Terraforming: Is it possible?

Im a BM wrote:
Paleobiogeochemistry, Anoxygenic Photosynthesis, and Banded Iron Formations

Episodic vulcanism filled the sea and atmosphere with hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide. While hydrogen was available, hydrogen based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria dominated the photosynthetic community, and deposited pure organic matter on the sea floor. This organic matter remained unblemished because there were virtually no terminal electron acceptors (i.e. oxidants) that could be used to oxidize it for metabolic energy. When it fossilized, all the organic carbon was replaced by silica to become a layer of pure chert. EVERY banded iron formation from 2000-4000 million years begins with a layer of pure chert at the bottom.

Hydrogen floats off to outer space. When the vulcanism ceased, the hydrogen diminished until there was none left to support anoxygenic photosynthesis. This is when the sulfur based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria take over. They use hydrogen sulfide as reductant for photosynthesis. They generated sulfate as the oxidized waste product. Sulfate can be used as a terminal electron acceptor by sulfate reducing bacteria to oxidize organic carbon in the sea floor. This generate ferrous sulfide or iron pyrite. This iron pyrite was mixed in with the organic matter that accumulated on the sea floor during the time sulfur based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria dominated the photosynthetic community.
Organic matter mixed with iron pyrite fossilizes into iron-laced chert. All the organic carbon and nearly all the sulfur have been replaced with silica. The layer just above the bottom layer of chert in banded iron formations is always iron laced chert.

When the hydrogen sulfide finally ran out, after enough time without vulcanism, the iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria finally had their chance to dominate the photosynthetic community. Iron based photosynthesis uses ferrous iron(II) as reductant for photosynthesis. It generates ferric iron(III) as the oxidized waste product. Ferric iron(III) is insoluble in sea water, so it rained down on the sea floor while the iron based anoxygenic photosynthesis dominated. They laid down organic matter and ferric iron(III) on the sea floor. They did not form any iron pyrite because the sulfur based photosynthetic community was gone and no longer generating sulfate for pyrite formation. This layer of organic carbon and ferric iron(III) fossilized into iron ore.

And those are just the first three layers.

Follow up later with what happens when community succession moves on to have oxygenic cyanobacteria as the dominant photosynthetic community in the high light zone. Putting oxygen in the sea water certainly influence the chemistry of the sediments.

At any time this succession can get reset.

Another big asteroid can crash, filling the sea and atmosphere with hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide. Starting the banded iron formation sequence all over again. And it would take a VERY long time before all the ferrous iron(II) was finally going to be depleted from the ocean.

Im a BM wrote:
Two competing photosynthetic organisms both oxidizing the ferrous iron

The ancient banded iron formations tell a story of photosynthetic community succession. The iron ore deposits in the banded iron formation tell a story of two different photosynthetic organisms both causing iron oxidation by entirely different mechanisms.

To this day, there are places where an oxygenic photosynthetic community lives adjacent to an anoxygenic photosynthetic community that oxidizes iron.

Indeed, the presence today of these surviving descendants is the only reason we know for sure that there ever were photosynthetic bacteria that oxidize iron and do not produce oxygen.

The use ferrous iron(II) as a weak reductant to feed into anoxygenic photosynthesis. The oxidized waste product is ferric iron(III).

These guys get a pretty descent bang for the buck from sunlight. They can and do live in the shade of another photosynthetic community.

They HAVE to live in the shade because there isn't enough ferrous iron(II) in the water of the high light zone to support their kind of photosynthesis.

Ferrous iron comes up from the earth at hydrothermal vents where the iron oxidizing anoxygenic photo synthetic can find enough of it to support them. Higher in the water, the presence of oxygen enables iron oxidizing bacteria to aerobically oxidize the ferrous iron(II) to ferric iron(III).

Ferric iron rains down on the sea floor. Some of it generated by the photosynthetic bacteria in the shade, oxidizing the iron as they use it for photosynthesis. Most of it is generated by the iron oxidizing bacteria above them, using oxygen to oxidize the iron. Getting their oxygen from the oxygenic photosynthetic community at the surface.

To this day in those microsites of iron rich thermal vents, we see that ferric iron can be laid down on the sea floor thanks to the products of two completely different kinds of photosynthesis.

So, back in the day, 2500 million years or so ago, this happened on an ocean wide level. Not just a few microsites of hydrothermal vents. The entire sea was a rich solution of ferrous iron(II). Even where the oxygen of photosynthesis was rusting the ferrous iron in the high light zone where the cyanobacteria dominated, iron-based anoxygenic photosynthesis was generating ferric iron in the shade below them.

Those massive deposits of high grade iron ore formed from two different photosynthetic communities, one above the other. One made oxygen that was used by others to oxidize the iron. The other oxidized ferrous iron as part of its anoxygenic photosynthesis.

Final note on their competition. Anywhere they could get ferrous iron, the iron based photosynthesis had a strong competitive advantage. They could get more bang for the buck from sunlight than cyanobacteria and easily outgrow them.

They were only stuck in the shade because the oxygen was burning up the ferrous iron they needed in the high light zone.

The cyanobacteria were sabotaging the food supply for their competitors by putting oxygen in the water. It didn't matter if they grew more slowly, because they wouldn't HAVE to compete. Without enough ferrous iron in the water, the iron based photosynthesizers didn't have a chance.

Perhaps they even drove them out this way. Burning up the ferrous iron around their margins to starve out the competition and move into their territory.

What I need to do next is double check the banded iron formation papers.

Is it possible that the PUREST iron ore is at the BOTTOM of the iron layers?

At one point in the sequence, hydrogen sulfide was depleted, and iron based photosynthetic bacteria finally had a shot at the high light zone. Nobody was making oxygen yet. Ferrous iron was not limiting in the high light zone.

At that point, generation of SULFATE by sulfur-based anoxygenic photosynthesis had ceased because the hydrogen sulfide ran out.

As the iron-based photosynthesizers rained ferric iron down from the surface, there wasn' t much sulfate available to make pyrite on the sea floor. It would have been a layer of pure organic matter and ferric iron without pyrite on the seafloor.

Once the cyanobacteria started making oxygen they could take over the high light zone. But their oxygen would have also enabled oxidation of any sulfide around by aerobic sulfur oxidizing bacteria, to supply sulfate. It should mean there was more pyrite in the sea floor after the cyanobacteria moved in to dominance of the high light zone.

I haven' t looked at those papers in 15 years.

Im a BM wrote:
SIX KINDS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS - Six different reductants and six different oxidized waste products

1. Hydrogen based photosynthesis

Reduced hydrogen, H2 is taken in as reductant. Water, H2O, is the oxidized hydrogen waste product of photosynthesis.

2. Sulfur based photosynthesis

Reduced sulfur (H2S, methionate, etc) is taken in as reductant. Sulfate, SO4(2-) is the oxidized sulfur waste product of photosynthesis

3. Arsenic based photosynthesis

Reduced arsenic, As(III) arsenite is taken in as reductant. Arsenic(V) arsenate is the oxidized arsenic waste product of photosynthesis.

4. Iron based photosynthesis

Reduced iron, ferrous iron(II) us taken in as reductant. Ferric iron(III) is the oxidized iron waste product of photosynthesis.

5. Nitrogen based photosynthesis

Reduced nitrogen, nitrite, NO2- is taken in as reductant. Nitrate, NO3- is the oxidized nitrogen waste product of photosynthesis.

6. Oxygen based photosynthesis

Reduced oxygen, water, H2O is taken is as reductant. Oxygen gas, O2 is the oxidized oxygen waste product of photosynthesis.


The rank order from 1 to 6 goes from strongest to weakest reductant.

Hydrogen based photosynthesis has the strongest reductant, H2, and the most productive photosynthesis.

Oxygen based photosynthesis has the weakest reductant, H2O, and the least productive photosynthesis.

The rank order from 1 to 6 goes from the weakest to strongest oxidant produced as waste product of photosynthesis.

The rank order from 1 to 6 is the predictable sequence of photosynthetic community succession as stronger reductants are depleted, shifting the competitive advantage to photosynthetic bacteria that can use weaker reductants to be oxidized in photosynthesis.

