Atmospheric sulfur in archean komatiite-hosted nickel deposits

Andrey Bekker; Mark E. Barley; Marco L. Fiorentini; Olivier J. Rouxel; Douglas Rumble; Stephen W. Beresford

doi:10.1126/science.1177742

Atmospheric sulfur in archean komatiite-hosted nickel deposits

Andrey Bekker, Mark E. Barley, Marco L. Fiorentini, Olivier J. Rouxel, Douglas Rumble, Stephen W. Beresford

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

163 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Some of Earth's largest iron-nickel (Fe-Ni) sulfide ore deposits formed during the Archean and early Proterozoic. Establishing the origin of the metals and sulfur in these deposits is critical for understanding their genesis. Here, we present multiple sulfur isotope data implying that the sulfur in Archean komatiite-hosted Fe-Ni sulfide deposits was previously processed through the atmosphere and then accumulated on the ocean floor. High-temperature, mantle-derived komatiite magmas were then able to incorporate the sulfur from seafloor hydrothermal sulfide accumulations and sulfidic shales to form Neoarchean komatiite-hosted Fe-Ni sulfide deposits at a time when the oceans were sulfur-poor.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1086-1089
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	326
Issue number	5956
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1177742
Publication status	Published - 20 Nov 2009
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Multidisciplinary

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title = "Atmospheric sulfur in archean komatiite-hosted nickel deposits",

abstract = "Some of Earth's largest iron-nickel (Fe-Ni) sulfide ore deposits formed during the Archean and early Proterozoic. Establishing the origin of the metals and sulfur in these deposits is critical for understanding their genesis. Here, we present multiple sulfur isotope data implying that the sulfur in Archean komatiite-hosted Fe-Ni sulfide deposits was previously processed through the atmosphere and then accumulated on the ocean floor. High-temperature, mantle-derived komatiite magmas were then able to incorporate the sulfur from seafloor hydrothermal sulfide accumulations and sulfidic shales to form Neoarchean komatiite-hosted Fe-Ni sulfide deposits at a time when the oceans were sulfur-poor.",

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AU - Bekker, Andrey

AU - Barley, Mark E.

AU - Fiorentini, Marco L.

AU - Rouxel, Olivier J.

AU - Rumble, Douglas

AU - Beresford, Stephen W.

PY - 2009/11/20

Y1 - 2009/11/20

N2 - Some of Earth's largest iron-nickel (Fe-Ni) sulfide ore deposits formed during the Archean and early Proterozoic. Establishing the origin of the metals and sulfur in these deposits is critical for understanding their genesis. Here, we present multiple sulfur isotope data implying that the sulfur in Archean komatiite-hosted Fe-Ni sulfide deposits was previously processed through the atmosphere and then accumulated on the ocean floor. High-temperature, mantle-derived komatiite magmas were then able to incorporate the sulfur from seafloor hydrothermal sulfide accumulations and sulfidic shales to form Neoarchean komatiite-hosted Fe-Ni sulfide deposits at a time when the oceans were sulfur-poor.

AB - Some of Earth's largest iron-nickel (Fe-Ni) sulfide ore deposits formed during the Archean and early Proterozoic. Establishing the origin of the metals and sulfur in these deposits is critical for understanding their genesis. Here, we present multiple sulfur isotope data implying that the sulfur in Archean komatiite-hosted Fe-Ni sulfide deposits was previously processed through the atmosphere and then accumulated on the ocean floor. High-temperature, mantle-derived komatiite magmas were then able to incorporate the sulfur from seafloor hydrothermal sulfide accumulations and sulfidic shales to form Neoarchean komatiite-hosted Fe-Ni sulfide deposits at a time when the oceans were sulfur-poor.

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SP - 1086

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Atmospheric sulfur in archean komatiite-hosted nickel deposits

Abstract

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