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The Archean/Proterozoic Transition: A Sedimentary and Paleobiologies Perspective

  • Conference paper
Patterns of Change in Earth Evolution

Part of the book series: Dahlem Workshop Reports Physical, Chemical, and Earth Sciences Research Reports ((DAHLEM PHYSICAL,volume 5))

Abstract

Sedimentary rocks provide sensitive reflections of source terrains and tectonic settings; they thus constitute important sources of information about crustal processes on the early Earth. The preserved stratigraphic record, if read literally, suggests that Lower Proterozoic sediments as a group differ significantly from those characteristic of the Archean. Lower Proterozoic successions include widespread passive margin continental shelf and epicratonic sequences dominated by mature detrital rocks and carbonates. The composition, sedimentary structures, and geometry of these sedimentary packages indicate that large stable continents existed at the time of their deposition. In low-grade Archean terrains, the predominant supracrustal successions are those of greenstone belts. Sedimentary rocks intercalated among thick volcanic sequences in the lower parts of greenstone successions, particularly older ones, provide little evidence for sialic source terrains, but overlying detrital sequences reflect the unroofing of tonalitic/trondhjemitic intrusions and resemble sedimentary packages accumulating along modern, tectonically active continental margins. Extensive epicratonic or passive margin shelf sequences are notably limited in low-grade terrains, although their presence in several localities provides evidence that continental crustal stabilization occurred on at least a regional scale 3000 Ma ago or earlier. Some Archean high-grade terrains contain what appear to be severely metamorphosed greenstone belt packages, but others include probable remnants of ancient shelf deposits. The association of shelf sequences with high-grade terrains reflects deep burial of continental margins, perhaps beneath tectonically emplaced “low-grade” slabs. This highlights a significant problem of Archean geological interpretation, selective preservation. All in all, evident differences between Lower Proterozoic and Archean stratigraphy appear relatable to the presence of large stable continents during the younger era. This suggests that the late Archean was a period of rapid crustal growth and stabilization, an interpretation corroborated by geochemical evidence. Large-scale cratonization may have had a significant impact on the contemporary biota, especially as regards productivity, and this, in turn, may have influenced atmospheric evolution. This hypothesis highlights many unresolved issues in Precambrian geology.

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  1. Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA

    A. H. Knoll

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H. D. Holland A. F. Trendall

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© 1984 Dr. S. Bernhard, Dahlem Konferenzen

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Knoll, A.H. (1984). The Archean/Proterozoic Transition: A Sedimentary and Paleobiologies Perspective. In: Holland, H.D., Trendall, A.F. (eds) Patterns of Change in Earth Evolution. Dahlem Workshop Reports Physical, Chemical, and Earth Sciences Research Reports, vol 5. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69317-5_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69317-5_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

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