Anomalous Supply of Bioessential Molybdenum From the Orosirian PaleoProterozoic to Calymmian MesoProterozoic

Anomalous supply of bioessential molybdenum in mid-Proterozoic surface environments

Authors:

Parnell et al

Abstract:

Granites aged 1.9 Ga to 1.5 Ga exhibit molybdenite mineralization globally. Sandstones deposited during the mid-Proterozoic have a provenance dominated by 1.9 to 1.7 Ga basement. The mid-Proterozoic surface environment was, consequently, receiving detritus from the molybdenum-rich granites. Thus there was a supply of molybdenum available in terrestrial or shallow marine environments at a time when molybdenum was required to support the evolution of multicellular life.