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Archaean magmatic sulphate

Nature volume 319, pages 45–47 (1986)Cite this article

Abstract

The absence of redbeds, the occurrence of readily oxidizable minerals in placers, and the rarity of sulphate minerals are some features which suggest generally reduced conditions on the Earth's surface during Archaean time1. Supporting this conjecture are δ34S values near 0‰ for sulphides of sedimentary rocks2–4 and massive sulphide deposits5, since isotopic fractionation requires oxidation–reduction reactions. The flux of oxidized species during the Archaean produced by fixation of organic carbon was, however, comparable with modern levels6, but was largely consumed by reactions with a large supply of reduced mantle material4,7. Notable occurrences of Archaean sulphate are ∼3,400-Myr stratiform barites in Australia8,9, South Africa10 and India11, with δ34S ∼+4‰ (refs 8–10) which are believed to have formed by bacterial oxidation of primary (0‰) sulphide10. Consideration of the Archaean sulphur cycle has focused on sulphate of this origin. We draw attention here to sulphate of different isotopic composition, +8 to +14‰, of magmatic origin, that contributed to the total flux of oxidized species during the Archaean.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5

    Keiko Hattori & Eion M. Cameron

  2. Derry Laboratory for Sedimentary Geochemistry and Ore Deposits, Ottawa-Carleton Centre for Geoscience Studies, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5

    Keiko Hattori & Eion M. Cameron

  3. Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0E8

    Eion M. Cameron

Authors
  1. Keiko Hattori
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  2. Eion M. Cameron
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Hattori, K., Cameron, E. Archaean magmatic sulphate. Nature 319, 45–47 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/319045a0

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