Mass dependent isotope fractionation during impacts induced the Archaean mass-independent fractionation of sulphur: Evidence against Great Oxidation Event

A prevailing hypothesis, low-oxygen level of the Archaean atmosphere, relies strongly on the presence of strong mass-independent fractionation (MIF) of the sulfur isotopes in sulfide- and sulfate-bearing minerals older than 2.4 billion years. Actually, there is “a broad overlap between MIF signals observed within Archaean sedimentary sequences and periods of enhanced asteroid impacts represented by impact ejecta/fallout units”(Glikson 2010) (Fig. 1). Moreover, usually MIF- related sulphur occurs in the Archaean sedimentary rocks as pyrite (FeS2) which has been found in the K-T boundary clay beds and in several identified impact craters, which is an independent argument in favor of pyrites could be the product of impact. Impact processes (vaporization and condensation) are sufficient to explain the MIF signals following the principle: the earlier the condensed material, the more enriched in lighter isotopes (Huang 2010). The nature of the MIF of the sulfur isotopes is that the fractionation of isotope is still mass dependent during impacts, which means the measured nonzero Δ33S values of Archean sulfide- and sulfate-bearing minerals indicate that their different condensation sequences. Another important line of evidence that support the impact-generated MIF of the sulfur isotopes comes from the various iron isotope values of the pyrites especially those with iron isotope heterogeneity at grain scale. Thus, it is clear that the signals are the markers of impact rather than O2 poor atmosphere. Furthermore, this can also account for the lack of MIF-S in several Archaean units before 2.4 billion years. Figure 1 Plot of mass-independent fractionation of sulphur and asteroid impact events with age. Modified from Glikson (2010)