Neoproterozoic marine carbonates and their paleoceanographic significance

• Published in: Global and planetary change Vol. 160; pp. 28 - 45
• Main Authors: Hood, Ashleigh van Smeerdijk, Wallace, Malcolm William
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.01.2018
• Subjects: anaerobic conditions; aragonite; Australia; calcite; calcium; Carbonate mineralogy; Carbonate sedimentology; carbonates; chemistry; Death Valley; Dolomite; magnesium; Marine cements; Namibia; Neoproterozoic era; oceans; Phanerozoic eon; Precambrian seawater chemistry; seawater; Seawater Mg/Ca; United States; Australia; United States; Namibia; Death Valley; Seawater Mg/Ca; Carbonate mineralogy; Carbonate sedimentology; Precambrian seawater chemistry; Dolomite; Marine cements
• ISSN: 0921-8181; 1872-6364
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2017.11.006

The primary mineralogy of marine carbonate precipitates has been a crucial factor in constraining the major element composition of ancient oceans. Secular changes in Phanerozoic marine chemistry, including Mg/Ca, have been well-documented using the original carbonate mineralogy of ooids, marine cements and biominerals. However, the history of Precambrian seawater chemistry is not as well constrained, partially due to the prevalence of dolomitisation in the Precambrian geological record. The Neoproterozoic (~1000Ma to ~541Ma) record of primary carbonate mineralogy is documented here using a combination of literature data and new analysis of marine carbonate precipitates from the Otavi Fold Belt, Namibia, the Death Valley succession, USA and the Adelaide Fold Belt, Australia. These data suggest that the last ~460millionyears of the Proterozoic were dominated by aragonite and high-Mg calcite precipitation in shallow marine settings. In contrast, low-Mg calcite has only been recognised in a small number of formations. In addition to aragonite and calcite precipitation, marine dolomite precipitation was widespread in Neoproterozoic oceans, including mimetic (syn-sedimentary) dolomitisation and primary dolomite marine cementation. The combination of marine aragonite, high Mg-calcite and dolomite precipitation during the Neoproterozoic suggests extremely high seawater Mg/Ca conditions relative to Phanerozoic oceans. Marine dolomite precipitation may also be linked to widespread marine anoxia during this time. •The first extensive compilation of Neoproterozoic carbonate mineralogy is presented•Marine aragonite, high-Mg calcite and dolomite dominate the Neoproterozoic•Very high seawater Mg/Ca is suggested for the late Precambrian•Marine dolomite cements are widespread in Neoproterozoic successions