Geoscience frontiers最新文献

{"title":"Strategic use of Sentinel-3A/B OLCI data for global water quality management: An overview","authors":"Emanuelle Goellner ,&nbsp;Brian William Bodah ,&nbsp;Alcindo Neckel ,&nbsp;Paloma Carollo Toscan ,&nbsp;Júlia Mognol Scopel ,&nbsp;Cleiton Korcelski ,&nbsp;Guilherme Peterle Schmitz ,&nbsp;Giana Mores ,&nbsp;Marcos L.S. Oliveira ,&nbsp;Eduardo Nuno Borges Pereira","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102175","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102175","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Sentinel-3A/B satellites, operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), are equipped with the Ocean and Land Color Instrument (OLCI), which provides data through push-broom radiometers. Sentinel-3A was launched on February 16, 2016, and Sentinel-3B on April 25, 2018. Given their relevance in environmental monitoring, there is a growing need for literature reviews to deepen the functional understanding of their geospatial applications. This study aims to review the scientific literature on using Sentinel-3A/B OLCI data for monitoring aquatic environments, particularly focusing on chlorophyll-a (CHL), total suspended matter (TSM), and absorption of dissolved organic matter at 443 nm (ADG443). The review includes publications indexed in the Scopus and Web of Science (SCIE) databases between February 2016 and 2025. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology was employed to select 26 relevant studies that apply spectral detections via Sentinel-3A/B satellites related to levels of CHL, TSM, and ADG443. Additionally, the Content Analysis Method (CAM) and MAXQDA software were used to analyze absolute (AF) and relative frequencies (RF) of key variables such as study location, sampling, objectives, use of Sentinel satellites, outcomes, innovations, and future research directions. CAM results showed an average frequency of ∼ 36.0%, with Sentinel-3A accounting for 35.3% and Sentinel-3B ranging between 31.89% and 40.08%. Chlorophyll-a was the most frequently cited term, with a frequency of 32.33% to 40.08% in MAXQDA. The consistency and reliability of spectral detections underscore the potential of these satellites to support the aquatic ecosystem preservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"16 6","pages":"Article 102175"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145266531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Craton boundary detection from full-waveform tomography model reveals links to critical metal deposits","authors":"Hojat Shirmard ,&nbsp;Ben Mather ,&nbsp;Ehsan Farahbakhsh ,&nbsp;Karol Czarnota ,&nbsp;R. Dietmar Müller","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102176","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102176","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Craton margins play a crucial role in mineral exploration as they host faults, fractures, and shear zones that facilitate hydrothermal fluid movement, transporting and depositing dissolved metals into valuable mineral deposits. We use the high-resolution full-waveform seismic inversion model REVEAL to extract horizontal shear wave velocity (<em>V</em>_SH), vertical shear wave velocity (<em>V</em>_SV), and isotropic P-wave velocity (<em>V</em>_P) across depth slices from 150 to 200 km, a range that captures most cratonic lithosphere based on tectonic age and lithospheric thickness analyses. Machine learning, applied through clustered maps, demonstrates that <em>V</em>_SH effectively delineates craton boundaries, aligning with target mineral deposits, including iron oxide copper–gold (IOCG) and sediment-hosted lead, zinc, and copper deposits. These boundaries are characterized by high horizontal shear velocities (4.58–4.68 km/s), and trace the edges of cratons, accreted passive margins, orogens, and thick volcanic arcs. Using published thermal and lithospheric thickness models, we distinguish cratons from other thick lithospheric features and identify their edges and associated deposits. Our results show that ∼85 % of the total metal content (Cu + Pb + Zn) in target deposits lies within ∼120 km of high-velocity cluster boundaries identified as craton edges. Near-craton deposits reveal ∼80 % of the total metal content within ∼90 km of craton boundaries. The weighted cumulative distribution function shows a steeper gradient in metal content closer to craton boundaries, indicating higher concentrations near these tectonic features. Focusing on just 16 % of Earth’s continental areas can reveal over 80 % of known target deposits, highlighting the significance of craton boundaries quantitatively mapped in this study.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"16 6","pages":"Article 102176"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145266530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Noble gas constraints on fluid flow and hydrocarbon accumulation in the Yinggehai Basin, Northwestern South China Sea","authors":"Rui Liu ,&nbsp;Rui Xu ,&nbsp;Tao Wen ,&nbsp;Khi Atchinson ,&nbsp;Ziqi Feng ,&nbsp;Fang Hao ,&nbsp;Lin Hu ,&nbsp;Jinqiang Tian ,&nbsp;Yazhen Zhang ,&nbsp;Jianzhang Liu ,&nbsp;Lei Tuo","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102169","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102169","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Multiple physicochemical processes involving organic and inorganic components may alter hydrocarbon composition and isotopic signatures, posing a challenge in accurately tracing natural gas accumulation. In contrast, noble gases are chemically inert and highly sensitive to fluid flow processes, offering a powerful tool for precisely tracing natural gas accumulation. By analyzing and modeling noble gas geochemistry data of gas samples from gas fields in the Yinggehai Basin, South China Sea, we constrained fluid flow patterns and traced the natural gas accumulation process. In particular, the low ³He/⁴He and high ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar values of gas samples suggested