Abstract
Variations of marine isotopes with time have been observed through the Phanerozoic1,2, in association with some period boundaries: Pleistocene/Holocene3, Cretaceous/Tertiary4, Permo-Triassic5,6 and Frasnian/Fammenian7. Most of these changes are associated with extinction events, reflecting changes in life on Earth. One of the major biological changes in Earth's history occurred near the end of Proterozoic time, with widespread increase of bio-mineralization and the appearance of shelly fauna8–10. We present here an initial survey of carbon isotope ratios in a section on the Siberian Platform that spans the Proterozoic/Palaeozoic boundary. After a high of δ13C = + 3.4‰, 15 m below the boundary, δ13C drops sharply in two cycles across the boundary, to δ13C = −2‰, near the end of the Tommotian Stage. These variations suggest an initial bloom of biomass in late Vendian time corresponding to the dramatic diversification that must have preceeded the widespread appearance of new taxa in the Cambrian fossil record.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Veizer, J. Holser, W. T. & Wilgus, C. K. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 44, 579–587 (1980).
Saltzman, E. S., Lindh, T. B. & Holser, W. T. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Prog. 14, 607 (1982).
Shackleton, N. J., Imbrie, J. & Hall, A. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 65, 233–244 (1983).
Perch-Nielsen, K., McKenzie, J. & Qiziang, He. Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap. 190, 353–371 (1980).
Holser, W. T. & Magaritz, M. Jhb. Geol. Bundesanst. Wien 128, 75–82 (1985).
Chen, J., Shao M., Huo W. & Yao Y. Scient. Geol. Sinica 1984, 88–93 (1984).
Playford, P. E., McClaren, D. J., Orth, C. J., Gilmore, J. S. & Goodfellow, W. D. Science 226, 437–439 (1984).
Brasier, M. D. Systematics Ass. Spec. Vol. 12, 103–159 (1979).
Lowenstam, H. A., and Margulis, L. Biosystems 12, 27–41 (1980).
Jiang Zhiwen Geol. Mag. 123, 185–188 (1984).
Khomentovsky, V. V., Rozanov, A. Yu., Nuzhnov, S. V. & Fradkin, G. S. (Directors). Int. Geol. Cong., 27th, Moscow. Guidebook 052-055, 174–199 (1984).
Rozanov, A. Yu. Episodes, 7, 20–24 (1984).
Rozanov, Yu. A. & Rozanov, A. Yu. Litol. Polez. Iskop., no. 5, 106–111 (1973) [transl. Lithol. Min. Res. 8, 613–617 (1974).
Cowie, J. W. & Rozanov, A. Yu., Geol. Mag. 120, 129–139 (1983).
Savitsky, V. E. Geol. Mag. 115, 127–130 (1978).
Luo, H. et al. Sinian-Cambrian boundary stratotype section at Meischucun, Jinning, Yunnan, China (People's Publishing House, Yunnan, 1984).
Cowie, J. W. Episodes 8, 93–97 (1985).
Brasier, M. D. Precambr. Res. 17, 105–123 (1982).
Kirschvink, J. L. & Rozanov, A. Yu. Geol. Mag. 121, 189–203 (1984).
Magaritz, M. M. & Kafri, U. Sedim. Geol. 28, 29–41 (1984).
Degens, E. T. & Epstein, S. Am. Ass. petrol. Geol. Bull 46, 534–542 (1962).
Magaritz, M. M. Sedim. Geol. 45, 115–122 (1985).
Broecker, W. S. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 46, 1689–1706 (1982).
Brass, G. W., Southam, J. R. & Peterson, W. H. Nature 296, 620–623 (1982).
Scholle, P. A. & Arthur, M. A. Am. Ass. petrol. Geol. 64, 67–87 (1980).
Cook, P. J. & Shergold, J. H. Nature 308, 231–236 (1984).
Brasier, M. D. J. Geol. Soc. Land. 137, 695–703 (1980).
Zheng Qin-wen et al. Int. Geol. Correl. Prog. Proj. 99 Conf., Gwatt, Switzerland (1985).
Hsu, K. J. et al. Nature 316, 809–811 (1985).
Kolodny. Y., Luz, B. & Naven, O. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 64, 398–404 (1984).
Tucker, M. E. Nature 319, 48–50 (1986).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Magaritz, M., Holser, W. & Kirschvink, J. Carbon-isotope events across the Precambrian/Cambrian boundary on the Siberian Platform. Nature 320, 258–259 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/320258a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/320258a0
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.