Late Neoproterozoic to early Cambrian sulphur cycle — An isotopic investigation of sedimentary rocks from the Yangtze Platform*

Abstract

Abstract The sulphur cycle responds to changes in seawater chemistry, biological evolution and tectonic activity. We follow an isotopic approach in order to constrain the state of the ocean/atmosphere system during late Neoproterozoic and early Cambrian. For this purpose, a sedimentary succession deposited on the Yangtze Platform, South China, was analysed for its sulphur isotopic composition in different S-bearing phases. Redox changes were defined by the degree of pyritization (DOP) values in order to show variations in the oxygenation of the depositional environment. The sulphur isotopic composition of late Neoproterozoic to early Cambrian seawater sulphate ranges from +30‰. to +35‰. as evident from trace sulphate in unaltered carbonates and phosphorites. The isotopic composition for pyrite and organic sulphur varies between −16‰. and +23‰.. The apparent sulphur isotopic fractionation between seawater sulphate and pyrite as well as organically bound sulphur varies between 7‰. and 50‰.. This large fract...