A Mesoarchean shift in uranium isotope systematics

Oxygenic photosynthesis fundamentally transformed all major biogeochemical cycles and increased the size and complexity of Earth's biosphere. However, there is still debate about when this metabolism evolved. As oxygenic photosynthesis is the only significant source of O₂ at Earth's surface, O₂-sensitive trace element enrichments and isotopic signatures in Archean sedimentary rocks can potentially be used to determine the onset of oxygenic photosynthesis by tracking shifts in the oxidative capacity of Earth's surface environment. Here, we present an extensive new Archean U isotope record from iron formations, organic-rich shales, and paleosols. Variability in δ²³⁸U values gradually increased from Archean to Phanerozoic, consistent with current view of gradual oxidation of Earth's surface. In addition, statistical analysis on available δ²³⁸U data indicates a turning point of δ²³⁸U variability at roughly 3.0 billon years ago. We suggest that such a turning point in δ²³⁸U variability indicates the initiation of relatively large-scale oxidative weathering of U(IV)-bearing minerals, implying that oxygenic photosynthesis may have evolved before 3.0 billion years ago.