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Science 28 April 2000:
Vol. 288. no. 5466, pp. 658 - 661
DOI: 10.1126/science.288.5466.658
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Reports

The Archean Sulfur Cycle and the Early History of Atmospheric Oxygen

Donald E. Canfield, * Kirsten S. Habicht, Bo Thamdrup

The isotope record of sedimentary sulfides can help resolve the history of oxygen accumulation into the atmosphere. We measured sulfur isotopic fractionation during microbial sulfate reduction up to 88°C and show how sulfate reduction rate influences the preservation of biological fractionations in sediments. The sedimentary sulfur isotope record suggests low concentrations of seawater sulfate and atmospheric oxygen in the early Archean (3.4 to 2.8 billion years ago). The accumulation of oxygen and sulfate began later, in the early Proterozoic (2.5 to 0.54 billion years ago).

Danish Center for Earth System Science (DCESS) and Institute of Biology, Odense University, SDU, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark.
*   To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dec{at}biology.ou.dk

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