The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Clay mineral factory and atmospheric-oceanic oxygenation in the early Ediacaran
ID:305 Poster Presentation

2027-01-15 17:45 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 35 - Ocean-climate dynamics through Earth history: integrating proxies, modeling, and data science

Abstract
The early Ediacaran Period (ca. 635–580 Ma) records a profound reorganization of  ecosystem complexity and the earliest diversification of multicellular  life following the Marinoan glaciation. Accumulating evidence points to episodic atmospheric–oceanic oxygenation as a plausible catalyst for this ecological revolution, given its role in ameliorating shallow-marine habitats. However, the fundamental drivers underlying these oxidation events remain largely unconstrained from a quantitative perspective. Here, we present high-resolution mineralogical and geochemical data, including iron speciation, phosphorus speciation, and potassium isotopes compositions from the Doushantuo Formation Member II on the Yangtze Platform, South China. Our results reveal a pronounced increase in both detrital and authigenic clay minerals within early Ediacaran shallow-water continental shelf deposits, a trend that likely reflects intensified continental weathering and consequent reverse weathering effects. Integrating these observations with a global biogeochemical model, we propose that enhanced clay mineral abundances accelerated the aggregation and sedimentation of organic carbon while simultaneously suppressing its remineralization, thereby increasing organic carbon burial efficiency on continental shelves. This cascade of processes,, in turn, promoted the accumulation of atmospheric oxygen, ultimately driving a sustained improvement in shallow-marine ecological conditions and facilitating the radiation of early metazoans.
Speaker
Qin Huang Chengdu University of Technology

Author
Qin Huang Chengdu University of Technology

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

      Session / Event proposals open

    • Mar 31

      2026

      Session / Event proposals close
      (Extended to April 7)

    • Apr 30

      2026

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    • Apr 30

      2026

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    • Jun 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions close
      (Extended to July 21)

    • Aug 31

      2026

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    • Sep 15

      2026

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    • Oct 15

      2026

      Early bird registration closes

    • Jan 12–15

      2027

      XMAS 2027