2.5 to 3.8 Ga) sedimentary sulfides determined by ion microprobe analysis
Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1635-1658
Number of pages	24
Journal	Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Volume	67
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7037(00)00059-0
Publication status	Published - May 2003

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@article{d45af9b9a07648949f22e8dc8677572d,

title = "Mass-independent isotope effects in Archean (2.5 to 3.8 Ga) sedimentary sulfides determined by ion microprobe analysis",

abstract = "We report sulfur isotope anomalies with Δ33S, the deviation from a mass-dependent fractionation line for the three-isotope system (34S/32S vs. 33 S/32S), ranging up to ±2‰ within individual Archean sedimentary sulfides from a variety of localities. Our measurements, which are made in situ by multicollector secondary ion mass spectrometry, unequivocally corroborate prior bulk measurements of mass-independent fractionations (MIF) in sulfur and provide additional evidence for an anoxic atmosphere on the Earth before ∼2 Ga. This technique also offers new opportunities for exploring ancient sulfur metabolisms preserved in the rock record. The presence of MIF sulfur in sulfides from a >3.8-Ga Fe-rich quartzite from Akilia (island), West Greenland, is consistent with a marine sedimentary origin for this rock.",

author = "Mojzsis, \{S. J.\} and Coath, \{C. D.\} and Greenwood, \{J. P.\} and McKeegan, \{K. D.\} and Harrison, \{T. M.\}",

year = "2003",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/S0016-7037(00)00059-0",

language = "English",

volume = "67",

pages = "1635--1658",

journal = "Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Mass-independent isotope effects in Archean (2.5 to 3.8 Ga) sedimentary sulfides determined by ion microprobe analysis

AU - Mojzsis, S. J.

AU - Coath, C. D.

AU - Greenwood, J. P.

AU - McKeegan, K. D.

AU - Harrison, T. M.

PY - 2003/5

Y1 - 2003/5

N2 - We report sulfur isotope anomalies with Δ33S, the deviation from a mass-dependent fractionation line for the three-isotope system (34S/32S vs. 33 S/32S), ranging up to ±2‰ within individual Archean sedimentary sulfides from a variety of localities. Our measurements, which are made in situ by multicollector secondary ion mass spectrometry, unequivocally corroborate prior bulk measurements of mass-independent fractionations (MIF) in sulfur and provide additional evidence for an anoxic atmosphere on the Earth before ∼2 Ga. This technique also offers new opportunities for exploring ancient sulfur metabolisms preserved in the rock record. The presence of MIF sulfur in sulfides from a >3.8-Ga Fe-rich quartzite from Akilia (island), West Greenland, is consistent with a marine sedimentary origin for this rock.

AB - We report sulfur isotope anomalies with Δ33S, the deviation from a mass-dependent fractionation line for the three-isotope system (34S/32S vs. 33 S/32S), ranging up to ±2‰ within individual Archean sedimentary sulfides from a variety of localities. Our measurements, which are made in situ by multicollector secondary ion mass spectrometry, unequivocally corroborate prior bulk measurements of mass-independent fractionations (MIF) in sulfur and provide additional evidence for an anoxic atmosphere on the Earth before ∼2 Ga. This technique also offers new opportunities for exploring ancient sulfur metabolisms preserved in the rock record. The presence of MIF sulfur in sulfides from a >3.8-Ga Fe-rich quartzite from Akilia (island), West Greenland, is consistent with a marine sedimentary origin for this rock.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/0038067829

U2 - 10.1016/S0016-7037(00)00059-0

DO - 10.1016/S0016-7037(00)00059-0

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

SN - 0016-7037

VL - 67

SP - 1635

EP - 1658

JO - Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

JF - Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

IS - 9

ER -

Mass-independent isotope effects in Archean (2.5 to 3.8 Ga) sedimentary sulfides determined by ion microprobe analysis

Abstract

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