Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Seawater-like trace element signatures (REE + Y) of Eoarchaean chemical sedimentary rocks from southern West Greenland, and their corruption during high-grade metamorphism

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Modern chemical sediments display a distinctive rare earth element + yttrium (REE + Y) pattern involving depleted LREE, positive La/La*SN, Eu/Eu*SN, and YSN anomalies (SN = shale normalised) that is related to precipitation from circumneutral to high pH waters with solution complexation of the REEs dominated by carbonate ions. This is often interpreted as reflecting precipitation from surface waters (usually marine). The oldest broadly accepted chemical sediments are c. 3,700 Ma amphibolite facies banded iron-formation (BIF) units in the Isua supracrustal belt, Greenland. Isua BIFs, including the BIF international reference material IF-G are generally considered to be seawater precipitates, and display these REE + Y patterns (Bolhar et al. in Earth Planet Sci Lett 222:43–60, 2004). Greenland Eoarchaean BIF metamorphosed up to granulite facies from several localities in the vicinity of Akilia (island), display REE + Y patterns identical to Isua BIF, consistent with an origin by chemical sedimentation from seawater and a paucity of clastic input. Furthermore, the much-debated magnetite-bearing siliceous unit of “earliest life” rocks (sample G91/26) from Akilia has the same REE + Y pattern. This suggests that sample G91/26 is also a chemical sediment, contrary to previous assertions (Bolhar et al. in Earth Planet Sci Lett 222:43–60, 2004), and including suggestions that the Akilia unit containing G91/26 consists entirely of silica-penetrated, metasomatised, mafic rock (Fedo and Whitehouse 2002a). Integration of our trace element data with those of Bolhar et al. (Earth Planet Sci Lett 222:43–60, 2004) demonstrates that Eoarchaean siliceous rocks in Greenland, with ages from 3.6 to 3.85 Ga, have diverse trace element signatures. There are now geographically-dispersed, widespread examples with Isua BIF-like REE + Y signatures, that are interpreted as chemically unaltered, albeit metamorphosed, chemical sediments. Other samples retain remnants of LREE depletion but are beginning to lose the distinct La, Eu and Y positive anomalies and are interpreted as metasomatised chemical sediments. Finally there are some siliceous samples with completely different trace element patterns that are interpreted as rocks of non-sedimentary origin, and include metasomatised mafic rocks. The positive La/La*SN, Eu/Eu*SN and YSN anomalies found in Isua BIFs and other Eoarchaean Greenland samples, such as G91/26 from Akilia, suggests that the processes of carbonate ion complexation controlling the REE − Y patterns were already established in the hydrosphere at the start of the sedimentary record 3,600–3,850 Ma ago. This is in accord with the presence of Eoarchaean siderite-bearing marbles of sedimentary origin, and suggests that CO2 may have been a significant greenhouse gas at that time.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alibert C, McCulloch MT (1992) Rare earth element and neodymium isotopic compositions of the in banded iron-formations and associated shales from Hamersley, Western Australia. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 57:187–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Appel PWU (1980) On the early Archaean Isua iron-formation, West Greenland. Precambrian Res 11:73–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bau M (1993) Effects on syn- and post-depositional processes on rare-earth element distribution in Precambrian iron formations. Eur J Mineral 5:257–267

    Google Scholar 

  • Bau M, Dulski P (1996) Distribution of Y and rare-earth elements in the Penge and Kuruman iron formations, Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa. Precambrian Res 79:37–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolhar R, Kamber BS, Moorbath S, Fedo CM, Whitehouse MJ (2004) Characterisation of early Archaean chemical sediments by trace element signatures. Earth Planet Sci Lett 222:43–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolhar R, van Kranendonk MJ, Kamber BS (2005) A trace element study of siderite-jasper banded iron formation in the 3.45 Ga Warrawoona Group, Pilbara Craton—formation from hydrothermal fluids and shallow water. Precambrian Res 137:93–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cantrell KJ, Byrne RH (1987) Rare earth element complexation by carbonate and oxalate ions. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 51:597–605

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chadwick B, Friend CRL (1994) Reaction of Precambrian high-grade gneisses to mid-crustal ductile dreformation in western Dove Bugt, North-East Greenland. Rapp Grønlands Geoløgiske Undersøgelse 162:53–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowley JL (2003) U-Pb geochronology of 3810–3630 Ma granitoid rocks south of the Isua greenstone belt, southern West Greenland. Precambrian Res 126:235–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crowley JL, Myers JS, Dunning GR (2002) Timing and nature of multiple 3700–3600 Ma tectonic events in intrusive rocks north of the Isua greenstone belt, southern West Greenland. Bull Geol Soc Am 114:1311–1325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dauphas N, Van Zuilen M, Wadhwa M, Davis AM, Marty B, Janney PE (2004) Clues from Fe isotope variations on the origin of early Archean BIFs from Greenland. Science 306:2077–2080

