13 C-Depleted Carbon Microparticles in >3700-Ma Sea-Floor Sedimentary Rocks from West Greenland

1999/01/29 by Minik T. Rosing · 6 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Chemistry · #Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis #Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils #Radioactive element chemistry and processing #Detritus #Geology #Sedimentary rock #Geochemistry #Carbon fibers #Oceanography #Pelagic zone #Isotopes of carbon #Plankton #Paleontology #Total organic carbon #Chemistry #Environmental chemistry

paper · doi:10.1126/science.283.5402.674

openalex publication_date 1999/01/29 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

Turbiditic and pelagic sedimentary rocks from the Isua supracrustal belt in west Greenland [more than 3700 million years ago (Ma)] contain reduced carbon that is likely biogenic. The carbon is present as 2- to 5-micrometer graphite globules and has an isotopic composition of delta13C that is about -19 per mil (Pee Dee belemnite standard). These data and the mode of occurrence indicate that the reduced carbon represents biogenic detritus, which was perhaps derived from planktonic organisms.

Citations

• Evidence for life on Earth before 3,800 million years ago
• Disparate rates, differing fates: tempo and mode of evolution changed from the Precambrian to the Phanerozoic.

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• History of life [wikipedia]