Early hydrothermal carbon uptake by the upper oceanic crust: Insight from in situ U-Pb dating

Research Article| February 01, 2016 Early hydrothermal carbon uptake by the upper oceanic crust: Insight from in situ U-Pb dating Laurence A. Coogan; Laurence A. Coogan * 1School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada *E-mail: lacoogan@uvic.ca Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Randall R. Parrish; Randall R. Parrish 2Department of Geology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK, and British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK3NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Nick M.W. Roberts Nick M.W. Roberts 3NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Laurence A. Coogan * 1School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada Randall R. Parrish 2Department of Geology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK, and British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK3NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK Nick M.W. Roberts 3NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK *E-mail: lacoogan@uvic.ca Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 29 Jul 2015 Revision Received: 08 Dec 2015 Accepted: 08 Dec 2015 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2016 Geological Society of America Geology (2016) 44 (2): 147–150. https://doi.org/10.1130/G37212.1 Article history Received: 29 Jul 2015 Revision Received: 08 Dec 2015 Accepted: 08 Dec 2015 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Laurence A. Coogan, Randall R. Parrish, Nick M.W. Roberts; Early hydrothermal carbon uptake by the upper oceanic crust: Insight from in situ U-Pb dating. Geology 2016;; 44 (2): 147–150. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G37212.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract It is widely thought that continental chemical weathering provides the key feedback that prevents large fluctuations in atmospheric CO2, and hence surface temperature, on geological time scales. However, low-temperature alteration of the upper oceanic crust in off-axis hydrothermal systems provides an alternative feedback mechanism. Testing the latter hypothesis requires understanding the timing of carbonate mineral formation within the oceanic crust. Here we report the first radiometric age determinations for calcite formed in the upper oceanic crust in eight locations globally via in-situ U-Pb laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry analysis. Carbonate formation occurs soon after crustal accretion, indicating that changes in global environmental conditions will be recorded in changing alteration characteristics of the upper oceanic crust. This adds support to the interpretation that large differences between the hydrothermal carbonate content of late Mesozoic and late Cenozoic oceanic crust record changes in global environmental conditions. In turn, this supports a model in which alteration of the upper oceanic crust in off-axis hydrothermal systems plays an important role in controlling ocean chemistry and the long-term carbon cycle. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.