Parnell, J., Hole, M. and Boyce, A. J. (2014) Evidence for microbial activity in British and Irish Ordovician pillow lavas. Geological Journal, 50(4), pp. 497-508. (doi: 10.1002/gj.2562)
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Abstract
Pyrite is consistently found in modern seafloor vesicular basalts and has a sulphur isotopic composition consistent with microbial activity. We present S isotope data from pyrite in Ordovician pillow lavas at localities across the British Isles, which yield a range of δ34S compositions consistent with two components of sulphur: groundmass pyrite (~0 ± 4‰) and 32S-enriched pyrite in the vesicles (−8‰ to −27‰). The latter are recorded from vesicular lavas in four different terranes, representing different settings at the margins of the Iapetus Ocean. Whereas a component of magmatic sulphate is recognized in the groundmass values, the isotopically light data in the vesicles are consistent with microbial reduction of seawater sulphate in sub-seafloor lavas. This is consistent with modern examples and indicates considerable longevity for this sub-seafloor microbial habitat.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | The work was funded by NERC support of the Isotope Community SupportFacility at SUERC through facility grant IP-1235-0511 to Adrian Boyce, Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre. |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Boyce, Professor Adrian |
| Authors: | Parnell, J., Hole, M., and Boyce, A. J. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre |
| Journal Name: | Geological Journal |
| Publisher: | John Wiley & Sons Ltd. |
| ISSN: | 0072-1050 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1099-1034 |
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