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derry LA, Jacobsen SB (1990) The chemical evolution of Precambrian seawater: evidence from REEs in banded iron formations. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 54:2965–2977

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dulski P (2001) Reference materials for geochemical studies: new analytical data by ICP-MS and critical discussion of reference values. Geostand Newsl 25:87–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dymek RF, Klein C (1988) Chemistry, petrology and origin of banded iron-formation lithologies from the 3800 Ma Isua supracrustal belt, West Greenland. Precambrian Res 37:247–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eggins SM (2003) Laser ablation ICP-MS analysis of geological materials prepared as lithium borate glasses. Geostand Newsl 27:147–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eggins SM, Woodhead JD, Kinsley L, Mortimer G, Sylvester PJ, McCulloch MT, Hergt JM, Handler M (1997) A simple method for the simultaneous and precise analysis of 40 or more trace elements in geological samples by ICP-MS using enriched isotope internal standardization. Chem Geol 134:311–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elderfield H (1988) The oceanic chemistry of the rare-earth elements. Philos Trans R Soc Lond A325:105–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Escher A, Masson H, Steck A (1993) Nappe geometry in the Western Swiss Alps. J Struct Geol 15:501–509

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fedo CM, Myers JS, Appel PWU (2001) Depositional setting and paleogeographic implications of Earth’s oldest supracrustal rocks, the >3.7 Ga Isua Greenstone Belt, West Greenland. Sediment Geol 141–142:61–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fedo CM, Whitehouse MJ (2002a) Metasomatic origin of quartzpyroxene rock, Akilia, Greenland, and implications for Earth’s earliest life. Science 296:1448–1452

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fedo CM, Whitehouse MJ (2002b) Origin and significance of Archaean quartzose rocks at Akilia, Greenland. Science 298:917a

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friend CRL, Nutman AP (2005a) Complex 3660–3500 Ma orogenic episodes superimposed on juvenile crust accreted between 3850–3690 Ma: Itsaq Gneiss Complex, southern West Greenland. J Geol 113:375–397

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friend CRL, Nutman AP (2005b) New pieces to the Archaean terrane jigsaw puzzle in the Nuuk region, southern West Greenland: steps in transforming a simple insight into a complex regional tectonothermal model. J Geol Soc Lond 162:147–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friend CRL, Nutman AP, Bennett VC (2002) Origin and significance of Archaean quartzose rocks at Akilia, Greenland. Science 298:917a

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Govindaraju K (1995) Update (1984–1995) on two GIT-IWG geochemical reference samples: albite from Italy, AL-1 and iron formation sample from Greenland, IF-G. Geostand Newsl 19:55–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin WL, McGregor VR, Nutman AP, Taylor PN, Bridgwater D (1980) Early Archaean granulite-facies metamorphism south of Ameralik, West Greenland. Earth Planet Sci Lett 50:59–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johannesson KH, Lyons WB (1994) The rare earth element geochemistry of Mono Lake water and the importance of carbonate complexing. Limnol Oceanogr 39:1141–1154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johannesson KH, Stetzenbach KJ, Hodge VF, Lyons WB (1996) Rare earth element complexation behavior in circumneutral pH groundwaters: assessing the role of carbonate and phosphate ions. Earth Planet Sci Lett 139:305–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johannesson KH, Cortés A, Ramos Leal JA, Ramírez AG, Durazo J (2005) Geochemistry of rare earth elements in groundwaters from a rhyolite aquifer, central México. In: Johannesson KH (eds) Rare earth elements in groundwater flow systems. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 187–222

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Johannesson KH, Hawkins DL, Cortés A (2006) Do Archean chemical sediments record ancient seawater rare earth element patterns? Geochim Cosmochim Acta 70:871–890

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalsbeek F, Nutman AP (1996) Anatomy of the Early Proterozoic Nagssugtoqidian orogen, West Greenland, explored by reconnaissance SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating. Geology 24:515–518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein C, Beukes NJ (1989) Geochemistry and sedimentology of a facies transition from limestone to iron formation deposition in the early Proterozoic Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa. Econ Geol 84:1733–1774

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Komiya T, Maruyama S, Masuda T, Appel PWU, Nohda S (1999) The 3.8–3.7 Ga plate tectonics on the Earth; field evidence from the Isua accretionary complex, West Greenland. J Geol 107:515–554

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krogh TE, Kamo SL, Kwok YY (2002) An isotope dilution etch abrasion solution to the Akilia island U-Pb age controversy. Goldschmidt Abstracts (2002) A419

