A Decrease to Low Carbonate Clumped Isotope Temperatures in Cryogenian Strata

Preglacial and synglacial low-latitude carbonate sediments of the Elbobreen Formation, NE Svalbard, preserve facies changes associated with low-latitude glacial advance in Cryogenian “Snowball Earth” episodes (717–635 Ma). We present the first application of carbonate clumped (Δ47) isotope thermomet...

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Main Authors: Mackey, Tyler James, Jost, A. B., Creveling, J. R., Bergmann, Kristin
Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2021
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131285
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author Mackey, Tyler James
Jost, A. B.
Creveling, J. R.
Bergmann, Kristin
author2 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
author_facet Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Mackey, Tyler James
Jost, A. B.
Creveling, J. R.
Bergmann, Kristin
author_sort Mackey, Tyler James
collection MIT
description Preglacial and synglacial low-latitude carbonate sediments of the Elbobreen Formation, NE Svalbard, preserve facies changes associated with low-latitude glacial advance in Cryogenian “Snowball Earth” episodes (717–635 Ma). We present the first application of carbonate clumped (Δ47) isotope thermometry on synglacial Snowball Earth carbonates and combine results with sedimentologic and petrographic observations and stable isotope (δ13C and δ18O) geochemistry to assess Neoproterozoic environmental change. We find elevated calcite Δ47 temperatures, which likely reflect solid-state reordering during burial. Dolomites, however, record lower temperatures that vary with facies and stratigraphy. Preglacial dolomite Δ47 temperatures range from 48–77°C, with a reconstructed fluid δ18OVSMOW value of +0.6‰ in the coldest sample. Glacial diamictites and dolomicrites comprise (1) reworked detrital clasts similar to preglacial strata in stable isotope composition and petrographic textures and (2) autochthonous dolomicrite with more positive δ18O values than those of preglacial dolomites or cooccurring detrital clasts. Mean glacial autochthonous dolomicrite Δ47 temperatures are 26 ± 10°C (95% CL) cooler than preglacial strata, with four samples <25°C. All dolomite Δ47 temperatures reflect diagenesis associated with lithification, yet observed stratigraphic and textural Δ47 temperature differences indicate that this occurred early and only contributes to part of the preserved temperature signal. Alteration trends within populations are consistent with low water/rock ratio diagenesis or partial solid-state reordering; either possibility supports the likelihood of preserved δ18O trends. We postulate that the preserved temperature and δ18O differences between low-latitude preglacial Tonian and synglacial Cryogenian dolomites are an imperfect reflection of primary temperature change and ice sheet expansion.
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spelling mit-1721.1/1312852022-10-01T07:29:02Z A Decrease to Low Carbonate Clumped Isotope Temperatures in Cryogenian Strata Mackey, Tyler James Jost, A. B. Creveling, J. R. Bergmann, Kristin Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Preglacial and synglacial low-latitude carbonate sediments of the Elbobreen Formation, NE Svalbard, preserve facies changes associated with low-latitude glacial advance in Cryogenian “Snowball Earth” episodes (717–635 Ma). We present the first application of carbonate clumped (Δ47) isotope thermometry on synglacial Snowball Earth carbonates and combine results with sedimentologic and petrographic observations and stable isotope (δ13C and δ18O) geochemistry to assess Neoproterozoic environmental change. We find elevated calcite Δ47 temperatures, which likely reflect solid-state reordering during burial. Dolomites, however, record lower temperatures that vary with facies and stratigraphy. Preglacial dolomite Δ47 temperatures range from 48–77°C, with a reconstructed fluid δ18OVSMOW value of +0.6‰ in the coldest sample. Glacial diamictites and dolomicrites comprise (1) reworked detrital clasts similar to preglacial strata in stable isotope composition and petrographic textures and (2) autochthonous dolomicrite with more positive δ18O values than those of preglacial dolomites or cooccurring detrital clasts. Mean glacial autochthonous dolomicrite Δ47 temperatures are 26 ± 10°C (95% CL) cooler than preglacial strata, with four samples <25°C. All dolomite Δ47 temperatures reflect diagenesis associated with lithification, yet observed stratigraphic and textural Δ47 temperature differences indicate that this occurred early and only contributes to part of the preserved temperature signal. Alteration trends within populations are consistent with low water/rock ratio diagenesis or partial solid-state reordering; either possibility supports the likelihood of preserved δ18O trends. We postulate that the preserved temperature and δ18O differences between low-latitude preglacial Tonian and synglacial Cryogenian dolomites are an imperfect reflection of primary temperature change and ice sheet expansion. 2021-09-16T20:05:22Z 2021-09-16T20:05:22Z 2020-09 2019-12 2021-09-13T18:34:37Z Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 2576-604X https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131285 Mackey, T. J. et al. "A Decrease to Low Carbonate Clumped Isotope Temperatures in Cryogenian Strata." AGU Advances 1, 3 (September 2020): e2019AV000159. © 2021 American Geophysical Union en http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2019av000159 AGU Advances Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ application/pdf American Geophysical Union (AGU) American Geophysical Union (AGU)
spellingShingle Mackey, Tyler James
Jost, A. B.
Creveling, J. R.
Bergmann, Kristin
A Decrease to Low Carbonate Clumped Isotope Temperatures in Cryogenian Strata
title A Decrease to Low Carbonate Clumped Isotope Temperatures in Cryogenian Strata
title_full A Decrease to Low Carbonate Clumped Isotope Temperatures in Cryogenian Strata
title_fullStr A Decrease to Low Carbonate Clumped Isotope Temperatures in Cryogenian Strata
title_full_unstemmed A Decrease to Low Carbonate Clumped Isotope Temperatures in Cryogenian Strata
title_short A Decrease to Low Carbonate Clumped Isotope Temperatures in Cryogenian Strata
title_sort decrease to low carbonate clumped isotope temperatures in cryogenian strata
url https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131285
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