Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Phosphorus, phosphorites and skeletal evolution at the Precambrian—Cambrian boundary

Nature volume 308, pages 231–236 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

Clustering of sedimentary phosphate deposits around the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary is related to a global phosphogenic event. This event probably resulted from a complex interplay of factors and had a profound effect on the biota, with high concentrations of phosphorus in the photic zone producing an increase in the total shallow marine biomass, faunal diversification, the precipitation of skeletal structures and explosive evolution.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Brasier, M. D. Systematics Ass. Spec. Vol. 12, 103–159 (Academic, London, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Cloud, P. E. Science 160, 729–736 (1968).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Walker, J. C. G. Evolution of the Atmosphere (Macmillan, New York, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Matthews, S. C. & Cowie, J. W. J. geol. Soc. Lond. 136, 133–135 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Brasier, M. D. Precamb. Res. 17, 105–123 (1982).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Yanshin, A. L. in Geology of Phosphorite Deposits and Problems of Phosphorite Genesis, 13–14 (USSR Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Rhodes, F. H. T. & Bloxam, T. W. in Proc. North Am. Paleont. Conv. Pt K, 1485–1513 (Alien, Lawrence, Kansas, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Sheldon, R. P. U. S. geol Surv. Prof. Pap. 501C, 106–113 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Baturin, G. N. Nature phys. Sci. 232, 61–62 (1971).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Baturin, G. N. Phosphorites on the Sea Floor, Origin, Composition and Distribution (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kazakov, A. V. Trans. Sci. Inst. Fertil. Insecto-fungicides 142, 95–113 (1937).

    Google Scholar 

  12. McKelvey, V. E., Swanson, R. W. & Sheldon, R. P. Int. geol. Congr. 19th Sess. Algiers 11, 45–65 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Cook, P. J. & McElhinny, M. W. Econ. Geol. 74, 315–330 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Ziegler, A. M., Parrish, J. & Humphreville, R. in Proterozoic-Cambrian Phosphorites (eds 50. Cook, P. J. & Shergold, J. H.) 21 (Australian National University Press, Canberra, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ziegler, A. M., Scotese, C. R., MacKerrow, W. S., Johnson, M. E. & Bambach, R. K. A. Rev. Earth planet. Sci. 473–502 (1979).

  16. Arthur, M. A. & Jenkyns, H. C. Oceanol. Acta, 45, 83–96 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Fischer, A. G. & Arthur, M. A. SEPM Spec. Publ. 25, 19–50 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Proterozoic-Cambrian Phosphorites (eds Cook, P. J. & Shergold, J. H.) 13 (Australian National University Press, Canberra, 1979).

  19. Notholt, A. J. G. in Proterozoic-Cambrian Phosphorites (eds Cook, P. J. & Shergold, J. H.) 71–86 (Australian National University Press, Canberra, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Bushinski, G. E. Old Phosphorites of Asia and their Genesis (Israel Program for Scientific Translation, Jerusalem, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kalmykov, A. F., Sokolov, A. S. & Tushina, A. M. Trans-State Sci. Res. Inst., Min. & Chem. 7, 139–191 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Lu Yenhao Cambrian Mineral Deposits in China and the Bio-Environmental Control Theory (Geological Press, Peking, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Eganov, E. A. & Sovietov, Yu. I. Karatau—a Model for Phosphorite Deposition (Nauka, Novosibirsk, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Ilyin, A. V. Joint Soviet-Mongolian Scientific-Research Geological Expedition Trans. Vol. 6 (Nauka, Moscow, 1973).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Ilyin, A. V. & Bjamba, Z. Guidebook for Excursion to Phosphorites of the Khubsugul Basin, Mongolian People's Republic, 17–28 June, 1980 (Soviet Committee for IGCP, Geological Institute, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Bhatti, N. A., Hussain, M. T. & Hussain, M. Geol Surv. Pakistan Inf. Release 51, (1972).

  27. Affaton, P. Trav. Lab. Sci. Terre St. Jerome, Marseille 10, 1–201 (1975).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Trompette, R., Affaton, P., Joulia, F. & Marchand, J. Econ. Geol. 75, 62–70 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Ilyin, A. V. Int. Geol. Correlation Program, Project 156 (Phosphorites), Newsl. 2, 8–9 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Cathcart, J. B. Trans. Soc. Amer. Inst. Min. Engr. AIME 264, 1703–1708 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Earth's Pre-Pleistocene Glacial Record (eds Hambrey, M. J. & Harland, W. B.) (Cambridge University Press, 1981).