Hydrogen based photosynthesis generates the weakest oxidant, H2O, as oxidized waste product. Oxidized hydrogen, also known as water, is not used as terminal electron acceptor to oxidize organic carbon or anything else.

Oxygen based photosynthesis generates the strongest oxidant, O2, as oxidized waste product. Oxidized oxygen, also known as oxygen gas or O2, is used as terminal electron acceptor to oxidize organic carbon, or anything else, for highest energy yield.

Im a BM wrote:
Paleobiogeochemistry, Anoxygenic Photosynthesis, and Banded Iron Formations

Episodic vulcanism filled the sea and atmosphere with hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide. While hydrogen was available, hydrogen based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria dominated the photosynthetic community, and deposited pure organic matter on the sea floor. This organic matter remained unblemished because there were virtually no terminal electron acceptors (i.e. oxidants) that could be used to oxidize it for metabolic energy. When it fossilized, all the organic carbon was replaced by silica to become a layer of pure chert. EVERY banded iron formation from 2000-4000 million years begins with a layer of pure chert at the bottom.

Hydrogen floats off to outer space. When the vulcanism ceased, the hydrogen diminished until there was none left to support anoxygenic photosynthesis. This is when the sulfur based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria take over. They use hydrogen sulfide as reductant for photosynthesis. They generated sulfate as the oxidized waste product. Sulfate can be used as a terminal electron acceptor by sulfate reducing bacteria to oxidize organic carbon in the sea floor. This generate ferrous sulfide or iron pyrite. This iron pyrite was mixed in with the organic matter that accumulated on the sea floor during the time sulfur based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria dominated the photosynthetic community.
Organic matter mixed with iron pyrite fossilizes into iron-laced chert. All the organic carbon and nearly all the sulfur have been replaced with silica. The layer just above the bottom layer of chert in banded iron formations is always iron laced chert.

When the hydrogen sulfide finally ran out, after enough time without vulcanism, the iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria finally had their chance to dominate the photosynthetic community. Iron based photosynthesis uses ferrous iron(II) as reductant for photosynthesis. It generates ferric iron(III) as the oxidized waste product. Ferric iron(III) is insoluble in sea water, so it rained down on the sea floor while the iron based anoxygenic photosynthesis dominated. They laid down organic matter and ferric iron(III) on the sea floor. They did not form any iron pyrite because the sulfur based photosynthetic community was gone and no longer generating sulfate for pyrite formation. This layer of organic carbon and ferric iron(III) fossilized into iron ore.

And those are just the first three layers.

Follow up later with what happens when community succession moves on to have oxygenic cyanobacteria as the dominant photosynthetic community in the high light zone. Putting oxygen in the sea water certainly influence the chemistry of the sediments.

At any time this succession can get reset.

Another big asteroid can crash, filling the sea and atmosphere with hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide. Starting the banded iron formation sequence all over again. And it would take a VERY long time before all the ferrous iron(II) was finally going to be depleted from the ocean.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

SO, WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

????????????????????????????????????????????

What is new and different about this model, compared to all the other theories about banded iron formation?


The INTRACELLULAR PHOTOOXIDATION hypothesis as the origin of photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis takes in reductants and via intracellular photooxidation generates oxidized waste products (oxygen, nitrate, ferric iron, arsenate, sulfate, or water). Originally evolved because no terminal electron acceptors were available in the water to allow them to exploit the hydrogen.

The EXPANDING PHOTOSYSTEM OXIDATION CAPACITY hypothesis.

As the first photosynthetic bacteria competed to exploit the hydrogen in the low light zone, it expanded its light harvesting apparatus to be able to use light of longer wavelengths then the low end ultraviolet it first used for intracellular photooxidation. The same expansions of its light harvesting apparatus that enabled it to use high energy reductants in low light would later allow them to use low energy reductants in high light.

The RHYTHMICALLY VIBRATING CRUST hypothesis as the reason for such consistent spacing in the ancient "microbanded" banded iron formations.

4000 million years ago, the Earth's crust was thin and flexible, belching out steam and gas on a regular schedule. Like the Old Faithful geyser at Yellowstone, the earth belched out hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide in hydrothermal steam on a schedule so consistent you could set your clock to it.

The SEQUENTIAL REDUCTANT DEPLETION hypothesis as the explanation for the environmental change that caused photosynthetic community succession.

As hydrogen gas from the latest eruption floated off to space and diminished in the atmosphere, it became the first reductant in the sequence to be depleted, starving the existing photosynthetic community and opening the field for the next one to move in, using the next strongest reductant.

The PHOTOSYNTHETIC COMMUNITY SUCCESSION hypothesis as the explanation for the consistent sequencing of the bands in banded iron formation.

The first community in the succession, hydrogen based anoxygenic photosynthesis, laid down pure organic matter on the sea floor which fossilized into pure chert. At the bottom of EVERY banded iron formation sequence deposited between 4000 and 2000 million years ago. Up to six photosynthetic communities using up to six different elements as reductants for photosynthesis (H, S, As, Fe, N, and O) left up to six different chemically unique sediment layers in a repeating sequence.

The SYMBIOTIC ALLELOPATHIC OXIDATION hypothesis as the explanation for the ability of cyanobacteria to extablish a narrow exclusion zone near the surface, despite the ubiquitous presence of ferrous iron(II) in the water beneath.

Cyanobacteria partnered with an iron oxidizing bacteria to help it starve out its faster growing competitors. Allowing the iron oxidizing bacteria exclusive access to the oxidized oxygen waste product of its photosynthesis. They could deplete the ferrous iron in the immediate high light vicinity and create a narrow exclusion zone where only cyanobacteria could compete. Iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria would just have to grow in the shade beneath them. As they still do today where both kinds of photosynthetic bacteria still compete.

This symbiotic allelopathic oxidation enabled cyanobacteria to stay on top, literally, where the oxygen they put out facilitated the GREAT OXIDATION of the lifeless rocks above sea level. Meanwhile, too much ferrous iron in the underlying sea water, where the iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic community STILL had it made in the shade, was never going to allow free oxygen to accumulate in the sea.

The lifeless elements on land could be oxidized from what the cyanobacteria put in the atmosphere already. It would takes hundreds of millions of years longer before the ferrous iron in the sea was finally oxidized enough to allow free oxygen to support the Cambrian Explosion 540 million years ago, and then create the UV shielding ozone layer to enable colonization of the lifeless land above sea level, about 500 million years ago.


Do not "cite" me for this public domain presentation of food for thought.

If you REALLY have to, tell me "thanks" in the "Acknowledgements".

You're welcome!

Im a BM wrote:
plus new edit regarding sea floor carbonate

Im a BM wrote:

Paleobiogeochemistry, Anoxygenic Photosynthesis, and Banded Iron Formations

Im a BM wrote:

AND I FORGOT TO MENTION CARBONATE

Im a BM wrote:
Sulfate reduction enables bacteria to oxidize organic carbon, but the oxidized (inorganic) carbon product is NOT CARBON DIOXIDE. Sulfate reduction transforms organic carbon into CARBONATE. Take THAT and fossilize it!

Im a BM wrote:
EVERY sediment layer under every photosynthetic community in which organic carbon was being oxidized by a terminal electron acceptor other than oxygen
transformed organic carbon into carbonate.Sulfur reduction, iron reduction, arsenic reduction, and nitrate reduction would ALL put carbonate in the seafloor if they occurred.

Im a BM wrote:
When the hydrogen sulfide finally ran out, after enough time without vulcanism, the iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria finally had their chance to dominate the photosynthetic community. Iron based photosynthesis uses ferrous iron(II) as reductant for photosynthesis. It generates ferric iron(III) as the oxidized waste product. Ferric iron(III) is insoluble in sea water, so it rained down on the sea floor while the iron based anoxygenic photosynthesis dominated. They laid down organic matter and ferric iron(III) on the sea floor. They did not form any iron pyrite because the sulfur based photosynthetic community was gone and no longer generating sulfate for pyrite formation. This layer of organic carbon and ferric iron(III) fossilized into iron ore.

Im a BM wrote:
The INTRACELLULAR PHOTOOXIDATION hypothesis as the origin of photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis takes in reductants and via intracellular photooxidation generates oxidized waste products (oxygen, nitrate, ferric iron, arsenate, sulfate, or water). Originally evolved because no terminal electron acceptors were available in the water to allow them to exploit the hydrogen.

Im a BM wrote:
The EXPANDING PHOTOSYSTEM OXIDATION CAPACITY hypothesis.

As the first photosynthetic bacteria competed to exploit the hydrogen in the low light zone, it expanded its light harvesting apparatus to be able to use light of longer wavelengths then the low end ultraviolet it first used for intracellular photooxidation. The same expansions of its light harvesting apparatus that enabled it to use high energy reductants in low light would later allow them to use low energy reductants in high light.

Im a BM wrote:
The RHYTHMICALLY VIBRATING CRUST hypothesis as the reason for such consistent spacing in the ancient "microbanded" banded iron formations.

Im a BM wrote:
4000 million years ago, the Earth's crust was thin and flexible, belching out steam and gas on a regular schedule. Like the Old Faithful geyser at Yellowstone, the earth belched out hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide in hydrothermal steam on a schedule so consistent you could set your clock to it.

Im a BM wrote:
The SEQUENTIAL REDUCTANT DEPLETION hypothesis as the explanation for the environmental change that caused photosynthetic community succession.

Im a BM wrote:
As hydrogen gas from the latest eruption floated off to space and diminished in the atmosphere, it became the first reductant in the sequence to be depleted, starving the existing photosynthetic community and opening the field for the next one to move in, using the next strongest reductant.

Im a BM wrote:
The PHOTOSYNTHETIC COMMUNITY SUCCESSION hypothesis as the explanation for the consistent sequencing of the bands in banded iron formation.

The first community in the succession, hydrogen based anoxygenic photosynthesis, laid down pure organic matter on the sea floor which fossilized into pure chert. At the bottom of EVERY banded iron formation sequence deposited between 4000 and 2000 million years ago. Up to six photosynthetic communities using up to six different elements as reductants for photosynthesis (H, S, As, Fe, N, and O) left up to six different chemically unique sediment layers in a repeating sequence.
[quote]Im a BM wrote:

The SYMBIOTIC ALLELOPATHIC OXIDATION hypothesis as the explanation for the ability of cyanobacteria to extablish a narrow exclusion zone near the surface, despite the ubiquitous presence of ferrous iron(II) in the water beneath.

Im a BM wrote:
Cyanobacteria partnered with an iron oxidizing bacteria to help it starve out its faster growing competitors. Allowing the iron oxidizing bacteria exclusive access to the oxidized oxygen waste product of its photosynthesis. They could deplete the ferrous iron in the immediate high light vicinity and create a narrow exclusion zone where only cyanobacteria could compete. Iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria would just have to grow in the shade beneath them. As they still do today where both kinds of photosynthetic bacteria still compete.

Im a BM wrote:

This symbiotic allelopathic oxidation enabled cyanobacteria to stay on top, literally, where the oxygen they put out facilitated the GREAT OXIDATION of the lifeless rocks above sea level. Meanwhile, too much ferrous iron in the underlying sea water, where the iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic community STILL had it made in the shade, was never going to allow free oxygen to accumulate in the sea.
[quote]Im a BM wrote:

The lifeless elements on land could be oxidized from what the cyanobacteria put in the atmosphere already. It would takes hundreds of millions of years longer before the ferrous iron in the sea was finally oxidized enough to allow free oxygen to support the Cambrian Explosion 540 million years ago, and then create the UV shielding ozone layer to enable colonization of the lifeless land above sea level, about 500 million years ago.
[quote]Im a BM wrote:


Do not "cite" me for this public domain presentation of food for thought.
[quote][b]Im a BM wrote:
If you REALLY have to, tell me "thanks" in the "Acknowledgements".

You're welcome![/b]

Im a BM wrote:
plus new edit regarding sea floor carbonate

Im a BM wrote:

Paleobiogeochemistry, Anoxygenic Photosynthesis, and Banded Iron Formations

Im a BM wrote:

AND I FORGOT TO MENTION CARBONATE

Im a BM wrote:
Sulfate reduction enables bacteria to oxidize organic carbon, but the oxidized (inorganic) carbon product is NOT CARBON DIOXIDE. Sulfate reduction transforms organic carbon into CARBONATE. Take THAT and fossilize it!

Im a BM wrote:
EVERY sediment layer under every photosynthetic community in which organic carbon was being oxidized by a terminal electron acceptor other than oxygen
transformed organic carbon into carbonate.Sulfur reduction, iron reduction, arsenic reduction, and nitrate reduction would ALL put carbonate in the seafloor if they occurred.

Im a BM wrote:
When the hydrogen sulfide finally ran out, after enough time without vulcanism, the iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria finally had their chance to dominate the photosynthetic community. Iron based photosynthesis uses ferrous iron(II) as reductant for photosynthesis. It generates ferric iron(III) as the oxidized waste product. Ferric iron(III) is insoluble in sea water, so it rained down on the sea floor while the iron based anoxygenic photosynthesis dominated. They laid down organic matter and ferric iron(III) on the sea floor. They did not form any iron pyrite because the sulfur based photosynthetic community was gone and no longer generating sulfate for pyrite formation. This layer of organic carbon and ferric iron(III) fossilized into iron ore.

Im a BM wrote:
The INTRACELLULAR PHOTOOXIDATION hypothesis as the origin of photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis takes in reductants and via intracellular photooxidation generates oxidized waste products (oxygen, nitrate, ferric iron, arsenate, sulfate, or water). Originally evolved because no terminal electron acceptors were available in the water to allow them to exploit the hydrogen.

Im a BM wrote:
The EXPANDING PHOTOSYSTEM OXIDATION CAPACITY hypothesis.

As the first photosynthetic bacteria competed to exploit the hydrogen in the low light zone, it expanded its light harvesting apparatus to be able to use light of longer wavelengths then the low end ultraviolet it first used for intracellular photooxidation. The same expansions of its light harvesting apparatus that enabled it to use high energy reductants in low light would later allow them to use low energy reductants in high light.

Im a BM wrote:
The RHYTHMICALLY VIBRATING CRUST hypothesis as the reason for such consistent spacing in the ancient "microbanded" banded iron formations.

Im a BM wrote:
4000 million years ago, the Earth's crust was thin and flexible, belching out steam and gas on a regular schedule. Like the Old Faithful geyser at Yellowstone, the earth belched out hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide in hydrothermal steam on a schedule so consistent you could set your clock to it.

Im a BM wrote:
The SEQUENTIAL REDUCTANT DEPLETION hypothesis as the explanation for the environmental change that caused photosynthetic community succession.

Im a BM wrote:
As hydrogen gas from the latest eruption floated off to space and diminished in the atmosphere, it became the first reductant in the sequence to be depleted, starving the existing photosynthetic community and opening the field for the next one to move in, using the next strongest reductant.

Im a BM wrote:
The PHOTOSYNTHETIC COMMUNITY SUCCESSION hypothesis as the explanation for the consistent sequencing of the bands in banded iron formation.

The first community in the succession, hydrogen based anoxygenic photosynthesis, laid down pure organic matter on the sea floor which fossilized into pure chert. At the bottom of EVERY banded iron formation sequence deposited between 4000 and 2000 million years ago. Up to six photosynthetic communities using up to six different elements as reductants for photosynthesis (H, S, As, Fe, N, and O) left up to six different chemically unique sediment layers in a repeating sequence.
[quote]Im a BM wrote:

The SYMBIOTIC ALLELOPATHIC OXIDATION hypothesis as the explanation for the ability of cyanobacteria to extablish a narrow exclusion zone near the surface, despite the ubiquitous presence of ferrous iron(II) in the water beneath.

Im a BM wrote:
Cyanobacteria partnered with an iron oxidizing bacteria to help it starve out its faster growing competitors. Allowing the iron oxidizing bacteria exclusive access to the oxidized oxygen waste product of its photosynthesis. They could deplete the ferrous iron in the immediate high light vicinity and create a narrow exclusion zone where only cyanobacteria could compete. Iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria would just have to grow in the shade beneath them. As they still do today where both kinds of photosynthetic bacteria still compete.

Im a BM wrote:

This symbiotic allelopathic oxidation enabled cyanobacteria to stay on top, literally, where the oxygen they put out facilitated the GREAT OXIDATION of the lifeless rocks above sea level. Meanwhile, too much ferrous iron in the underlying sea water, where the iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic community STILL had it made in the shade, was never going to allow free oxygen to accumulate in the sea.

Im a BM wrote:

The lifeless elements on land could be oxidized from what the cyanobacteria put in the atmosphere already. It would takes hundreds of millions of years longer before the ferrous iron in the sea was finally oxidized enough to allow free oxygen to support the Cambrian Explosion 540 million years ago, and then create the UV shielding ozone layer to enable colonization of the lifeless land above sea level, about 500 million years ago.

Im a BM wrote:


Do not "cite" me for this public domain presentation of food for thought.

[b]Im a BM wrote:
If you REALLY have to, tell me "thanks" in the "Acknowledgements".

You're welcome![/b]

Into the Night wrote:

Im a BM wrote:
plus new edit regarding sea floor carbonate

Carbonate is not a chemical.

Im a BM wrote:

Paleobiogeochemistry, Anoxygenic Photosynthesis, and Banded Iron Formations

Carbonate is not iron.

Im a BM wrote:

AND I FORGOT TO MENTION CARBONATE

Carbonate is not a chemical.

Im a BM wrote:
Sulfate reduction enables bacteria to oxidize organic carbon, but the oxidized (inorganic) carbon product is NOT CARBON DIOXIDE. Sulfate reduction transforms organic carbon into CARBONATE. Take THAT and fossilize it!

Sulfate is not a chemical. Carbon is not organic. Carbonate is not a chemical. A fossils it not a chemical.

Im a BM wrote:
EVERY sediment layer under every photosynthetic community in which organic carbon was being oxidized by a terminal electron acceptor other than oxygen
transformed organic carbon into carbonate.Sulfur reduction, iron reduction, arsenic reduction, and nitrate reduction would ALL put carbonate in the seafloor if they occurred.

Photosynthetic is not a community. Carbon is not organic. Terminal electron acceptor is not a chemical .Sulfate is not a chemical. Iron is not reduceable. Arsennic is not reduceable. Nitrate is not a chemical. Carbonate is not a chemical.

Im a BM wrote:
When the hydrogen sulfide finally ran out, after enough time without vulcanism, the iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria finally had their chance to dominate the photosynthetic community. Iron based photosynthesis uses ferrous iron(II) as reductant for photosynthesis. It generates ferric iron(III) as the oxidized waste product. Ferric iron(III) is insoluble in sea water, so it rained down on the sea floor while the iron based anoxygenic photosynthesis dominated. They laid down organic matter and ferric iron(III) on the sea floor. They did not form any iron pyrite because the sulfur based photosynthetic community was gone and no longer generating sulfate for pyrite formation. This layer of organic carbon and ferric iron(III) fossilized into iron ore.

Anoxygenic is not a word. Photosynthetic is not a community. Iron is not involved in photosynthesis. Iron is not organic. Sulfur is not involved in photosynthesis. Sulfate is not a chemical. Carbon is not organic. Ore is not a fossil.

Im a BM wrote:
The INTRACELLULAR PHOTOOXIDATION hypothesis as the origin of photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis takes in reductants and via intracellular photooxidation generates oxidized waste products (oxygen, nitrate, ferric iron, arsenate, sulfate, or water). Originally evolved because no terminal electron acceptors were available in the water to allow them to exploit the hydrogen.

Not a hypothesis. Nitrate is not a chemical. Iron is not involved in photosynthesis. Sulfate is not a chemical. Water is broken up during photosynthesis. Arsenate is not a chemical. Terminal electron acceptors is not a chemical.

Im a BM wrote:
The EXPANDING PHOTOSYSTEM OXIDATION CAPACITY hypothesis.

As the first photosynthetic bacteria competed to exploit the hydrogen in the low light zone, it expanded its light harvesting apparatus to be able to use light of longer wavelengths then the low end ultraviolet it first used for intracellular photooxidation. The same expansions of its light harvesting apparatus that enabled it to use high energy reductants in low light would later allow them to use low energy reductants in high light.

Not a hypothesis. Low light zone is not a container. High light is not a container.

Im a BM wrote:
The RHYTHMICALLY VIBRATING CRUST hypothesis as the reason for such consistent spacing in the ancient "microbanded" banded iron formations.

Not a hypothesis. A nonscientific theory.

Im a BM wrote:
4000 million years ago, the Earth's crust was thin and flexible, belching out steam and gas on a regular schedule. Like the Old Faithful geyser at Yellowstone, the earth belched out hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide in hydrothermal steam on a schedule so consistent you could set your clock to it.

You can't set your clock to it. It will be off by up to 2 hours.

Im a BM wrote:
The SEQUENTIAL REDUCTANT DEPLETION hypothesis as the explanation for the environmental change that caused photosynthetic community succession.

Not a hypothesis. Environment cannot change. Photosynthetic is not a community nor a 'succession'.

Im a BM wrote:
As hydrogen gas from the latest eruption floated off to space and diminished in the atmosphere, it became the first reductant in the sequence to be depleted, starving the existing photosynthetic community and opening the field for the next one to move in, using the next strongest reductant.

Hydrogen cannot escape Earth's gravity. You cannot create energy out of nothing. Hydrogen is not depleted. Photosynthetic is not a community.

Im a BM wrote:
The PHOTOSYNTHETIC COMMUNITY SUCCESSION hypothesis as the explanation for the consistent sequencing of the bands in banded iron formation.

The first community in the succession, hydrogen based anoxygenic photosynthesis, laid down pure organic matter on the sea floor which fossilized into pure chert. At the bottom of EVERY banded iron formation sequence deposited between 4000 and 2000 million years ago. Up to six photosynthetic communities using up to six different elements as reductants for photosynthesis (H, S, As, Fe, N, and O) left up to six different chemically unique sediment layers in a repeating sequence.
[quote]Im a BM wrote:

The SYMBIOTIC ALLELOPATHIC OXIDATION hypothesis as the explanation for the ability of cyanobacteria to extablish a narrow exclusion zone near the surface, despite the ubiquitous presence of ferrous iron(II) in the water beneath.

Not a hypothesis. Religion. Photosynthetic is not a community. Neither sulfur, arsenic, iron, or nitrogen is involved in photosynthesis.

Im a BM wrote:
Cyanobacteria partnered with an iron oxidizing bacteria to help it starve out its faster growing competitors. Allowing the iron oxidizing bacteria exclusive access to the oxidized oxygen waste product of its photosynthesis. They could deplete the ferrous iron in the immediate high light vicinity and create a narrow exclusion zone where only cyanobacteria could compete. Iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria would just have to grow in the shade beneath them. As they still do today where both kinds of photosynthetic bacteria still compete.

Oxygen isn't rust. Anoxygenic is not a word.

Im a BM wrote:

This symbiotic allelopathic oxidation enabled cyanobacteria to stay on top, literally, where the oxygen they put out facilitated the GREAT OXIDATION of the lifeless rocks above sea level. Meanwhile, too much ferrous iron in the underlying sea water, where the iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic community STILL had it made in the shade, was never going to allow free oxygen to accumulate in the sea.

Allelopathic is not a word. Anoxygenic is not a word. Photosynthetic is not a community.

Im a BM wrote:

The lifeless elements on land could be oxidized from what the cyanobacteria put in the atmosphere already. It would takes hundreds of millions of years longer before the ferrous iron in the sea was finally oxidized enough to allow free oxygen to support the Cambrian Explosion 540 million years ago, and then create the UV shielding ozone layer to enable colonization of the lifeless land above sea level, about 500 million years ago.

Cambrian is not an explosion. You don't know what happened 500 million years ago.

Im a BM wrote:


Do not "cite" me for this public domain presentation of food for thought.

Does quoting count?

[b]Im a BM wrote:
If you REALLY have to, tell me "thanks" in the "Acknowledgements".

You're welcome![/b]

Nah. I'll just continue to point out your buzzwords and BS.

Swan wrote:

Into the Night wrote:

Im a BM wrote:
plus new edit regarding sea floor carbonate

Carbonate is not a chemical.

Im a BM wrote:

Paleobiogeochemistry, Anoxygenic Photosynthesis, and Banded Iron Formations

Carbonate is not iron.

Im a BM wrote:

AND I FORGOT TO MENTION CARBONATE

Carbonate is not a chemical.

Im a BM wrote:
Sulfate reduction enables bacteria to oxidize organic carbon, but the oxidized (inorganic) carbon product is NOT CARBON DIOXIDE. Sulfate reduction transforms organic carbon into CARBONATE. Take THAT and fossilize it!

Sulfate is not a chemical. Carbon is not organic. Carbonate is not a chemical. A fossils it not a chemical.

Im a BM wrote:
EVERY sediment layer under every photosynthetic community in which organic carbon was being oxidized by a terminal electron acceptor other than oxygen
transformed organic carbon into carbonate.Sulfur reduction, iron reduction, arsenic reduction, and nitrate reduction would ALL put carbonate in the seafloor if they occurred.

Photosynthetic is not a community. Carbon is not organic. Terminal electron acceptor is not a chemical .Sulfate is not a chemical. Iron is not reduceable. Arsennic is not reduceable. Nitrate is not a chemical. Carbonate is not a chemical.

Im a BM wrote:
When the hydrogen sulfide finally ran out, after enough time without vulcanism, the iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria finally had their chance to dominate the photosynthetic community. Iron based photosynthesis uses ferrous iron(II) as reductant for photosynthesis. It generates ferric iron(III) as the oxidized waste product. Ferric iron(III) is insoluble in sea water, so it rained down on the sea floor while the iron based anoxygenic photosynthesis dominated. They laid down organic matter and ferric iron(III) on the sea floor. They did not form any iron pyrite because the sulfur based photosynthetic community was gone and no longer generating sulfate for pyrite formation. This layer of organic carbon and ferric iron(III) fossilized into iron ore.

Anoxygenic is not a word. Photosynthetic is not a community. Iron is not involved in photosynthesis. Iron is not organic. Sulfur is not involved in photosynthesis. Sulfate is not a chemical. Carbon is not organic. Ore is not a fossil.

Im a BM wrote:
The INTRACELLULAR PHOTOOXIDATION hypothesis as the origin of photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis takes in reductants and via intracellular photooxidation generates oxidized waste products (oxygen, nitrate, ferric iron, arsenate, sulfate, or water). Originally evolved because no terminal electron acceptors were available in the water to allow them to exploit the hydrogen.

Not a hypothesis. Nitrate is not a chemical. Iron is not involved in photosynthesis. Sulfate is not a chemical. Water is broken up during photosynthesis. Arsenate is not a chemical. Terminal electron acceptors is not a chemical.

Im a BM wrote:
The EXPANDING PHOTOSYSTEM OXIDATION CAPACITY hypothesis.

As the first photosynthetic bacteria competed to exploit the hydrogen in the low light zone, it expanded its light harvesting apparatus to be able to use light of longer wavelengths then the low end ultraviolet it first used for intracellular photooxidation. The same expansions of its light harvesting apparatus that enabled it to use high energy reductants in low light would later allow them to use low energy reductants in high light.

Not a hypothesis. Low light zone is not a container. High light is not a container.

Im a BM wrote:
The RHYTHMICALLY VIBRATING CRUST hypothesis as the reason for such consistent spacing in the ancient "microbanded" banded iron formations.

Not a hypothesis. A nonscientific theory.

Im a BM wrote:
4000 million years ago, the Earth's crust was thin and flexible, belching out steam and gas on a regular schedule. Like the Old Faithful geyser at Yellowstone, the earth belched out hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide in hydrothermal steam on a schedule so consistent you could set your clock to it.

You can't set your clock to it. It will be off by up to 2 hours.

Im a BM wrote:
The SEQUENTIAL REDUCTANT DEPLETION hypothesis as the explanation for the environmental change that caused photosynthetic community succession.

Not a hypothesis. Environment cannot change. Photosynthetic is not a community nor a 'succession'.

Im a BM wrote:
As hydrogen gas from the latest eruption floated off to space and diminished in the atmosphere, it became the first reductant in the sequence to be depleted, starving the existing photosynthetic community and opening the field for the next one to move in, using the next strongest reductant.

Hydrogen cannot escape Earth's gravity. You cannot create energy out of nothing. Hydrogen is not depleted. Photosynthetic is not a community.

Im a BM wrote:
The PHOTOSYNTHETIC COMMUNITY SUCCESSION hypothesis as the explanation for the consistent sequencing of the bands in banded iron formation.

The first community in the succession, hydrogen based anoxygenic photosynthesis, laid down pure organic matter on the sea floor which fossilized into pure chert. At the bottom of EVERY banded iron formation sequence deposited between 4000 and 2000 million years ago. Up to six photosynthetic communities using up to six different elements as reductants for photosynthesis (H, S, As, Fe, N, and O) left up to six different chemically unique sediment layers in a repeating sequence.
[quote]Im a BM wrote:

The SYMBIOTIC ALLELOPATHIC OXIDATION hypothesis as the explanation for the ability of cyanobacteria to extablish a narrow exclusion zone near the surface, despite the ubiquitous presence of ferrous iron(II) in the water beneath.

Not a hypothesis. Religion. Photosynthetic is not a community. Neither sulfur, arsenic, iron, or nitrogen is involved in photosynthesis.

Im a BM wrote:
Cyanobacteria partnered with an iron oxidizing bacteria to help it starve out its faster growing competitors. Allowing the iron oxidizing bacteria exclusive access to the oxidized oxygen waste product of its photosynthesis. They could deplete the ferrous iron in the immediate high light vicinity and create a narrow exclusion zone where only cyanobacteria could compete. Iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria would just have to grow in the shade beneath them. As they still do today where both kinds of photosynthetic bacteria still compete.

Oxygen isn't rust. Anoxygenic is not a word.

Im a BM wrote:

This symbiotic allelopathic oxidation enabled cyanobacteria to stay on top, literally, where the oxygen they put out facilitated the GREAT OXIDATION of the lifeless rocks above sea level. Meanwhile, too much ferrous iron in the underlying sea water, where the iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic community STILL had it made in the shade, was never going to allow free oxygen to accumulate in the sea.

Allelopathic is not a word. Anoxygenic is not a word. Photosynthetic is not a community.

Im a BM wrote:

The lifeless elements on land could be oxidized from what the cyanobacteria put in the atmosphere already. It would takes hundreds of millions of years longer before the ferrous iron in the sea was finally oxidized enough to allow free oxygen to support the Cambrian Explosion 540 million years ago, and then create the UV shielding ozone layer to enable colonization of the lifeless land above sea level, about 500 million years ago.

Cambrian is not an explosion. You don't know what happened 500 million years ago.

Im a BM wrote:


Do not "cite" me for this public domain presentation of food for thought.

Does quoting count?

[b]Im a BM wrote:
If you REALLY have to, tell me "thanks" in the "Acknowledgements".

You're welcome![/b]

Nah. I'll just continue to point out your buzzwords and BS.

So did Americas finest blow away and autistic retards yet today?

Im a BM wrote:

Swan wrote:

Into the Night wrote:

Im a BM wrote:
plus new edit regarding sea floor carbonate

Carbonate is not a chemical.

Im a BM wrote:

Paleobiogeochemistry, Anoxygenic Photosynthesis, and Banded Iron Formations

Carbonate is not iron.

Im a BM wrote:

AND I FORGOT TO MENTION CARBONATE

Carbonate is not a chemical.

Im a BM wrote:
Sulfate reduction enables bacteria to oxidize organic carbon, but the oxidized (inorganic) carbon product is NOT CARBON DIOXIDE. Sulfate reduction transforms organic carbon into CARBONATE. Take THAT and fossilize it!

Sulfate is not a chemical. Carbon is not organic. Carbonate is not a chemical. A fossils it not a chemical.

Im a BM wrote:
EVERY sediment layer under every photosynthetic community in which organic carbon was being oxidized by a terminal electron acceptor other than oxygen
transformed organic carbon into carbonate.Sulfur reduction, iron reduction, arsenic reduction, and nitrate reduction would ALL put carbonate in the seafloor if they occurred.

Photosynthetic is not a community. Carbon is not organic. Terminal electron acceptor is not a chemical .Sulfate is not a chemical. Iron is not reduceable. Arsennic is not reduceable. Nitrate is not a chemical. Carbonate is not a chemical.

Im a BM wrote:
When the hydrogen sulfide finally ran out, after enough time without vulcanism, the iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria finally had their chance to dominate the photosynthetic community. Iron based photosynthesis uses ferrous iron(II) as reductant for photosynthesis. It generates ferric iron(III) as the oxidized waste product. Ferric iron(III) is insoluble in sea water, so it rained down on the sea floor while the iron based anoxygenic photosynthesis dominated. They laid down organic matter and ferric iron(III) on the sea floor. They did not form any iron pyrite because the sulfur based photosynthetic community was gone and no longer generating sulfate for pyrite formation. This layer of organic carbon and ferric iron(III) fossilized into iron ore.

Anoxygenic is not a word. Photosynthetic is not a community. Iron is not involved in photosynthesis. Iron is not organic. Sulfur is not involved in photosynthesis. Sulfate is not a chemical. Carbon is not organic. Ore is not a fossil.

Im a BM wrote:
The INTRACELLULAR PHOTOOXIDATION hypothesis as the origin of photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis takes in reductants and via intracellular photooxidation generates oxidized waste products (oxygen, nitrate, ferric iron, arsenate, sulfate, or water). Originally evolved because no terminal electron acceptors were available in the water to allow them to exploit the hydrogen.

Not a hypothesis. Nitrate is not a chemical. Iron is not involved in photosynthesis. Sulfate is not a chemical. Water is broken up during photosynthesis. Arsenate is not a chemical. Terminal electron acceptors is not a chemical.

Im a BM wrote:
The EXPANDING PHOTOSYSTEM OXIDATION CAPACITY hypothesis.

As the first photosynthetic bacteria competed to exploit the hydrogen in the low light zone, it expanded its light harvesting apparatus to be able to use light of longer wavelengths then the low end ultraviolet it first used for intracellular photooxidation. The same expansions of its light harvesting apparatus that enabled it to use high energy reductants in low light would later allow them to use low energy reductants in high light.

Not a hypothesis. Low light zone is not a container. High light is not a container.

Im a BM wrote:
The RHYTHMICALLY VIBRATING CRUST hypothesis as the reason for such consistent spacing in the ancient "microbanded" banded iron formations.

Not a hypothesis. A nonscientific theory.

Im a BM wrote:
4000 million years ago, the Earth's crust was thin and flexible, belching out steam and gas on a regular schedule. Like the Old Faithful geyser at Yellowstone, the earth belched out hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide in hydrothermal steam on a schedule so consistent you could set your clock to it.

You can't set your clock to it. It will be off by up to 2 hours.

Im a BM wrote:
The SEQUENTIAL REDUCTANT DEPLETION hypothesis as the explanation for the environmental change that caused photosynthetic community succession.

Not a hypothesis. Environment cannot change. Photosynthetic is not a community nor a 'succession'.

Im a BM wrote:
As hydrogen gas from the latest eruption floated off to space and diminished in the atmosphere, it became the first reductant in the sequence to be depleted, starving the existing photosynthetic community and opening the field for the next one to move in, using the next strongest reductant.

Hydrogen cannot escape Earth's gravity. You cannot create energy out of nothing. Hydrogen is not depleted. Photosynthetic is not a community.

Im a BM wrote:
The PHOTOSYNTHETIC COMMUNITY SUCCESSION hypothesis as the explanation for the consistent sequencing of the bands in banded iron formation.

The first community in the succession, hydrogen based anoxygenic photosynthesis, laid down pure organic matter on the sea floor which fossilized into pure chert. At the bottom of EVERY banded iron formation sequence deposited between 4000 and 2000 million years ago. Up to six photosynthetic communities using up to six different elements as reductants for photosynthesis (H, S, As, Fe, N, and O) left up to six different chemically unique sediment layers in a repeating sequence.
[quote]Im a BM wrote:

The SYMBIOTIC ALLELOPATHIC OXIDATION hypothesis as the explanation for the ability of cyanobacteria to extablish a narrow exclusion zone near the surface, despite the ubiquitous presence of ferrous iron(II) in the water beneath.

Not a hypothesis. Religion. Photosynthetic is not a community. Neither sulfur, arsenic, iron, or nitrogen is involved in photosynthesis.

Im a BM wrote:
Cyanobacteria partnered with an iron oxidizing bacteria to help it starve out its faster growing competitors. Allowing the iron oxidizing bacteria exclusive access to the oxidized oxygen waste product of its photosynthesis. They could deplete the ferrous iron in the immediate high light vicinity and create a narrow exclusion zone where only cyanobacteria could compete. Iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria would just have to grow in the shade beneath them. As they still do today where both kinds of photosynthetic bacteria still compete.

Oxygen isn't rust. Anoxygenic is not a word.

Im a BM wrote:

This symbiotic allelopathic oxidation enabled cyanobacteria to stay on top, literally, where the oxygen they put out facilitated the GREAT OXIDATION of the lifeless rocks above sea level. Meanwhile, too much ferrous iron in the underlying sea water, where the iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic community STILL had it made in the shade, was never going to allow free oxygen to accumulate in the sea.

Allelopathic is not a word. Anoxygenic is not a word. Photosynthetic is not a community.

Im a BM wrote:

The lifeless elements on land could be oxidized from what the cyanobacteria put in the atmosphere already. It would takes hundreds of millions of years longer before the ferrous iron in the sea was finally oxidized enough to allow free oxygen to support the Cambrian Explosion 540 million years ago, and then create the UV shielding ozone layer to enable colonization of the lifeless land above sea level, about 500 million years ago.

Cambrian is not an explosion. You don't know what happened 500 million years ago.

Im a BM wrote:


Do not "cite" me for this public domain presentation of food for thought.

Does quoting count?

[b]Im a BM wrote:
If you REALLY have to, tell me "thanks" in the "Acknowledgements".

You're welcome![/b]

Nah. I'll just continue to point out your buzzwords and BS.

So did Americas finest blow away and autistic retards yet today?

Swan, you have an opportunity with this thread to apply the cut-and-paste skills you so masterfully display at this website.

With this thread, you could cut and paste your way to a Nobel Prize.

I kid you not!

Im a BM wrote:
Paleobiogeochemistry, Anoxygenic Photosynthesis, and Banded Iron Formations

Episodic vulcanism filled the sea and atmosphere with hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide. While hydrogen was available, hydrogen based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria dominated the photosynthetic community, and deposited pure organic matter on the sea floor. This organic matter remained unblemished because there were virtually no terminal electron acceptors (i.e. oxidants) that could be used to oxidize it for metabolic energy. When it fossilized, all the organic carbon was replaced by silica to become a layer of pure chert. EVERY banded iron formation from 2000-4000 million years begins with a layer of pure chert at the bottom.

