Photo (right) of banded iron formation of the Negaunee Formation, Near Marquette, Upper Peninsula, Michigan.
photo of banded iron formation
 
The evolution of the early oceans:
One of my ongoing research project includes the chemical and biological evolution of the Earth's early oceans with Dr. Peir Pufahl at Acadia University, Nova Scotia. Ocean primary productivity is limited by concentrations of nutrient elements such as phosphorus.  This bioessential element is rarely preserved in discrete minerals except where ocean productivity is extreme because phosphorus is continuously recycled in the oceans primarily by bacteria. Bacteria also appear to be involved the fixing of phosphorus in minerals on the seafloor; however, the nature of the bacterial communities, biological processes involved and mineralization is not well understood. We are currently exploring this geological / biological interface with Acadia graduate students Gabe Nelson, Cole Edwards, and Sara Akin.

Related Publications and Presentations:

Hiatt, E.E. & Pufahl, P.K., Edwards, C.T., 2015, Sedimentary phosphate and associated fossil bacteria in a Paleoproterozoic tidal flat in the 1.85 Ga Michigamme Formation, Michigan, USA: Sedimentary Geology, v. 319, p. 24-39, DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2015.01.006.

Pufahl, P.K., Anderson, S.L., Hiatt, E.E., 2014, Dynamic sedimentation of Paleoproterozoic continental margin iron formation, Labrador Trough, Canada: paleoenvironments and sequence stratigraphy: Sedimentary Geology, v. 309, p. 48-65.
Akin, S.J., Pufahl, P.K., Hiatt, E.E., Pirajno, F., 2013, Oxygenation of shallow marine environments and chemical sedimentation in Paleoproterozoic peritidal settings: Frere Formation, Western Australia: Sedimentology, v. 60, p. 1559–1582, doi: 10.1111/sed.12038.

Pufahl, P.K., Pirajno, F., Hiatt, E.E., 2013, Riverine mixing and fluvial iron formation: a new type of Precambrian biochemical sediment: Geology, v. 41, no. 12, p. 1235-1238.

Eriksson, P.G., Banerjee, S., Catuneanu, O., Corcoran, P.L., Eriksson, K.E., Hiatt, E.E., Laflamme, M., Lenhardt, N., Long, D.G.F., Miall, A.D., Mints, M.V., Pufahl, P.K., Sarkar, S., Simpson, E.L., Williams, G.E., 2013, Secular changes in sedimentation systems and sequence stratigraphy: Gondwana Research, Special Issue, V. 24, no. 2, p. 468-489.

Pufahl, P.K. and Hiatt, E.E., 2012, Oxygenation of the Earth's atmosphere-ocean system: a review of physical and chemical sedimentologic responses: Journal of Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 32, no. 1, p. 1-20.

Edwards, C.T., Pufahl, P.K., Hiatt, E.E., Kyser, T.K., 2012, Paleoenvironmental and taphonomic controls on the occurrence of Paleoproterozoic microbial communities in the 1.88 Ga Ferriman Group, Labrador Trough, Canada: Precambrian Research, v. 212-213, p. 91-106.

Pufahl, P.K., Hiatt, E.E., Kyser, T.K., 2011, Does the Paleoproterozoic Animikie Basin record the sulfidic ocean transition? REPLY: Geology, v. 39, p. e242-e243.

Hiatt, E.E., Kyser, T.K., Pufahl, P.K., and Beyer, S.R., 2011, Oxygenation of the atmosphere and unconformity-related uranium mineralization: GAC-MAC Joint Annual Meeting, Ottawa, Abstracts, v. 34, p. 91.

Akin, Sara, Pufahl, P.K., Hiatt, E.E., and Pirajno, F., 2011, Deposition of iron formation in nearshore Paleoproterozoic shelf environments, Frere Formation, Earaheedy Basin, Western Australia: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, v. 43, no. 5, p. 283.

Zentmeyer, R.A., Pufahl, P.K., James. N.P., & Hiatt, E.E., 2011, Dolomitization on an evaporitic Paleoproterozoic ramp: Widespread synsedimentary dolomite in the Denault Formation, Labrador Trough, Canada: Sedimentary Geology, v. 238, p. 116-132.

Pufahl, P.K., Hiatt, E.E., Kyser, T.K., 2010, Does the Paleoproterozoic Animikie Basin record the sulfidic ocean transition?:  Geology, v. 38, p. 659-662.

Nelson, G.J., Pufahl, P.K., and Hiatt, E.E., 2010, Paleoceanographic constraints on Precambrian phosphorite accumulation, Baraga Group, Michigan, USA: Sedimentary Geology, v. 226, p. 9-21.

Hiatt, E.E., 2010, Phosphogenesis in epicontinental and marginal sedimentary basins: problems with using the modern as an analog for the ancient rock record: SIMEXMIN 2010 - Joint Meeting between the Society of Economic Geologists and The Agency for the Technological Development of the Brazilian Mining Industry, Ouro Preto, Brazil, in press.  * Invited presentation.

Hiatt, E.E., Pufahl, P.K., and Edwards, C.T., 2010, The role of early life in the Proterozoic phosphorus cycle: evidence from the Baraga Group, Michigan: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, v. 42, no. 5, p. 560-561.

Edwards, C.T., Pufahl, P.K. and Hiatt, E.E., 2010, Fossil Microbial Communities Preserved Within Chemical Sediments of the Ferriman Group, Labrador Trough, Canada: GeoCanada GAC-MAC Joint Assembly Meeting, Calgary..

Pufahl, P.K., Hiatt, E.E., Stanley, C.R., Morrow, J.R., Nelson, G.J., Edwards, C.T., 2007,  Proximal to Distal Ejecta in the Baraga Group, Michigan: Physical and Chemical Evidence of the 1850 Ma Sudbury Impact Event: Geology, v. 35, no. 9, p. 827–830.

Edwards, C.T., Hiatt, E.E., Pufahl, P.K., 2007, Preserved fossil bacteria in the earliest marine phosphorite deposits: 1.85 billion year-old Baraga Group, Michigan: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, v. 39, p. 409.

Nelson, G.J., Pufahl, P.K.1, and Hiatt, E.E., 2007, Shallow-water phosphorite accumulation in the Paleoproterozoic Baraga Group, Michigan, USA: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, v. 39, p. 310.

Zentmyer, R.A., James, N.P., Pufahl, P.K, Hiatt, E.E., 2007, Restricted Paleoproterozic basin: a candidate environment for synsedimentary dolomite precipitation?: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, v. 39, p. 420.

Pufahl, P.K., Hiatt, E.E., Stanley, C.R., Nelson, G.J., and Edwards, C.T., 2006, The iron formation to phosphorite oceanographic transition: a diachronous event along the Nuna continental margin as recorded in the 1.8 billion year old Baraga Group, Michigan, and Ferriman Group, Labrador: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, v. 38, p. 57.

 

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