Duration and nature of the end-Cryogenian (Marinoan) glaciation

Prave, Anthony R.; Condon, Daniel J.; Hoffmann, Karl Heinz; Tapster, Simon; Fallick, Anthony E.. 2016 Duration and nature of the end-Cryogenian (Marinoan) glaciation. Geology, 44 (8). 631-634. 10.1130/G38089.1

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/G38089.1

Abstract/Summary

The end-Cryogenian glaciation (Marinoan) is portrayed commonly as the archetype of snowball Earth, yet its duration and character remain uncertain. Here we report U-Pb zircon ages for two ash beds from widely separated localities of the Marinoan-equivalent Ghaub Formation in Namibia: 639.29 ± 0.26 Ma and 635.21 ± 0.59 Ma. These findings verify, for the first time, the key prediction of the snowball Earth hypothesis for the Marinoan glaciation, i.e., longevity, with a duration of ≥4 m.y. They also show that the nonglacial interlude of Cryogenian time spanned 20 m.y. or less and that glacigenic erosion and sedimentation, and at least intermittent open-water conditions, occurred 4 m.y. prior to termination of the Marinoan glaciation.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1130/G38089.1
ISSN:	0091-7613
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences
Date made live:	04 Jul 2016 12:45 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/513906

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1130/G38089.1

ISSN:

0091-7613

NORA Subject Terms:

Earth Sciences

Date made live:

04 Jul 2016 12:45 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/513906