A strongly positive sulphur isotopic shift in late Ediacaran-early Cambrian seawater: evidence from evaporites in the Salt Range Formation, northern Pakistan

Authors

  • Fanwei Meng State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008
  • Zhili Zhang Petroleum Exploration and Development Research Institute, SINOPEC, 100083, Beijing
  • Krzysztof Bukowski Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7289-5956
  • Qingong Zhuo Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, CNPC, Beijing, 100083, ChinaResearch Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, CNPC, Beijing, 100083
  • Naveed Ahsan Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab, Lahore
  • Saif Ur-Rehman Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab, Lahore
  • Pei Ni State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposit Research, Institute of Geo-Fluids, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093 http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2107-5082

Keywords:

sulfur isotope, gypsum, Salt Range Formation, Indo-Pakistan Plate, South China, Yangtze Block

Abstract

The Salt Range Formation in northern Pakistan is globally well-known for its extremely large evaporite deposits dated to the upper Ediacaran–lower Cambrian. This huge evaporite belt formed an area covering present-day parts of India, Pakistan, Iran, Oman, and even South China (~200,000 km2 in South China). Sulphate minerals, including anhydrite and gypsum, can continuously record seawater sulphur isotopic composition. Until now, there was only one dataset reporting the isotopic composition of evaporites in Pakistan. This study reports new data, which points to a strongly positive sulphur isotopic shift (>+30‰, VCDT values) in the Salt Range Formation in Pakistan. Based on the stratigraphic position, similarity in lithology, age, and sulphur isotope data of the evaporitic sequences, it can be inferred that the Neoproterozoic Indo-Pakistan Plate and the Yangtze Platform were closely related palaeogeographically during the terminal Neoproterozoic. This interpretation can improve understanding of the palaeogeographical evolution of the area during the Neoproterozoic, with particular reference to the origin of biogeochemical cycles and the diagenetic evolution of the evaporitic deposits

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Published

2021-07-12

Issue

Vol. 65 No. 2 (2021)

Section

Articles

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