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Enhanced weathering triggered the transient oxygenation event at ~1.57 Ga
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  • Dongjie Tang,
  • Xuewu Fu,
  • Xiaoying Shi,
  • Limin Zhou,
  • Wang Zheng,
  • Chao Li,
  • Dongtao Xu,
  • Xiqiang Zhou,
  • Baozeng Xie,
  • Xiyan Zhu,
  • Ganqing Jiang
Dongjie Tang
China University of Geosciences (Beijing)

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Xuewu Fu
Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Xiaoying Shi
China University of Geosciences (Beijing)
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Limin Zhou
National Research Center of Geoanalysis
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Wang Zheng
Tianjin University
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Chao Li
Institute of Geology Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences
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Dongtao Xu
China University of Geosciences (Beijing)
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Xiqiang Zhou
Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Baozeng Xie
China University of Geosciences (Beijing)
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Xiyan Zhu
Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Ganqing Jiang
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
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Abstract

The mid-Proterozoic (~1.8–0.8 Ga) is characterized by low atmospheric oxygen and pervasive oceanic anoxia, with transient oxygenations. One of the prominent oxygenation events happened at ~1.57 Ga, during which atmospheric O2 may have reached ≥4% present atmospheric level (PAL) and thus promoted the evolution of multi-cellular eukaryotes. The causes for this oxygenation event, however, remained unknown. Here, we report the result of δ202Hg and ∆199Hg, P concentration, Rb/Al, and eNd(t) across this oxygenation interval in the Gaoyuzhuang Formation of North China. The positive δ202Hg, eNd(t), and negative Δ199Hg shifts, and the accompanied peaks in Rb/Al, P and I/(Ca+Mg) suggest that this oxygenation was likely resulted from enhanced weathering of intermediate to mafic rocks, which may have promoted primary production via increasing P influx to the ocean and led to the rise in oxygen levels. The data indicate that enhanced weathering input can trigger transient oxygenation events during the mid-Proterozoic.