MSc Julius Havsteen, Dr. Ilka Kleinhanns (Schoenberg), Dr. Benjamin Eickmann & Prof. Dr. Ronny Schoenberg

The Great Oxidation Event (GOE) took place sometime between 2.4-2.3 billion years ago and reflects the transition from a reduced to an oxidised atmosphere. The clearest evidence for increasing atmospheric O₂ concentrations at this time is the loss of mass independent fractionation of sulfur isotopes in the geological record – a photochemical induced reaction only taking place at oxygen concentrations less than 0.001% of present atmospheric levels. However, whether the GOE took place as a sudden or as an oscillating event is still debated. We are combining trace element systematics, radiogenic isotope fingerprints and different stable isotope systems (S, Mo, Se) on drill cores from South Africa, which intersect rocks deposited at the time of the GOE. The goal of this project is to achieve a better understanding of the Earth’s surface redox evolution within the Paleoproterozoic and its impact on the emergence of life.

Funding: DFG priority program SPP1833 "Building a habitable Earth"

Collaborators

• Prof. Nic Beukes (South Africa, University of Johannesburg)
• Prof. Harald Strauß (Germany, University of Münster)
• Dr. Gareth Izon (USA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)