  • Lepland A, van Zuilen MA, Arrhenius G, Whitehouse MJ, Fedo C (2005) Questioning the evidence for Earth’s earliest life—Akilia revisited. Geology 33:77–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowe DR, Byerly GR (1999) Geologic evolution of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa. Geol Soc Am Sp Paper 329:319pp

  • Luo YR, Byrne RH (2004) Carbonate complexation of yttrium and the rare earth elements in natural waters. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 68:691–699

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGregor VR, Friend CRL (1997) Field recognition of rocks totally retrogressed from granulite facies: an example from Archaean rocks in the Paamiut region, South-West Greenland. Precambrian Res 86:59–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGregor VR, Mason B (1977) Petrogenesis and geochemistry of metabasaltic and metasedimentary enclaves in the Amîtsoq gneisses, West Greenland. Am Mineral 62:887–904

    Google Scholar 

  • Moorbath S, O’Nions RK, Pankhurst RJ (1973) Early Archaean age for the Isua iron-formation, West Greenland. Nature 245:138–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mojzsis SJ, Harrison TM (2002) Establishment of a 3.8 Ga magmatic age for the Akilia tonalite (southern West Greenland). Earth Planet Sci Lett 202:563–576

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mojzsis SJ, Arrhenius G, McKeegan KD, Harrison TM, Nutman AP, Friend CRL (1996) Evidence for life on Earth before 3800 million years age. Nature 384:55–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moorbath S, Whitehouse MJ (1996) Age of the Isua supracrustal sequence of West Greenland. In: Chela-Flores J, Raulin F (eds) Chemical evolution: physics of the origin and evolution of life. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 87–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers JS (2001) Protoliths of the 3.7–3.8 Ga Isua greenstone belt, West Greenland. Precambrian Res 105:129–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myers JS, Crowley JL (2000) Vestiges of life in the oldest Greenland rocks? A review of early Archaean geology in the Godthaabsfjord region, and reappraisal of field evidence for >3850 Ma life on Akilia. Precambrian Res 103:101–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norman MD, Leeman WP, Blanchard DP, Fitton JG, James D (1989) A comparison of major and trace elements by ICP, XRF, INAA, and ID methods. Geostand Newsl 13:283–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norman MD, Griffin WL, Pearson NJ, Garcia MO, O‚Reilly SY (1998) Quantitative analysis of trace element abundances in glasses and minerals: a comparison of laser ablation ICPMS, solution ICPMS, proton microprobe, and electron microprobe data. J Anal Atomic Spectrosc 13:477–482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nozaki Y, Zhang YS, Amakawa H (1997) The fractionation between Y and Ho in the marine enviroment. Earth Planet Sci Lett 148:329–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norman M, Robinson P, Clark D (2003) Major and trace element analysis of sulphide ores by laser ablation ICPMS, solution ICPMS, and XRF. Can Mineral 41:293–305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norman MD, Garcia MO, Bennett VC (2004) Rhenium and chalcophile elements in basaltic glasses from Ko’olau and Molokai volcanoes: magmatic outgassing and composition of the Hawaiian plume. Geochim Cosmichim Acta 68:3761–3777

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nutman AP, Friend CRL (2006) Petrography and geochemistry of apatites in banded iron formation, Akilia, W. Greenland: consequences for early life. Precambrian Res 147:100–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nutman AP, Allaart JH, Bridgwater D, Dimroth E, Rosing MT (1984) Stratigraphic and geochemical evidence for the depositional environment of the early Archaean Isua supracrustal belt, southern West Greenland. Precambrian Res 25:365–396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nutman AP, McGregor VR, Friend CRL, Bennett VC, Kinny PD (1996) The Itsaq gneiss complex of southern West Greenland: the world’s most extensive record of early crustal evolution (3900–3600 Ma), Precambrian Res 78:1–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nutman AP, Bennett VC, Friend CRL, Rosing MT (1997a) ∼3710 and >3790 Ma volcanic sequences in the Isua (Greenland) supracrustal belt: structural and Nd isotope implications. Chem Geol 141:271–287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nutman AP, Mojzsis SJ, Friend CRL (1997b) Recognition of >3850 Ma water-lain sediments in West Greenland and their significance for the early Archaean Earth. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 61:2475–2484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nutman AP, Friend CRL, Bennett VC, McGregor VR (2000) The Early Archean Itsaq Gneiss Complex of southern West Greenland: the importance of field observations in interpreting age and isotopic constraints for early terrestrial evolution. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 64:3035–3060

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nutman AP, Friend CRL, Bennett, VC (2002a) Evidence for 3650–3600 Ma assembly of the northern end of the Itsaq Gneiss Complex, Greenland: implication for early Archean tectonics. Tectonics 21. doi:10.1029/2000TC001203

