Nanoscale trace-element zoning in pyrite framboids and implications for paleoproxy applications

Gregory, Daniel D.; Kovarik, Libor; Taylor, Sandra D.; Perea, Daniel E.; Owens, Jeremy D.; Atienza, Nicole Mae M.; Lyons, Timothy W.

doi:10.1130/g49890.1

Nanoscale trace-element zoning in pyrite framboids and implications for paleoproxy applications

Journal Article · Thu Mar 24 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · Geology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1130/g49890.1· OSTI ID:1922046

^[1]; Kovarik, Libor ^[2]; Taylor, Sandra D. ^[2]; ^[3]; Owens, Jeremy D. ^[4]; Atienza, Nicole Mae M. ^[1]; Lyons, Timothy W. ^[5]

Univ. of Toronto, ON (Canada)
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)
Florida State Univ., Tallahassee, FL (United States). National High Magnetic Field Lab. (MagLab)
Univ. of California, Riverside, CA (United States)

Pyrite framboids (spherical masses of nanoscale pyrite) are among the earliest textures of pyrite to form in sediments. It has been proposed that their trace-element (TE) contents can be used to track the TE composition of the water column in which they formed. However, it is not clear how these TEs are associated with the framboidal pyrite grains. For instance, it is important to know whether they are incorporated uniformly or are enriched in different regions of the framboid. Here, we used high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy to identify chemical zoning within pyrite framboids. We found that initial, nanoscale pyrite euhedral crystals, which make up the volumetric majority of the framboids, are covered/infilled by later pyrite that templates on the earlier pyrite. Further, this later pyrite is enriched in TEs, suggesting that many TEs are incorporated in pyrite relatively late (during early diagenesis; not in the water column). This observation suggests that although chemical analyses of pyrite framboids may provide ocean-water chemistry trends through time, the details are complex. Specifically, the TEs found in pyrite may be linked to adsorption onto organic matter, detrital material, and authigenic minerals such as Fe- and Mn-oxide phases followed by desorption in the sediments or release via dissolution and incorporation into pyrite as overgrowths on the initial nanoscale euhedral crystals that make up framboids. While the use of pyrite chemistry to understand past ocean conditions remains promising, and even diagenetic additions may not preclude the utility of pyrite for reconstructing ancient ocean conditions, care must be taken in interpretations because the end concentration may be influenced by diagenesis.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); National Science Foundation (NSF); State of Florida

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1922046

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-164752

Journal Information:: Geology, Journal Name: Geology Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 50; ISSN 0091-7613

Publisher:: Geological Society of AmericaCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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58 GEOSCIENCES
Atlantic Ocean
Cariaco Basin
Caribbean Sea
Demerara Rise
Equatorial Atlantic
ICP mass spectra
LA-ICP-MS
Leg 165
Leg 207
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Northwest Atlantic
ODP Site 1002
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Ocean Drilling Program
SEM data
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authigenic minerals
crystal zoning
detritus
diagenesis
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electron microscopy data
electron probe data
energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)
framboid pyrite
framboidal texture
laser ablation
laser methods
mass spectra
oceanic anoxic events
organic compounds
overgrowths
paleo-oceanography
paleoclimatology
paleoproxy
pore water
pyrite
spectra
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Nanoscale trace-element zoning in pyrite framboids and implications for paleoproxy applications

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