Variations of sulfur and carbon isotopes in seawater during the Doushantuo stage in late Neoproterozoic

Abstract

Successive analyses of sulfur and carbon isotopic compositions of carbonates strata in the Doushantuo Formation in the Yangtze area were accomplished through a method of extracting trace sulfate from carbonates. Sulfur and carbon isotopic compositions of coeval seawater were estimated from the samples that show the least diagenetic alteration. A high-resolution age curve of sulfur isotopes in seawater sulfates was obtained in the Doushantuo stage, which reflects the trend of variation in seawater sulfur isotopes after the Neoproterozoic snowball Earth event. Similar characteristics of variation in carbon isotopes were observed in the coeval carbonates. A large positive δ34S excursion over +20‰ occurs in ancient seawater sulfates in the early Doushantuo stage. Simultaneously, the δ13 C values in ancient seawater carbonates exhibit a positive excursion up to 10‰ The maximum δ34S and δ13C values are +46.4‰ and +6.9‰, respectively. In the middle Doushantuo stage, the range of variation in δ34 S values of seawater is relatively narrow, but δ13C values are quite high. Then, δ34S values of seawater become oscillating, and the same occurs in δ13C values. Negative excursions in δ34 S and δ13 C values occur simultaneously at the end of the Doushantuo stage, and the minimum δ34S and δ13C values dropped down to −10.1‰ and –5.7‰, respectively. The characteristics of variations in the sulfur and carbon isotopes of ancient seawater imply strong changes in oceanic environment that became beneficial to inhabitation and propagation of organism. The organic productivity and burial rate of organic carbon once reached a quite high level during the Doushantuo stage. However, the state of environment became unstable after the global glaciation. The global climate and environment possibly were fluctuating and reiterating. The negative excursions in δ34S and δ13C values occurring at the end of the Doushantuo stage may represent a global event, which might be related to oxidation of deep seawater.