Hydrogen floats off to outer space. When the vulcanism ceased, the hydrogen diminished until there was none left to support anoxygenic photosynthesis. This is when the sulfur based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria take over. They use hydrogen sulfide as reductant for photosynthesis. They generated sulfate as the oxidized waste product. Sulfate can be used as a terminal electron acceptor by sulfate reducing bacteria to oxidize organic carbon in the sea floor. This generate ferrous sulfide or iron pyrite. This iron pyrite was mixed in with the organic matter that accumulated on the sea floor during the time sulfur based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria dominated the photosynthetic community.
Organic matter mixed with iron pyrite fossilizes into iron-laced chert. All the organic carbon and nearly all the sulfur have been replaced with silica. The layer just above the bottom layer of chert in banded iron formations is always iron laced chert. With carbonates.

Sulfate reduction enables bacteria to oxidize organic carbon, but the oxidized (inorganic) carbon product is NOT CARBON DIOXIDE. Sulfate reduction transforms organic carbon into CARBONATE. Take THAT and fossilize it!

EVERY sediment layer under every photosynthetic community in which organic carbon was being oxidized by a terminal electron acceptor other than oxygen
transformed organic carbon into carbonate. Sulfur reduction, iron reduction, arsenic reduction, and nitrate reduction would ALL put carbonate in the seafloor if they occurred.

When the hydrogen sulfide finally ran out, after enough time without vulcanism, the iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria finally had their chance to dominate the photosynthetic community. Iron based photosynthesis uses ferrous iron(II) as reductant for photosynthesis. It generates ferric iron(III) as the oxidized waste product. Ferric iron(III) is insoluble in sea water, so it rained down on the sea floor while the iron based anoxygenic photosynthesis dominated. They laid down organic matter and ferric iron(III) on the sea floor. They did not form any iron pyrite because the sulfur based photosynthetic community was gone and no longer generating sulfate for pyrite formation. No pyrite, but iron reduction DOES transform sea floor organic carbon into CARBONATE. This layer of organic carbon, ferric iron(III), and CARBONATE fossilized into iron ore.

And those are just the first three layers.

Follow up later with what happens when community succession moves on to have oxygenic cyanobacteria as the dominant photosynthetic community in the high light zone. Putting oxygen in the sea water certainly influence the chemistry of the sediments.

At any time this succession can get reset.

Another big asteroid can crash, filling the sea and atmosphere with hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide. Starting the banded iron formation sequence all over again. And it would take a VERY long time before all the ferrous iron(II) was finally going to be depleted from the ocean.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

SO, WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

???

What is new and different about this model, compared to all the other theories about banded iron formation?


The INTRACELLULAR PHOTOOXIDATION hypothesis as the origin of photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis takes in reductants and via intracellular photooxidation generates oxidized waste products (oxygen, nitrate, ferric iron, arsenate, sulfate, or water). Originally evolved because no terminal electron acceptors were available in the water to allow them to exploit the hydrogen.

The EXPANDING PHOTOSYSTEM OXIDATION CAPACITY hypothesis.

As the first photosynthetic bacteria competed to exploit the hydrogen in the low light zone, it expanded its light harvesting apparatus to be able to use light of longer wavelengths then the low end ultraviolet it first used for intracellular photooxidation. The same expansions of its light harvesting apparatus that enabled it to use high energy reductants in low light would later allow them to use low energy reductants in high light.

The RHYTHMICALLY VIBRATING CRUST hypothesis as the reason for such consistent spacing in the ancient "microbanded" banded iron formations.

4000 million years ago, the Earth's crust was thin and flexible, belching out steam and gas on a regular schedule. Like the Old Faithful geyser at Yellowstone, the earth belched out hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide in hydrothermal steam on a schedule so consistent you could set your clock to it.

The SEQUENTIAL REDUCTANT DEPLETION hypothesis as the explanation for the environmental change that caused photosynthetic community succession.

As hydrogen gas from the latest eruption floated off to space and diminished in the atmosphere, it became the first reductant in the sequence to be depleted, starving the existing photosynthetic community and opening the field for the next one to move in, using the next strongest reductant.

The PHOTOSYNTHETIC COMMUNITY SUCCESSION hypothesis as the explanation for the consistent sequencing of the bands in banded iron formation.

The first community in the succession, hydrogen based anoxygenic photosynthesis, laid down pure organic matter on the sea floor which fossilized into pure chert. At the bottom of EVERY banded iron formation sequence deposited between 4000 and 2000 million years ago. Up to six photosynthetic communities using up to six different elements as reductants for photosynthesis (H, S, As, Fe, N, and O) left up to six different chemically unique sediment layers in a repeating sequence.

The SYMBIOTIC ALLELOPATHIC OXIDATION hypothesis as the explanation for the ability of cyanobacteria to extablish a narrow exclusion zone near the surface, despite the ubiquitous presence of ferrous iron(II) in the water beneath, and bring about the GREAT OXIDATION of the lifeless continents.

Cyanobacteria partnered with an iron oxidizing bacteria to help it starve out its faster growing competitors. Allowing the iron oxidizing bacteria exclusive access to the oxidized oxygen waste product of its photosynthesis. They could deplete the ferrous iron in the immediate high light vicinity and create a narrow exclusion zone where only cyanobacteria could compete. Iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria would just have to grow in the shade beneath them. As they still do today where both kinds of photosynthetic bacteria still compete.

This symbiotic allelopathic oxidation enabled cyanobacteria to stay on top, literally, where the oxygen they put out facilitated the GREAT OXIDATION of the lifeless rocks above sea level. Meanwhile, too much ferrous iron in the underlying sea water, where the iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic community STILL had it made in the shade, was never going to allow free oxygen to accumulate in the sea.

When the sea was full of hydrogen sulfide, iron based anoxygenic photosynthesis couldn't compete. Couldn't get as much bang for the buck from sunlight. So long as hydrogen sulfide was around, they could outcompete any iron based photosynthetic for light. Any light, dim or bright. To this day they grow in the shade of cyanobacteria, if there's enough sulfide coming into the water. Sulfur oxidizing bacteria, using the oxygen made by cyanobacteria, deplete the high light zone of sulfide. Sulfur photosynthetic bacteria can't grow right up where the oxygen is, but they can thrive in the shade beneath the cyanobacteria, TO THIS DAY. They did this on an ocean wide level back in the day. Only after all the H2S was gone could the IRON photosynthetic bacteria grow in the shade of the cyanobacteria.

The lifeless elements on land could be oxidized from what the cyanobacteria put in the atmosphere already. It would takes hundreds of millions of years longer before the ferrous iron in the sea was finally oxidized enough to allow free oxygen to support the Cambrian Explosion 540 million years ago, and then create the UV shielding ozone layer to enable colonization of the lifeless land above sea level, about 500 million years ago.


Do not "cite" me for this public domain presentation of food for thought.

If you REALLY have to, tell me "thanks" in the "Acknowledgements".

You're welcome!

Im a BM wrote:
Paleobiogeochemistry, Anoxygenic Photosynthesis, and Banded Iron Formations

Episodic vulcanism filled the sea and atmosphere with hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide. While hydrogen was available, hydrogen based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria dominated the photosynthetic community, and deposited pure organic matter on the sea floor. This organic matter remained unblemished because there were virtually no terminal electron acceptors (i.e. oxidants) that could be used to oxidize it for metabolic energy. When it fossilized, all the organic carbon was replaced by silica to become a layer of pure chert. EVERY banded iron formation from 2000-4000 million years begins with a layer of pure chert at the bottom.

Hydrogen floats off to outer space. When the vulcanism ceased, the hydrogen diminished until there was none left to support anoxygenic photosynthesis. This is when the sulfur based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria take over. They use hydrogen sulfide as reductant for photosynthesis. They generated sulfate as the oxidized waste product. Sulfate can be used as a terminal electron acceptor by sulfate reducing bacteria to oxidize organic carbon in the sea floor. This generate ferrous sulfide or iron pyrite. This iron pyrite was mixed in with the organic matter that accumulated on the sea floor during the time sulfur based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria dominated the photosynthetic community.
Organic matter mixed with iron pyrite fossilizes into iron-laced chert. All the organic carbon and nearly all the sulfur have been replaced with silica. The layer just above the bottom layer of chert in banded iron formations is always iron laced chert. With carbonates.

