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Cenozoic record of δ34S in foraminiferal calcite implies an early Eocene shift to deep-ocean sulfide burial

Nature Geoscience volume 11, pages 761–765 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Understanding the changes in, and drivers of, isotopic variability of sulfur in seawater sulfate (δ34SSO4-sw) over geological time remains a long-standing goal, particularly because of the coupling between the biogeochemical sulfur and carbon cycles. The early Cenozoic has remained enigmatic in this regard, as the existing seawater sulfate isotopic records appear to be decoupled from the well-defined carbon isotope composition of the ocean. Here, we present a new Cenozoic record of sulfur isotopes, using carbonate-associated sulfate hosted in the calcite lattice of single-species foraminifera. The vastly improved stratigraphy afforded by this record demonstrates that carbon and sulfur cycles, as recorded by their isotopes, are not fully decoupled in the early Cenozoic. With a model driven by partial coupling of the carbon and sulfur cycles, we demonstrate that a change in sulfur isotopic fractionation of the pyrite burial flux best explains the large increase in δ34SSO4-sw ~53 million years ago (Ma) and the subsequent long steady state. We suggest that the locus of pyrite burial changed from shallow epicontinental seas and shelf environments to more open-ocean sediments around 53 Ma. Loss of extensive shelf environments corresponds to Cretaceous–Palaeogene sea-level changes and tectonic reorganization, occurring as the Himalayan arc first collided with Asia.

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Fig. 1: Cenozoic evolution of δ34SSO4-sw from foraminiferal CAS, compared with barite δ34S, benthic foraminiferal δ13C and δ18O, sea level and India–Tibet convergence.
Fig. 2: Model parameters and outputs for fully and partially coupled carbon–sulfur models, compared with δ34SSO4-sw data and carbon–sulfur cross-plots.

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Acknowledgements

We thank M. Vautravers for her expertise with Palaeogene foraminifera and S. Misra, G. Antler and W. Fisher for helpful discussions and advice. This work was supported by a ‘Small Sulfur’ NERC grant (NERC NE/H011595/1), the ERC (ERC StG 307582, CARBONSINK to A.V.T.) and a NERC studentship to V.C.F.R.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Victoria C. F. Rennie & Alexandra V. Turchyn

  2. Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA

    Guillaume Paris, Alex L. Sessions & Jess F. Adkins

  3. Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques, CRPG, UMR 7358, CNRS, Université de Lorraine, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France

    Guillaume Paris

  4. Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel

    Sigal Abramovich

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Contributions

V.C.F.R. designed the cleaning tests, did the lab work and analysis for trace element analysis and sulfur isotopes, and wrote the model and the paper. G.P. advised on the cleaning tests, did sulfate and sulfur isotope preparation and analysis, was heavily involved in the modelling and wrote the paper. A.L.S. provided equipment and fruitful discussions. S.A. picked the foraminifera for the stable isotope analyses. A.V.T. provided extensive advice and funding at all stages, had the idea for the shift in 34εSO4-pyr and wrote the paper. J.F.A. provided guidance and lab equipment for lab work and analysis, advised extensively on the model and wrote the paper.

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Correspondence to Victoria C. F. Rennie.

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δ13C input data.

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Rennie, V.C.F., Paris, G., Sessions, A.L. et al. Cenozoic record of δ34S in foraminiferal calcite implies an early Eocene shift to deep-ocean sulfide burial. Nature Geosci 11, 761–765 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-018-0200-y

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