  32. Wang Yangeng The Phosphate-bearing Strata of the Late Precambrian to Cambrian in Upper Yangtze Region, China (Geological Bureau of Guizhou, Huishui, China, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Holser, W. T. & Kaplan, I. R. Chem. Geol. 1, 160–172 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Holser, W. T. Nature 267, 403–408 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Blishovsky, V. Z., Grinenko, V. A., Migdisov, A. A., Savina, L. I. & Vernadsky, V. I. Geochem. Int. 14, 148–155 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  36. Veizer, J., Holser, W. T., & Wilgus, C. K. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 44, 579–587 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Holland, H. D. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 36, 637–657 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Degens, E. T. & Stoffers, P. Nature 263, 22–27 (1976).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Berry, W. B. N. & Wilde, P. Am. J. Sci. 278, 257–275 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. Sandstrom, M. W. in The Cycling of Carbon, Nitrogen, Sulfur and Phosphorus in Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems (eds Galbally, I. W. & Freney, J.) 133–142 (Australian Academy of Sciences, Canberra, 1982).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  41. Cloud, P. E. Am. J. Sci. 272, 537–548 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Cloud, P. E. Paleobiology 2, 351–387 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Lowenstam, H. A. Precamb. Res. 11, 89–91 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Lowenstam, H. A. & Margulis, L. Biosystems 12, 27–41 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Cloud, P. E. & Glaessner, M. F. Science 217 (4562), 783–792 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Runnegar, B. N. J. geol. Soc. Aust. 29, 395–411 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Lowenstam, H. A. & Weiner, S. in Biomineralisation and Biological Metal Accumulation (eds Westbrock, P. & de Jong, E. W.), 191–203 (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1983).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  48. Simkiss, K. Biol. Rev. 39, 487–505 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Black, M. Palaeontology 11, 793–813 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  50. Harland, W. B. et al. A Geologic Time Scale (Cambridge University Press, 1982).

  51. Compston, W. & Zhang Zi-Chau in Abstr. 6th Aust. Geol. Convn. Canberra 1983 Vol. 9, 235 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  52. Borello, A. V. in Lower Palaeozoic Rocks of the World Vol. 1 (ed. Holland, C. H.) 385–438 (London, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

  53. Viland, J. C. Notes Mém. Serv. Mines Carte géol. Maroc. 13–22 (1977).

  54. Bertrand-Sarfati, J. Newsl Stratigraphy 10, 20–26 (1981).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Poulsen, C. Mat. Fys. Meddr. K. Danske, Videnskab. Selsk 32(7), 3–12 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  56. Bassot, J. P. Mém. BRGM 40, 1–322 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  57. Sougy, J. Am. Fac. Sci. Univ. Dakar 15(12), 1–695 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  58. Sougy, J. Notes Mém. Serv. geol. Maroc 236, 95–103 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  59. Rozanov, A. Yu. in Boundaries of Geological Systems (ed. Peive, A. V.) 31–53 (Nauka Publishing House, Moscow, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  60. Eganov, E. A. in Proterozoic-Cambrian Phosphorites (eds Cook, P. J. & Shergold, J. H.) 22–25 (Australian National University Press, Canberra, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  61. Missarzhevsky, V. V. & Mambetov, A. M. USSR Acad. Sci. Trans. geol Inst. 326, 1–90 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  62. Phosphorites and apatites of Siberia (eds Kazarinov, V. P. & Krasilnikova, N. A.) 1–232 (USSR Acad. Sci. Siberian Division, Inst. Geol. Geophys, Novosibirsk 1980).

  63. Bjamba, Z. Kwart. geol. 17(4), 853–877 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  64. Hasan, M. T., Ghaznavi, M. I. & Hayat, A. S. Geol. Surv. Pakist. Inf. Release 74, (1974).

  65. Shah, S. M. I. (ed.) Mem. geol. Surv. Pakist. 12, (1977).

  66. Luo huilin, Jiang Zhiwen, Zu Zhongjiu, Song Xuiliang & Zue Ziaofeng Acta geol. sinica 2, 95–111 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  67. Chang, W. T. J. geol. Soc. Aust. 27, 137–150 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Callen, R. A. Min. Resour. Rev. S. Aust. 130, 9–34, 80–94, 110–120 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  69. Fleming, P. J. G. Publ. geol. Surv. Qld 3641, (1977).

  70. Knight, C. L. (ed.) Economic Geology of Australia and Papua New Guinea, 4 (Monogr. 4, Australasian Inst. Miner. Metall., Parkville, Victoria 1976).

  71. Claypool, G. E., Holser, W. T., Kaplan, I. R., Sakai, H. & Zak, I. Chem. Geol. 28, 199–259 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Stanley, S. M. Am. J. Sci. 276, 56–76 (1975).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  73. Runnegar, B. N. & Pojeta, J. Science 186, 311–317.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Continental Geology, Bureau of Mineral Resources, PO Box 378, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia

    Peter J. Cook & John H. Shergold

Authors
  1. Peter J. Cook
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John H. Shergold
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cook, P., Shergold, J. Phosphorus, phosphorites and skeletal evolution at the Precambrian—Cambrian boundary. Nature 308, 231–236 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/308231a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/308231a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing