A reinterpretation of the crustal N‐isotope record: evidence for a 15N‐enriched Archean atmosphere? |
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| Authors: | Yiefei Jia Robert Kerrich |
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| Institution: | Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200 Australia;;Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 5E2 |
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| Abstract: | A new compilation of N‐isotope and abundance data for metasedimentary rocks, and hyrdothermal micas that proxy for bulk crust, show systematic patterns. (1) δ15N values of kerogen in Precambrian cherts are more negative relative to siliciclastic counterparts, probably due to a mantle hydrothermal component. (2) There is a secular trend from average δ15N 15.3 ± 1.8‰ in Archean shales, through intermediate values in the Proterozoic, to Phanerozoic counterparts where δ15N averages +3.5‰. (3) Hydrothermal micas in metamorphic hydrothermal systems of Palaeozoic and Mesozoic age that proxy for crust have δ15N within the range of contemporaneous sedimentary rocks. (4) Hydrothermal micas track the secular trend of δ15N for kerogen from 2.7 Ga to the Phanerozoic. (5) Within Precambrian datasets δ15N does not increase with decreasing N content; accordingly, high δ15N values cannot stem either from metamorphism or form Rayleigh fractionation. (6) Previous studies show isotopic shifts during metamorphism are only +1 to +3‰ up to amphibolite facies. Values of 10–24‰ are attributed to a high δ15N Archean atmosphere, a residual signature of CI carbonaceous chondrites where δ15N is +30‰ to + 42‰. |
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