Biogeochemical Cycles of Sulfur and Nitrogen in the Archean Ocean and Atmosphere
نویسندگان
چکیده
Early geodynamic processes modeled the surface of the Earth, providing suitable environments and energy sources for the development of life. Studying the ancient biogeochemical cycles is thus a valuable way to understand the physicochemical conditions of the early environments, such as the redox state of the primitive oceans and the atmosphere. To investigate early biogeochemistries, the measurement of stable isotopes of S, N, and C from ancient sedimentary rocks is crucial. Here we review the sulfur and nitrogen isotopic signatures measured in Archean rocks that suggest the antiquity of sulfate-reducing bacteria and chemolithotrophs living in a low-oxygen environment.
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