Lomagundi Carbon Isotope Excursion
c. 2.2-2.0 BYA · Prehistoric
Between 2.2 and 2.0 billion years ago, Earth's global carbon cycle shifted, creating the Lomagundi Carbon Isotope Excursion. Carbonate rocks worldwide show elevated carbon-13 to carbon-12 ratios that persisted for approximately 200 million years. The excursion likely resulted from increased organic carbon burial following the Great Oxidation Event, as available oxygen enhanced primary productivity and carbon burial. This created a feedback loop that further increased atmospheric oxygen levels. The excursion's end coincided with declining oxygen levels, indicating complex interactions between early life and atmospheric evolution.
Key Figures
Manfred SchidlowskiJuha A. KarhuHeinrich D. Holland
Locations
Lomagundi GroupJatuli Group
Topics
isotopesgeochemistrycarbon cyclepaleoclimatebiogeochemistry
Connected Events — 2 Connections
Sulfur-metabolizing microbes established biogeochemical cycling patterns that influenced global carbon cycling, contributing to the complex microbial ecosystem changes that manifested in the massive Lomagundi carbon isotope signature Earliest Evidence of Microbial Sulfur Metabolism
Sulfur-cycling microbial communities contributed to biogeochemical conditions preceding the Lomagundi excursion Sulfur-Based Biosignatures Preserved in Archean Sediments
The Time Detectives® · Cadet Mission
Investigate This Event
Place it on the timeline. Earn points. Master the connections.
New to The Time Detectives?
Learn what it is →