Abstract
Marine organic carbon is heavier isotopically (13C enriched) than most land-plant or terrestrial organic C1. Accordingly, δ13C values of organic C in modern marine sediments are routinely interpreted in terms of the relative proportions of marine and terrestrial sources of the preserved organic matter2,3. When independent geochemical techniques are used to evaluate the source of organic matter in Cretaceous or older rocks, those rocks containing mostly marine organic C are found typically to have lighter (more-negative) δ13C values than rocks containing mostly terrestrial organic C. Here we conclude that marine photosynthesis in mid-Cretaceous and earlier oceans generally resulted in a greater fractionation of C isotopes and produced organic C having lighter δ13C values. Modern marine photosynthesis may be occurring under unusual geological conditions (higher oceanic primary production rates, lower ) that limit dissolved CO2 availability and minimize carbon isotope fractionation4.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Deines, P. in Handbook of Environmental Isotope Geochemistry Vol. 1 (eds Fritz, P. & Fontes, J.) 329–406 (Eisevier, Amsterdam, 1980).
Sackett, W. M. Mar. Geol. 2, 173–185 (1964).
Hedges, J. I. & Parker, P. L. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 40, 1019–1029 (1976).
Deuser, W. G., Degens, E. T. & Guillard, R. R. L. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 32, 657–660 (1968).
Dean, W. E., Arthur, M. A. & Claypool, G. E. Mar. Geol. 23 (in the press)
Maynard, B. E. Geology 9, 262–265 (1981).
Towe, K. M. Nature 295, 171 (1982).
Stuermer, D. H., Peters, K. E. & Kaplan, I. R. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 42, 989–998 (1978).
Summerhayes, C. P. Bull. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. 65, 2364–2380 (1981).
Peters, K. E., Sweeney, R. E. & Kaplan, I. R. Limol. Oceanogr. 23, 598–604 (1978).
Hatcher, P. G., Spiker, E. C., Szeverenyi, N. M. & Maciel, G. E. Nature 305, 498–501 (1983).
Espitalie, J. et al. Revue Inst. fr. Pétrole 32, 23–42 (1977).
Tissot, B., Demaison, G., Masson, P., Delteil, J. R. & Combaz, A. Bull. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. 64, 2051–2063 (1980).
Jansa, L. F., Enos, P., Tucholke, B. E., Gradstein, F. M. & Sheridan, R. E. in Deep Drilling Results in the Atlantic Ocean: Continental Margins and Paleoenvironments (eds Talwani, M., Hay, W. & Ryan, W. B. F.) 1–56 (Maurice Ewing Ser. 3, 1979).
Dean, W. E. & Gardner, J. V. in Nature and Origin of Cretaceous Carbon-rich Fades (eds Schlanger, S. O. & Cita, M. B.) 55–78 (Academic, London, 1982).
DSDP Shipboard Scientific Party Geotimes, 16–18 (April 1984).
Thiede, J., Dean, W. E. & Claypool, G. E. in Nature and Origin of Cretaceous Carbon-rich Fades (eds Schlanger, S. O. & Cita, M. B.) 79–100 (Academic, London, 1982).
Dean, W. E., Claypool, G. E. & Thiede, J. Org. Geochem. 7, 39–51 (1984).
Pratt, L. M. Bull. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. 68, 1146–1159 (1984).
Patton, J. W., Choquette, P. W., Guennel, G. K., Kaltenback, A. J. & Moore, A. Init. Rep. DSDP 77, 417–444 (1984).
Herbin, J. P., Deroo, G. & Roucache, J. Init. Rep. DSDP 77, 459–476 (1984).
Galimov, E. in Kerogen, Insoluble Organic Matter from Sedimentary Rocks (ed. Durand, B.) 271–299 (Technip, Paris, 1980).
Savin, S. A. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 5, 319–355 (1977).
Barron, E. J. Earth Sci. Rev. 19, 305–338 (1983).
Sackett, W. M., Eckelmann, W. R., Bender, M. L. & Be, A. W. H. Science 148, 235–247 (1965).
Fontugne, M. R. & Duplessy, J. C. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 41, 85–89 (1978).
Rau, G. H., Sweeney, R. E. & Kaplan, I. R. Deep-Sea Res. 29, 1035–1039 (1982).
Scholle, P. A. & Arthur, M. A. Bull. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. 64, 67–87 (1980).
Kuspert, W. in Cyclic and Event Stratification (eds Einsele, A. & Seilacher, A.) 482–501 (Springer, Berlin, 1982).
Barron, E. J. & Washington, W. M. Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol. 40, 103–133 (1982).
Berner, R. A., Lasaga, A. C. & Garreis, R. M. Am. J. Sci. 283, 641–683 (1983).
Bralower, T. J. & Thierstein, H. R. Geology 12, 614–618 (1984).
Wong, W. W. & Sacken, W. M. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 42, 1809–1815 (1978).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Arthur, M., Dean, W. & Claypool, G. Anomalous 13C enrichment in modern marine organic carbon. Nature 315, 216–218 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/315216a0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/315216a0
This article is cited by
-
Glendonite-bearing concretions from the upper Pliensbachian (Lower Jurassic) of South Germany: indicators for a massive cooling in the European epicontinental sea
Facies (2023)
-
Stable isotope excursions in the Jurassic carbonate System, Imbricated Zone, Northern Iraq
Arabian Journal of Geosciences (2021)
-
Chemo- and biostratigraphy of the Cretaceous Dalmiapuram Formation, Uttatur Group, Kallakudi II section, Cauvery Basin, South India
Arabian Journal of Geosciences (2021)
-
Sedimentary organic matter from a cored Early Triassic succession, Georgetown (Idaho, USA)
Swiss Journal of Palaeontology (2020)
-
Guadalupian (Middle Permian) δ13Corg changes in the Lower Yangtze, South China
Acta Geochimica (2020)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.