Trace element geochemistry in the earliest terrestrial ecosystem, the Rhynie Chert

John Parnell; Temitope Olumuyiwa Akinsanpe; Joseph Armstrong; Adrian J. Boyce; John Still; Stephen Bowden; David  Clases; Raquel  Gonzalez de Vega; Jörg Feldmann

doi:10.1029/2022GC010647

Trace element geochemistry in the earliest terrestrial ecosystem, the Rhynie Chert

John Parnell^* (Corresponding Author), Temitope Olumuyiwa Akinsanpe, Joseph Armstrong, Adrian J. Boyce, John Still, Stephen Bowden, David Clases, Raquel Gonzalez de Vega, Jörg Feldmann

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

The symbiotic partnership of plants and fungi was a critical means of nutrient uptake during colonization of the terrestrial surface. The Lower Devonian Rhynie Chert shows evidence for extensive phosphorus mobilization in plant debris that was pervasively colonized by fungi. Sandy sediment entrapped with fungi-rich phytodebris contains grains of the phosphate mineral monazite which exhibit alteration to highly porous and leached surfaces. Mixed manganese-iron oxide
precipitates contain up to 2 % P2O5. The mobilization of Mn, Fe and P are all features of mycorrhizal nutrient concentration. However, the ecosystem was also exposed to toxic elements from hot spring hydrothermal activity. The oxide precipitates include titanium and iron-titanium oxide which sequestered potentially toxic tungsten and antimony. Abundant pyrite framboids in the Rhynie Chert indicate that plant decomposition included microbial sulphate reduction. This caused the removal of some of the arsenic from the groundwaters into the pyrite, which reduced toxicity while leaving enough for putative arsenic metabolism. These relationships show the mineral component of the ecosystem modified the geochemistry of ambient waters.

Original language	English
Article number	e2022GC010647
Number of pages	15
Journal	Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Volume	23
Issue number	12
Early online date	16 Dec 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GC010647
Publication status	Published - 16 Dec 2022

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgements
JGTA is supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (grant NE/T003677/1). Samples were archived at the University of Aberdeen by N.H. Trewin, S.R. Fayers and C.M. Rice. Skilled technical support was provided by J. Johnston, J. Bowie, W. Ritchie and C. Taylor. We are grateful for the comments of two reviewers which improved the manuscript.

Data Availability Statement

Data reported in Tables 1–3 is managed by the University of Aberdeen (https://doi.org/10.20392/eed913d7-12eb-4c5d-a276-e1920eecd43f).

Keywords

Rhynie Chert
Devonian
Scotland
Fungi
Arsenic
Phosphorus
fungi
arsenic
phosphorus

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Parnell_etal_GGG_Regulation_of_Geochemistry_VOR
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Final published version, 7.88 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Trace element geochemistry in the earliest terrestrial ecosystem, the Rhynie Chert",

abstract = "The symbiotic partnership of plants and fungi was a critical means of nutrient uptake during colonization of the terrestrial surface. The Lower Devonian Rhynie Chert shows evidence for extensive phosphorus mobilization in plant debris that was pervasively colonized by fungi. Sandy sediment entrapped with fungi-rich phytodebris contains grains of the phosphate mineral monazite which exhibit alteration to highly porous and leached surfaces. Mixed manganese-iron oxideprecipitates contain up to 2 % P2O5. The mobilization of Mn, Fe and P are all features of mycorrhizal nutrient concentration. However, the ecosystem was also exposed to toxic elements from hot spring hydrothermal activity. The oxide precipitates include titanium and iron-titanium oxide which sequestered potentially toxic tungsten and antimony. Abundant pyrite framboids in the Rhynie Chert indicate that plant decomposition included microbial sulphate reduction. This caused the removal of some of the arsenic from the groundwaters into the pyrite, which reduced toxicity while leaving enough for putative arsenic metabolism. These relationships show the mineral component of the ecosystem modified the geochemistry of ambient waters.",

