Triple-sulfur isotope data from schists and carbonates in the Eoarchean Isua Greenstone Belt (3.7 Ga), using a new leaching technique and a multi-collector ICP-MS. The results reveal distinct pattern between the two lithologies and demonstrate an atmospheric contribution of sulfur in both cases. This may support the notion that these rocks represent metamorphosed marine sediments. However, hydrothermal alteration needs to be assessed in more detail to verify the antiquity of these signatures.

PROJECT DETAILS ONLY - NO DATA. The freshest available Archaean (3.5 and 2.7 ga) and young komatiites, including very fresh Belingwe olivine with melt inclusions and newly collected Barberton rock with fresh olivine, will be used to investigate melt water content, temperature of eruption, and oxygen isotope systematics. The results will be used to model the tectonic setting of the komatiites and secular evolution of the mantle

Neodymium (Nd) concentrations, Nd radiogenic isotopes (143Nd/144Nd) and Nd stable isotopes (d146/144Nd) for chondritic meteorites, terrestrial basalts and mantle rocks, and rock reference materials.

Organic carbon, total nitrogen, total reduced sulfur and carbonate-associated sulfur isotopes measured on decarbonated stromatolite samples from the Paranoa Group (1.1 Ga).

Organic carbon and bulk nitrogen isotope data for black shale samples from six different drill cores with varying distance from the major Zn ore body (HYC) in the McArthur basin. Data show trends with distance in d15N and C/N ratios. A more detailed interpretation is provided in Stüeken, E.E., Gregory, D.D., Mukherjee, I. and McGoldrick, P., 2021. Sedimentary exhalative venting of bioavailable nitrogen into the early ocean. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 565, p.116963.

Organic carbon and nitrogen and bulk nitrogen isotope data and metal abundance data for siltstones and shales of the Mesoproterozoic Diabaig Formation. For a detailed description and interpretation, see Stüeken, E.E. and Prave, A.R., 2022. Diagenetic nutrient supplies to the Proterozoic biosphere archived in divergent nitrogen isotopic ratios between kerogen and silicate minerals. Geobiology.

Pyrite samples from selected sedimentary organic-rich formations or associated igneous and metamorphic rocks were analysed by conventional S isotopic analysis. Pyrites were measured in order to provide insights into their origin. Light and variable S isotope compositions in pyrite have been used to infer the influence of sulphate-reducing bacteria (and subsequent Se precipitation by sulphate-reducing microbes), whereas heavier S isotope compositions indicate a non-biological origin (i.e. physical and chemical diagenesis).

Organic carbon and bulk nitrogen isotope and abundance data and metal abundance data from the Mesoarchean VMS deposit and associated strata. Detailed information is given in Stueeken, E.E., Boocock, T.J., Robinson, A., Mikhail, S. and Johnson, B.W., 2021. Hydrothermal recycling of sedimentary ammonium into oceanic crust and the Archean ocean at 3.24 Ga. Geology, 49(7), pp.822-826.

Organic carbon, bulk nitrogen isotope and bulk sulfur isotope and abundance data and metal abundance data from metapelites of the 3.7Ga Isua Supracrustal Belt. For more details, see Stüeken, E.E., Boocock, T., Szilas, K., Mikhail, S. and Gardiner, N.J., 2021. Reconstructing nitrogen sources to Earth’s earliest biosphere at 3.7 Ga. Frontiers in Earth Science, 9, p.675726.

PROJECT DETAILS ONLY - NO DATA. High-presicion Ar- Ar and U-Pb dating of magmatic events in the British Tertiary igneous province is difficult to reconcile with the magnetostratigraphy. The normally maganetised rocks of Mull Centres 2 and 3 are too old for C26N, much too young for C25N, and of too long a duration to fit into normal cryptpchrons in C26R. The most likely reason for this discrepancy is that the accepted time range of C26N (58-57.6 Ma) is too young by at least 0.5m.y. We propose to resolve the problem by re-determining the age of the Palaeocene-Ecocene boundary by Ar-Ar dating of sanidine from ash layers in northern Jutland. Our Ar-Ar dates will be checked against U-Pb ages of zircon and sphen from the Danish ashes and from the Hebrides.