Iron Isotope Evidence for Heightened Primary Productivity Triggered by Hydrothermally Sourced Nutrients During Oceanic Anoxic Event 2

Abstract Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2, ∼94 Ma) represents a major global cycle perturbation in the mid‐Cretaceous greenhouse that is commonly attributed to increased biological primary productivity stimulated by elevated nutrients. However, whether increased nutrients were sourced from submarine vol...

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Main Authors: Binchen Li, Yong‐Xiang Li, Yuqi Li, Weiqiang Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114116
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author Binchen Li
Yong‐Xiang Li
Yuqi Li
Weiqiang Li
author_facet Binchen Li
Yong‐Xiang Li
Yuqi Li
Weiqiang Li
author_sort Binchen Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2, ∼94 Ma) represents a major global cycle perturbation in the mid‐Cretaceous greenhouse that is commonly attributed to increased biological primary productivity stimulated by elevated nutrients. However, whether increased nutrients were sourced from submarine volcanism or enhanced continental weathering remains elusive. Here we present a high‐resolution whole‐rock Fe isotope record of the expanded OAE2 interval at Gongzha section in southern Tibet to trace iron cycling through the biological, geological and geochemical processes across OAE2. δ56FeT data show three notable negative shifts, corresponding to episodes of intensified volcanism as documented by the osmium isotope record, with the largest shift followed by a prolonged positive δ56FeT excursion coeval with the positive δ13C shift of OAE2, compatible with a causal link between hydrothermally sourced iron and biological uptake. Similar δ56FeT patterns are observed in other OAE2 sections of different settings, implying submarine volcanism as the driving force for initiating OAE2.
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spelling doaj-art-b6607c34aeb24e51914dbfeaae1b15bd2025-08-20T03:10:31ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-05-015210n/an/a10.1029/2024GL114116Iron Isotope Evidence for Heightened Primary Productivity Triggered by Hydrothermally Sourced Nutrients During Oceanic Anoxic Event 2Binchen Li0Yong‐Xiang Li1Yuqi Li2Weiqiang Li3State Key Laboratory of Critical Earth Material Cycling and Mineral Deposits Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry Ministry of Education School of Earth Sciences and Engineering Nanjing University Nanjing ChinaState Key Laboratory of Critical Earth Material Cycling and Mineral Deposits Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry Ministry of Education School of Earth Sciences and Engineering Nanjing University Nanjing ChinaState Key Laboratory of Critical Earth Material Cycling and Mineral Deposits Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry Ministry of Education School of Earth Sciences and Engineering Nanjing University Nanjing ChinaState Key Laboratory of Critical Earth Material Cycling and Mineral Deposits Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry Ministry of Education School of Earth Sciences and Engineering Nanjing University Nanjing ChinaAbstract Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2, ∼94 Ma) represents a major global cycle perturbation in the mid‐Cretaceous greenhouse that is commonly attributed to increased biological primary productivity stimulated by elevated nutrients. However, whether increased nutrients were sourced from submarine volcanism or enhanced continental weathering remains elusive. Here we present a high‐resolution whole‐rock Fe isotope record of the expanded OAE2 interval at Gongzha section in southern Tibet to trace iron cycling through the biological, geological and geochemical processes across OAE2. δ56FeT data show three notable negative shifts, corresponding to episodes of intensified volcanism as documented by the osmium isotope record, with the largest shift followed by a prolonged positive δ56FeT excursion coeval with the positive δ13C shift of OAE2, compatible with a causal link between hydrothermally sourced iron and biological uptake. Similar δ56FeT patterns are observed in other OAE2 sections of different settings, implying submarine volcanism as the driving force for initiating OAE2.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114116Cenomanian‐Turonian boundarysubmarine LIP volcanismcontinental weatheringGongzha sectionsouthern Tibetiron
spellingShingle Binchen Li
Yong‐Xiang Li
Yuqi Li
Weiqiang Li
Iron Isotope Evidence for Heightened Primary Productivity Triggered by Hydrothermally Sourced Nutrients During Oceanic Anoxic Event 2
Geophysical Research Letters
Cenomanian‐Turonian boundary
submarine LIP volcanism
continental weathering
Gongzha section
southern Tibet
iron
title Iron Isotope Evidence for Heightened Primary Productivity Triggered by Hydrothermally Sourced Nutrients During Oceanic Anoxic Event 2
title_full Iron Isotope Evidence for Heightened Primary Productivity Triggered by Hydrothermally Sourced Nutrients During Oceanic Anoxic Event 2
title_fullStr Iron Isotope Evidence for Heightened Primary Productivity Triggered by Hydrothermally Sourced Nutrients During Oceanic Anoxic Event 2
title_full_unstemmed Iron Isotope Evidence for Heightened Primary Productivity Triggered by Hydrothermally Sourced Nutrients During Oceanic Anoxic Event 2
title_short Iron Isotope Evidence for Heightened Primary Productivity Triggered by Hydrothermally Sourced Nutrients During Oceanic Anoxic Event 2
title_sort iron isotope evidence for heightened primary productivity triggered by hydrothermally sourced nutrients during oceanic anoxic event 2
topic Cenomanian‐Turonian boundary
submarine LIP volcanism
continental weathering
Gongzha section
southern Tibet
iron
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114116
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AT yongxiangli ironisotopeevidenceforheightenedprimaryproductivitytriggeredbyhydrothermallysourcednutrientsduringoceanicanoxicevent2
AT yuqili ironisotopeevidenceforheightenedprimaryproductivitytriggeredbyhydrothermallysourcednutrientsduringoceanicanoxicevent2
AT weiqiangli ironisotopeevidenceforheightenedprimaryproductivitytriggeredbyhydrothermallysourcednutrientsduringoceanicanoxicevent2