keywords = "Rhynie Chert, Devonian, Scotland, Fungi, Arsenic, Phosphorus, fungi, arsenic, phosphorus",

author = "John Parnell and Akinsanpe, {Temitope Olumuyiwa} and Joseph Armstrong and Boyce, {Adrian J.} and John Still and Stephen Bowden and David Clases and {Gonzalez de Vega}, Raquel and J{\"o}rg Feldmann",

note = "Acknowledgements JGTA is supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (grant NE/T003677/1). Samples were archived at the University of Aberdeen by N.H. Trewin, S.R. Fayers and C.M. Rice. Skilled technical support was provided by J. Johnston, J. Bowie, W. Ritchie and C. Taylor. We are grateful for the comments of two reviewers which improved the manuscript.",

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AU - Parnell, John

AU - Akinsanpe, Temitope Olumuyiwa

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AU - Boyce, Adrian J.

AU - Still, John

AU - Bowden, Stephen

AU - Clases, David

AU - Gonzalez de Vega, Raquel

AU - Feldmann, Jörg

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Y1 - 2022/12/16

N2 - The symbiotic partnership of plants and fungi was a critical means of nutrient uptake during colonization of the terrestrial surface. The Lower Devonian Rhynie Chert shows evidence for extensive phosphorus mobilization in plant debris that was pervasively colonized by fungi. Sandy sediment entrapped with fungi-rich phytodebris contains grains of the phosphate mineral monazite which exhibit alteration to highly porous and leached surfaces. Mixed manganese-iron oxideprecipitates contain up to 2 % P2O5. The mobilization of Mn, Fe and P are all features of mycorrhizal nutrient concentration. However, the ecosystem was also exposed to toxic elements from hot spring hydrothermal activity. The oxide precipitates include titanium and iron-titanium oxide which sequestered potentially toxic tungsten and antimony. Abundant pyrite framboids in the Rhynie Chert indicate that plant decomposition included microbial sulphate reduction. This caused the removal of some of the arsenic from the groundwaters into the pyrite, which reduced toxicity while leaving enough for putative arsenic metabolism. These relationships show the mineral component of the ecosystem modified the geochemistry of ambient waters.

AB - The symbiotic partnership of plants and fungi was a critical means of nutrient uptake during colonization of the terrestrial surface. The Lower Devonian Rhynie Chert shows evidence for extensive phosphorus mobilization in plant debris that was pervasively colonized by fungi. Sandy sediment entrapped with fungi-rich phytodebris contains grains of the phosphate mineral monazite which exhibit alteration to highly porous and leached surfaces. Mixed manganese-iron oxideprecipitates contain up to 2 % P2O5. The mobilization of Mn, Fe and P are all features of mycorrhizal nutrient concentration. However, the ecosystem was also exposed to toxic elements from hot spring hydrothermal activity. The oxide precipitates include titanium and iron-titanium oxide which sequestered potentially toxic tungsten and antimony. Abundant pyrite framboids in the Rhynie Chert indicate that plant decomposition included microbial sulphate reduction. This caused the removal of some of the arsenic from the groundwaters into the pyrite, which reduced toxicity while leaving enough for putative arsenic metabolism. These relationships show the mineral component of the ecosystem modified the geochemistry of ambient waters.

KW - Rhynie Chert

KW - Devonian

KW - Scotland

KW - Fungi

KW - Arsenic

KW - Phosphorus

KW - fungi

KW - arsenic

KW - phosphorus

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M1 - e2022GC010647

ER -

Trace element geochemistry in the earliest terrestrial ecosystem, the Rhynie Chert

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Availability Statement

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Data tables for mineral phases, Rhynie Chert

Providing an evidence base for a maximum permissible level of inorganic arsenic in rice

Cite this

Trace element geochemistry in the earliest terrestrial ecosystem, the Rhynie Chert

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Availability Statement

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Datasets

Data tables for mineral phases, Rhynie Chert

Impacts

Providing an evidence base for a maximum permissible level of inorganic arsenic in rice

Cite this