Tonian Carbonates Record Phosphate‐Rich Shallow Seas

Abstract

AbstractThe early‐middle Neoproterozoic is thought to have witnessed significant perturbations to marine P cycling, in turn facilitating the rise of eukaryote‐dominated primary production. However, with few robust constraints on aqueous P concentrations, current understanding of Neoproterozoic P cycling is generally model‐dependent. To provide new geochemical constraints, we combined microanalytical data sets with solid‐state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, synchrotron‐based X‐ray Absorption Near Edge Structure spectroscopy, and micro‐X‐ray Fluorescence imaging to characterize the speciation and distribution of P in Tonian shallow‐water carbonate rocks. These data reflect shallow water phosphate concentrations 10–100× higher than modern systems, supporting the hypothesis that tectonically‐driven influxes in P periodically initiated kinetically‐controlled CaCO3 deposition, in turn destabilizing marine carbonate chemistry, climate, and nutrient inventories. Alongside these observations, a new compilation and statistical analysis of mudstone geochemistry data indicates that, in parallel, Corg and P burial increased across later Tonian continental margins until becoming decoupled at the close of the Tonian, implicating widespread N‐limitation triggered by increasing atmospheric O2.