NEW RE-OS AGES AND OS GEOCHEMISTRY FROM THE NEOPROTEROZOIC: FRESH INSIGHTS INTO LINKS BETWEEN CLIMATE, ANIMAL EVOLUTION AND BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

The Neoproterozoic Era (1000-539 Ma) bore witness to Earth’s longest glaciations, numerous biological innovations and large-scale perturbations to global geochemical cycles, all set against the backdrop of the formation and break-up of the Rodinia supercontinent. Advances in our understanding of these phenomena have been driven by new radiometric ages coupled with paleontological, geochemical and field-mapping efforts. Determining the onset, duration and possible synchroneity of large-scale perturbations to the Neoproterozoic Earth’s geochemical cycles remains a challenge for elucidating their driving mechanisms. Here, I present new Re-Os ages and Os isotope stratigraphy from globally-distributed sedimentary successions that span the interval ~800-550 Ma. These new age constraints will help refine the temporal framework of the Neoproterozoic Era. Additionally, the new data will enable us to test hypotheses related to possible correlations between climatic upheavals, biological innovations and the changes to geochemical cycles during this critical interval of Earth history.