Sulfate reduction enables bacteria to oxidize organic carbon, but the oxidized (inorganic) carbon product is NOT CARBON DIOXIDE. Sulfate reduction transforms organic carbon into CARBONATE. Take THAT and fossilize it!

EVERY sediment layer under every photosynthetic community in which organic carbon was being oxidized by a terminal electron acceptor other than oxygen
transformed organic carbon into carbonate. Sulfur reduction, iron reduction, arsenic reduction, and nitrate reduction would ALL put carbonate in the seafloor if they occurred.

When the hydrogen sulfide finally ran out, after enough time without vulcanism, the iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria finally had their chance to dominate the photosynthetic community. Iron based photosynthesis uses ferrous iron(II) as reductant for photosynthesis. It generates ferric iron(III) as the oxidized waste product. Ferric iron(III) is insoluble in sea water, so it rained down on the sea floor while the iron based anoxygenic photosynthesis dominated. They laid down organic matter and ferric iron(III) on the sea floor. They did not form any iron pyrite because the sulfur based photosynthetic community was gone and no longer generating sulfate for pyrite formation. No pyrite, but iron reduction DOES transform sea floor organic carbon into CARBONATE. This layer of organic carbon, ferric iron(III), and CARBONATE fossilized into iron ore.

And those are just the first three layers.

Follow up later with what happens when community succession moves on to have oxygenic cyanobacteria as the dominant photosynthetic community in the high light zone. Putting oxygen in the sea water certainly influence the chemistry of the sediments.

At any time this succession can get reset.

Another big asteroid can crash, filling the sea and atmosphere with hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide. Starting the banded iron formation sequence all over again. And it would take a VERY long time before all the ferrous iron(II) was finally going to be depleted from the ocean.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

SO, WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

???

What is new and different about this model, compared to all the other theories about banded iron formation?


The INTRACELLULAR PHOTOOXIDATION hypothesis as the origin of photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis takes in reductants and via intracellular photooxidation generates oxidized waste products (oxygen, nitrate, ferric iron, arsenate, sulfate, or water). Originally evolved because no terminal electron acceptors were available in the water to allow them to exploit the hydrogen.

The EXPANDING PHOTOSYSTEM OXIDATION CAPACITY hypothesis.

As the first photosynthetic bacteria competed to exploit the hydrogen in the low light zone, it expanded its light harvesting apparatus to be able to use light of longer wavelengths then the low end ultraviolet it first used for intracellular photooxidation. The same expansions of its light harvesting apparatus that enabled it to use high energy reductants in low light would later allow them to use low energy reductants in high light.

The RHYTHMICALLY VIBRATING CRUST hypothesis as the reason for such consistent spacing in the ancient "microbanded" banded iron formations.

4000 million years ago, the Earth's crust was thin and flexible, belching out steam and gas on a regular schedule. Like the Old Faithful geyser at Yellowstone, the earth belched out hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide in hydrothermal steam on a schedule so consistent you could set your clock to it.

The SEQUENTIAL REDUCTANT DEPLETION hypothesis as the explanation for the environmental change that caused photosynthetic community succession.

As hydrogen gas from the latest eruption floated off to space and diminished in the atmosphere, it became the first reductant in the sequence to be depleted, starving the existing photosynthetic community and opening the field for the next one to move in, using the next strongest reductant.

The PHOTOSYNTHETIC COMMUNITY SUCCESSION hypothesis as the explanation for the consistent sequencing of the bands in banded iron formation.

The first community in the succession, hydrogen based anoxygenic photosynthesis, laid down pure organic matter on the sea floor which fossilized into pure chert. At the bottom of EVERY banded iron formation sequence deposited between 4000 and 2000 million years ago. Up to six photosynthetic communities using up to six different elements as reductants for photosynthesis (H, S, As, Fe, N, and O) left up to six different chemically unique sediment layers in a repeating sequence.

The SYMBIOTIC ALLELOPATHIC OXIDATION hypothesis as the explanation for the ability of cyanobacteria to extablish a narrow exclusion zone near the surface, despite the ubiquitous presence of ferrous iron(II) in the water beneath, and bring about the GREAT OXIDATION of the lifeless continents.

Cyanobacteria partnered with an iron oxidizing bacteria to help it starve out its faster growing competitors. Allowing the iron oxidizing bacteria exclusive access to the oxidized oxygen waste product of its photosynthesis. They could deplete the ferrous iron in the immediate high light vicinity and create a narrow exclusion zone where only cyanobacteria could compete. Iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria would just have to grow in the shade beneath them. As they still do today where both kinds of photosynthetic bacteria still compete.

This symbiotic allelopathic oxidation enabled cyanobacteria to stay on top, literally, where the oxygen they put out facilitated the GREAT OXIDATION of the lifeless rocks above sea level. Meanwhile, too much ferrous iron in the underlying sea water, where the iron based anoxygenic photosynthetic community STILL had it made in the shade, was never going to allow free oxygen to accumulate in the sea.

When the sea was full of hydrogen sulfide, iron based anoxygenic photosynthesis couldn't compete. Couldn't get as much bang for the buck from sunlight. So long as hydrogen sulfide was around, they could outcompete any iron based photosynthetic for light. Any light, dim or bright. To this day they grow in the shade of cyanobacteria, if there's enough sulfide coming into the water. Sulfur oxidizing bacteria, using the oxygen made by cyanobacteria, deplete the high light zone of sulfide. Sulfur photosynthetic bacteria can't grow right up where the oxygen is, but they can thrive in the shade beneath the cyanobacteria, TO THIS DAY. They did this on an ocean wide level back in the day. Only after all the H2S was gone could the IRON photosynthetic bacteria grow in the shade of the cyanobacteria.

The lifeless elements on land could be oxidized from what the cyanobacteria put in the atmosphere already. It would takes hundreds of millions of years longer before the ferrous iron in the sea was finally oxidized enough to allow free oxygen to support the Cambrian Explosion 540 million years ago, and then create the UV shielding ozone layer to enable colonization of the lifeless land above sea level, about 500 million years ago.


Do not "cite" me for this public domain presentation of food for thought.

If you REALLY have to, tell me "thanks" in the "Acknowledgements".

You're welcome!

Im a BM wrote:
Terraforming other planets with applied biogeochemistry.


The cosmic time scale is very long.

The existence of the human race is just a blink of the eye on that time scale.

The earth will not always be able to sustain life.

The sun's luminosity continues to increase.

One day the earth's fate will be similar to that of Venus.

Long before the earth becomes too hot, the human race is very likely to have gone extinct for one reason or another.

This may be a unique opportunity in the history of the universe.

Whether or not the first life STARTED on earth, this planet can be the source of life on planets beyond our own star.

The greater consciousness will grieve the loss of life on earth.

But new life on other planets could create new symphonies of souls to play beautiful music that pleases the greater consciousness so much.

We could even redeem our selves for the sins against our own planet.

This new mass extinction in progress is totally uncool.

But what would it take to plant seeds of life on a distant planet?

The journey would be far too long for any complex organism seeds, spores, embryos, etc., to be viable by the time they got to their new home.

But life on earth began with only the simplest organisms. The kind most likely to survive an interstellar journey.

4000 million years ago, some intelligent species far from here might have been thinking the same thing.

They knew they could never send one of their own complex intelligent bodies.

Perhaps they planted seeds on Venus and Earth at the same time.

They would have done much better on Venus in those days.

It is not impossible that Earth is where it started, and there is no other place in the universe with similar life.

We might eventually discover that there was never life of any kind of Venus.

Our mythology is filled with Venus related themes, some even suggesting that Venus was the source of life on Earth, or at least the source of souls on earth.

In any case, understanding the natural history of life on earth could help us know what kind of seeds to send to younger lifeless planet.

Earth was very cold, had no free oxygen, and was abundant with energy rich reductants such hydrogen gas and hydrogen sulfide.

This thread will be a good place for discussing how life ever could survive here, and what it would take to facilitate enabling new life to survive elsewhere.

To honor a true scientific genius who died several years ago, posts related to this theme will be on this thread under the same heading every time.

"Tony's Ark", they will be called.

Terraforming other planets with applied biogeochemistry.