Element mobility patterns record organic ligands in soils on early Earth

Research Article| February 01, 2005 Element mobility patterns record organic ligands in soils on early Earth Alexander Neaman; Alexander Neaman 1Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jon Chorover; Jon Chorover 2Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Susan L. Brantley Susan L. Brantley 3Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Alexander Neaman 1Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Jon Chorover 2Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Susan L. Brantley 3Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 29 Mar 2004 Revision Received: 01 Oct 2004 Accepted: 01 Oct 2004 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2005) 33 (2): 117–120. https://doi.org/10.1130/G20687.1 Article history Received: 29 Mar 2004 Revision Received: 01 Oct 2004 Accepted: 01 Oct 2004 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Alexander Neaman, Jon Chorover, Susan L. Brantley; Element mobility patterns record organic ligands in soils on early Earth. Geology 2005;; 33 (2): 117–120. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G20687.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Considerable mobilization of Fe without mobilization of Al in Precambrian paleosols has been documented and attributed to either anoxic- or ligand-promoted dissolution. To elucidate these mechanisms, basalt was dissolved under oxic and anoxic conditions with and without citrate, and the mobility of several elements was analyzed. The extent of release of Fe and P was minor (in citrate-free conditions) or considerable (with citrate) regardless of oxygen pressure. Release of Al was minor in all cases, whereas release of Cu was minor (in anoxic conditions) or considerable (in oxic conditions). Release of Cu was enhanced by citrate. In comparison, in the weathered surface of two of the oldest-known basalt-derived paleosols—the Mount Roe (2.76 Ga) and the Hekpoort (2.25 Ga)— Fe and P were considerably depleted and Al retained, consistent with the presence of organic ligands. Cu, retained in the Mount Roe paleosol but considerably mobilized in the Hekpoort paleosol, documents formation under an anoxic atmosphere and an oxic atmosphere, respectively, as inferred by others on the basis of Fe mobility. The immobility of Al in both paleosols is consistent with formation under conditions in which the annual volume of rainwater was lower than the topsoil pore volume. Mobilization of P in such paleosols developed under low-rainfall conditions provides a new proxy for identification of ligands secreted by terrestrial organisms on early Earth. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.