Abstract
Sulphate reduction generally causes isotopic fractionation of sulphur1. Modern sedimentary sulphide is largely produced by biogenic reduction of sulphate and is typically enriched in 32S (ref. 2). This is balanced by excess 34S in the oceanic sulphate reservoir and evaporites3. High-temperature, inorganic reduction of sulphate may also cause fractionation4,5. Since the work of Ault and Kulp6, there has been interest in finding the beginnings of sulphate reduction in the sedimentary record. This is important for several reasons. First, sulphate-respiring bacteria are a milestone of evolution7,8. Second, it established the exogenic sulphur cycle in an essentially modern form. This, with the interconnected oxygen and carbon cycles, regulates the composition of atmosphere and oceans9–11. Third, widespread evidence of sulphate reduction in rocks of a given age and younger indicates that sulphate was established as a major constituent of seawater. In addition to identifying a stage in the evolution of an oxygenated environment10, this has important metallogenic implications. Schidlowski8 has recently concluded that dissimilatory reduction commenced at 2,800–3,100 Myr in an Archaean ocean that had relatively high concentrations of sulphate. I review here the published data and present additional sulphur isotope analyses obtained from the early Precambrian of South Africa. These results indicate that sulphate was a minor component of Archaean and early Proterozoic ocean water, probably <0.001 mol l−1. The concentration had increased by ∼2,350 Myr to levels allowing significant biogenic and inorganic fractionation and the partitioning of 32S/34S in the exogene cycle.
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Cameron, E. Sulphate and sulphate reduction in early Precambrian oceans. Nature 296, 145–148 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/296145a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/296145a0
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