The nature of the Archean environment revealed through micro-analyses of fluid inclusions

Much is still unknown about the early Earth environment. In this study we are exploring the Archean Eon (4.0-2.5 billion years ago) through micron scale measurements of multiple sulfur isotopes on 3.5 billion year old fluid inclusions from Western Australia. Different bacteria reflect unique environments, which they occupy and some species have been linked to oxygen in the atmosphere due to their metabolic requirements. Our goal in this project is to measure the multiple sulfur isotope composition of ancient microbial poop (waste products, in this case H2S) to discriminate between such species and enhance our understanding of the Archean environment. In this pursuit we will be pushing the limits of current analytical abilities which will set the stage for a number of questions to be addressed in the geosciences.

Faculty Supervisor:

Boswell Wing

Student:

Partner:

Tokyo Institute of Technology

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Education

University:

McGill University

Program: