Ocean Redox State at 2500‒500 Ma: Modern Concepts

Abstract

Modern concepts on variations of the redox conditions of Proterozoic ocean and atmosphere are reviewed. Generalized data indicate a non-linear evolution of the О₂ content in atmosphere and ocean for almost 2 Ga of the geological history. Contrasting distribution of minimum and maximum values of diverse proxies of the ocean redox state was found for the Great Oxygenation Event, Early–Late Proterozoic transition stage, and the Late Precambrian–beginning of Cambrian. The last interval is marked by a wide scatter of Mo, V, and U_sed concentrations and values of Мо/TOC, δ⁹⁸Mo, δ⁵³Cr, and δ⁸²Se in different geological objects. This time interval also coincided with one more large-scale oxygenation event, Neoproterozoic. Thus, according to the modern concepts, the О₂ contents near the Earth’s surface and in ocean significantly varied during the entire Proterozoic. These concepts are consistent with the assumption by Frolov and many other researchers concerning the heterogeneous distribution of рН and Eh in ancient hydrosphere and the existence of diverse, sufficiently contrasting “gas” facies. They also agree with conclusions by Sochava that the periodical variations of О₂ content in atmosphere and hydrosphere, especially at the Precambrian–Phanerozoic boundary, are related to the mass extinctions, emergence of adaptive response of animals (appearance of exoskeletons, food search strategy change, and others) and heavy taxonomic radiation of the latters.