  • Nutman AP, McGregor VR, Shrashi K, Friend CRL, Bennett VC, Kinny PD (2002b) ≥3850 Ma BIF and mafic inclusions in the early Archaean Itsaq Gneiss Complex migmatites around Akilia, southern West Greenland? The difficulties of precise dating of zircon-free protoliths in migmatites. Precambrian Res 117:185–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Odegard M, Dundas SH, Flem B, Grimstvedt A (1998) Application of a double-focusing magnetic sector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer with laser ablation for the bulk analysis of rare earth elements in rocks fused with Li2B4O7. Fresenius J Anal Chem 362:477–482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ohmoto H, Watanabe Y, Kumazawa K (2004) Evidence from massive siderite beds for a CO2-rich atmosphere before ∼1.8 billion years ago. Nature 429:395–400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polat A, Hofmann AW (2003) Alteration and geochemical patterns in the 3.7–3.8 Ga Isua greenstone belt, West Greenland. Precambrian Res 126:197–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polat A, Hofmann AW, Rosing MT (2002) Boninite-like volcanic rocks in the 3.7–3.8 Ga Isua greenstone belt, West Greenland: geochemical evidence for intra-oceanic subduction zone processes in the early Earth. Chem Geol 184:231–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rose NM, Rosing MT, Bridgwater D (1996) The origin of metacarbonate rocks in the Archaean Isua supracrustal belt. Am J Sci 296:1004–1044

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosing MT, Rose NM, Bridgwater D, Thomsen HS (1996) Earliest part of Earth’s stratigraphic record: a reappraisal of the >3.7 Ga Isua (Greenland) supracrustal sequence. Geology 24:43–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosing MT (1999) 13C-depleted carbon microparticles in >3700 Ma sea-floor sedimentary rocks from West Greenland. Science 283:674–676

    Google Scholar 

  • Rye R, Kuo PH, Holland HD (1995) Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations before 2.2 billion years ago. Nature 378:603–605

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sholkovitz ER, Landing WM, Lewis BL (1994) Ocean particle chemistry: the fractionation of rare earth elements between suspended particles and seawater. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 58:1567–1579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solvang M (1999) An investigation of metavolcanic rocks from the eastern part of the Isua greenstone belt, West Greenland. Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) Internal Report, Copenhagen, Denmark, 62 p

  • Sonke JE, Salters VJM (2006) Lanthanide-humic substances complexation. I. Experimental evidence for a lanthanide contraction effect. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 70:1495–1506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang J, Johannesson KH (2003) Speciation of rare earth elements in natural terrestrial waters: assessing the role of dissolved organic matter from the modeling approach. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 67:2321–2339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor SR, McLennan SM (1985) The continental crust: its composition and its evolution. Blackwell, Oxford, 312 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitehouse MJ, Kamber BS (2005) Assigning dates to thin gneissic veins in high-grade metamorphic terranes: a cautionary tale from Akilia, southwest Greenland. J Petrol 46:291–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitehouse MJ, Kamber BS, Moorbath S (1999) Age significance of U–Th–Pb zircon data from early Archaean rocks of West Greenland a reassessment based on combined ion-microprobe and imaging studies. Chem Geol 160:201–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu Z, Norman MD, Robinson P (2003) Major and trace element analysis of silicate rocks by XRF and laser ablation ICPMS using lithium borate fused glasses: matrix effects, instrument response, and results for international reference materials. Geostand Newsl 27:67–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

CRLF was funded through NERC grant NER/A/S/1999/00024; APN and VCB through ARC grant DP0342794. APN thanks Richard Arculus for giving him an honorary fellowship at the Department of Earth and Marine Sciences. Ross Taylor is thanked for comments on this manuscript. Ole Christiansen of Nunaminerals A/S is thanked for some logistic support in the field. The manuscript was greatly improved by the comments from the reviewers Karen Johannesson and B. Kamber.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 45 Stanway Road, Risinghurst, Headington, Oxford, OX3 8HU, UK

    C. R. L. Friend

  2. Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Institute of Geology, 26 Baiwanzhuang Road, Beijing, 100037, China

    A. P. Nutman

  3. Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia

    A. P. Nutman

  4. Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia

    V. C. Bennett & M. D. Norman

Authors
  1. C. R. L. Friend
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. P. Nutman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. V. C. Bennett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. D. Norman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. C. Bennett.

Additional information

Communicated by T.L. Grove.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Friend, C.R.L., Nutman, A.P., Bennett, V.C. et al. Seawater-like trace element signatures (REE + Y) of Eoarchaean chemical sedimentary rocks from southern West Greenland, and their corruption during high-grade metamorphism. Contrib Mineral Petrol 155, 229–246 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-007-0239-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-007-0239-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation