| Oxygen Catastrophe |
Article Index for Oxygen |
Website Links For Oxygen |
Information AboutOxygen Catastrophe |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT OXYGEN CATASTROPHE | |
| proterozoic | |
| oxygen | |
| history of climate | |
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When evolving life forms developed photosynthesis, molecular Oxygen was produced in large quantities. The plentiful oxygen caused an ecological crisis. The newly produced oxygen was first tied up in chemical reactions in the oceans, primarily with iron. After the supply of oxidizable materials was exhausted, the modern high-oxygen atmosphere developed. Older rocks contain massive Banded Iron Formation s that were apparently laid down as iron and oxygen first combined. From the point of the view of the Anaerobic Organism s already present on earth and in the oceans, the environment was poisoned with Oxygen , and the oceans were scrubbed free of important nutrients. It is from their point of view, and because of the drastic change that the oxygen caused to the air and oceans, that the ''Oxygen Catastrophe'' gets its name. |
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