Carbon dioxide in the Paleozoic atmosphere: Evidence from carbon-isotope composition of pedogenic carbonate
- Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville (United States)
Stable carbon-isotope compositions of pedogenic carbonate occurring in three clay-rich vertic paleosols within Paleozoic red-bed successions in central Pennsylvania provide a record of past pedogenic environments and can be used to estimate CO{sub 2} pressure (P{sub CO{sub 2}}) of the Paleozoic atmosphere. The {delta}{sup 13}C values of carbonate nodules from paleosols in the deltaic lower Bloomsburg Formation (Upper Silurian) reflect the contribution of carbon from marine groundwater or fossils, coupled with low biological activity. The {delta}{sup 13}C values of carbonate rhizocretions from stratigraphically high paleosols in the Bloomsburg Formation, and in the alluvial Catskill (Upper Devonian) and Mauch Chunk (Upper Mississippian) Formations, suggest an extensive C{sub 3} flora and significant contribution of atmospheric CO{sub 2}. Paleozoic atmospheric CO{sub 2} levels inferred from {delta}{sup 13}C of pedogenic carbonate are significantly higher than present levels.
- OSTI ID:
- 5877468
- Journal Information:
- Geology; (United States), Journal Name: Geology; (United States) Vol. 19:10; ISSN GLGYB; ISSN 0091-7613
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540110
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
BIOLOGICAL MARKERS
CARBON 13
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON ISOTOPES
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONATE ROCKS
CHALCOGENIDES
DEPOSITION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FEDERAL REGION III
FOSSILS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGY
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE RATIO
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
PALEONTOLOGY
PALEOZOIC ERA
PARTIAL PRESSURE
PENNSYLVANIA
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STABLE ISOTOPES
STRATIGRAPHY
USA
WATER