Analyses of fluid inclusions in Neoproterozoic marine halite provide oldest measurement of seawater chemistry

Abstract

Research Article| February 01, 2014 Analyses of fluid inclusions in Neoproterozoic marine halite provide oldest measurement of seawater chemistry Natalie Spear; Natalie Spear 1Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19014, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar H.D. Holland; H.D. Holland 1Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19014, USA †Deceased Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Javier Garcia-Veígas; Javier Garcia-Veígas 2Scientific and Technological Centers, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar T.K. Lowenstein; T.K. Lowenstein 3Department of Geological Sciences, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, New York 13902, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Robert Giegengack; Robert Giegengack 1Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19014, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Heide Peters Heide Peters 4Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education, University of Kiel, D-24118 Kiel, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Natalie Spear 1Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19014, USA H.D. Holland †Deceased 1Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19014, USA Javier Garcia-Veígas 2Scientific and Technological Centers, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain T.K. Lowenstein 3Department of Geological Sciences, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, New York 13902, USA Robert Giegengack 1Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19014, USA Heide Peters 4Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education, University of Kiel, D-24118 Kiel, Germany Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 07 Jul 2013 Revision Received: 08 Oct 2013 Accepted: 09 Oct 2013 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2014 Geological Society of America Geology (2014) 42 (2): 103–106. https://doi.org/10.1130/G34913.1 Article history Received: 07 Jul 2013 Revision Received: 08 Oct 2013 Accepted: 09 Oct 2013 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Natalie Spear, H.D. Holland, Javier Garcia-Veígas, T.K. Lowenstein, Robert Giegengack, Heide Peters; Analyses of fluid inclusions in Neoproterozoic marine halite provide oldest measurement of seawater chemistry. Geology 2014;; 42 (2): 103–106. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G34913.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract We analyzed primary fluid inclusions in halite from marine evaporites in the ca. 830 Ma Browne Formation of the Officer Basin in Western Australia using the cryogenic scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry analysis technique. The concentrations of the major ions, except K+ and possibly SO42−, fall within the range of Phanerozoic seawater. This is the first direct measurement of the composition of mid-Neoproterozoic seawater, and extends present-day knowledge of seawater chemistry by ∼300 m.y. Our estimates suggest that mid-Neoproterozoic marine sulfate concentrations were lower (∼90%) than modern values. By the terminal Neoproterozoic, fluid inclusions in halite and evaporite mineralogy indicate seawater sulfate levels rose significantly, to 50%–80% of modern concentrations, which parallels increases in atmospheric and oceanic oxygen. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.