A transient swing to higher oxygen levels in the atmosphere and oceans at ~1.4 Ga

Abstract The mid-Proterozoic (1.8–0.8 Ga) may have witnessed persistent and predominant anoxia at the Earth’s surface. However, recent studies suggest that there was a period around ~1.4 Ga where oxygen levels might have been transiently elevated, both in the atmosphere and oceans. In order to shed light on this debated topic, we analyzed rare earth elements plus Y (REY) and Cr isotope profiles of the carbonate rocks from the ~1.44-Gyr-old Tieling Formation consisting of the lower Daizhuangzi (DZZ) and upper Laohuding (LHD) Members at the Jixian section, North China. The DZZ samples are characterized by middle REE enriched, hump-shaped REY distribution patterns, while those of the LHD Member display seawater-like REY patterns with slightly negative Ce anomalies (0.67