atmospheric-crustal mixing, with the suspected central fault significantly influencing the ⁴⁰Ar* (* denotes crustal noble gas) proportion and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar value in charging fluids. Binary mixing of atmospheric and crustal noble gases elevated the ⁴⁰Ar*/⁴He* value in well-preserved gas fields. Diapir activity and/or long-term artificial extraction had likely promoted noble gas leakage which further elevated the ⁴⁰Ar*/⁴He* to abnormally high levels. Three key time windows for ⁴He* accumulation, i.e., 4–4.5 Ma, 1–2 Ma, and 0–0.5 Ma, were identified in well-preserved gas fields. The suspected central fault facilitated the migration of both high ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar fluids and highly mature hydrocarbons characterized by heavier <em>δ</em>¹³C₁ and high C₁/C_1-5 ratios. In most gas fields, methane (C₁) migration was dominated by the gas phase, as indicated by the high C₁/³⁶Ar value. However, in a few leaked or shallow-buried gas fields, low C₁/³⁶Ar ratios suggest that C₁ also migrated with water. The duration of trap sealing and the depth of the transport system played critical roles in hydrocarbon accumulation. Longer trap sealing and greater transport system depth favored hydrocarbons derived from the Lower Miocene Sanya Formation. In contrast, shorter trap sealing durations and limited transport system depth led to the accumulation of hydrocarbons sourced from the Middle Miocene Meishan Formation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"16 6","pages":"Article 102169"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unlocking marginal SDG dynamics: A KRLS machine learning analysis of AI technologies and solar energy","authors":"Zahoor Ahmed ,&nbsp;Stefania Pinzon ,&nbsp;Muhammad Qamar Rasheed","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102167","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102167","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Studies quantifying AI’s impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) often rely on proxies that inaccurately reflect AI progress. Moreover, focusing solely on environmental and growth indicators provides an incomplete picture of AI’s overall contribution to the SDGs, as the SDG framework encompasses a broader set of interconnected goals. Therefore, this study unveils the marginal impacts of AI and solar energy (SEN) directly on the SDG Index (SDGI) by using the Kernel-Based Regularized Least Squares (KRLS) machine learning approach for the 10 largest economies from 2000‒2022. While the study found an overall positive average marginal impact of AI on the SDG Index, indicating significant progress driven by AI technologies, the analysis across different quantiles revealed variability. Specifically, at the 25th quantile, AI appears to hinder SDG progress. This could be due to negative externalities from AI adoption, like its use in accelerating non-renewable energy production and resource-intensive consumption, or from countries’ insufficient technological application capabilities. However, at higher quantiles (likely representing countries with better SDG achievement and greater AI maturity), the marginal effects of AI become increasingly positive, suggesting its beneficial use in areas that support SDGs. Marginal effects of SEN on SDGI are found to be positive, showing a positive connection between SDGs’ achievements and solar energy adoption. The marginal effects of economic globalization (EGB) and institutional productive capacity (INP) on SDGI are found to be positive. Finally, policies to boost AI and solar energy adoption, as well as exploring potential applications of AI across various sectors for sustainable development, are discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"16 6","pages":"Article 102167"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145266544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Searching for the age of the upper Vindhyan basin, India: A view from paleomagnetism and geochronology","authors":"Samuel Kwafo ,&nbsp;Joseph G. Meert ,&nbsp;Manoj K. Pandit ,&nbsp;Anup K. Sinha ,&nbsp;Nirmal Kant Verma","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102168","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102168","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The closure age of the Proterozoic Vindhyan basin is a long-standing puzzle, unresolved due to inconsistencies between paleontological, geochronological, and paleomagnetic data. Some fossil findings from the Upper Vindhyan basin suggest an Ediacaran closure age, Pb-Pb dating of carbonate units yield dates ranging from ∼750–910 Ma, and detrital zircon data generally support a Kleisian (800–1000 Ma) closure age. In this study, we review published detrital zircon data and apply a statistically robust method to estimate the maximum depositional age (MDA) of the upper Vindhyan Kaimur, Bhander, and Rewa groups. Additionally, we present new paleomagnetic data from the folded Bhander sandstones near the Great Boundary fault to establish the primary nature of the Bhander-Rewa paleomagnetic pole. Our analysis reveals an MDA of 945 ± 7 Ma, which aligns closely with the youngest zircon population in the spectra. This MDA also corresponds to the onset of the Delhi Orogeny to the west of the Vindhyan basin; collisional orogenesis in the Central Indian Tectonic Zone to the south; and more distal high-grade metamorphism and collisional tectonism in the northern Eastern Ghats belt providing a geologically meaningful context for the basin closure age. Our paleomagnetic data offers a robust field test for the Vindhyan pole and we demonstrate that proposals for terminal Tonian closure of the basin (∼850–770 Ma) are incompatible with extant paleomagnetic data from India.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"17 1","pages":"Article 102168"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145361147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intra-shell stable isotopes in land snail as proxies of seasonal climate variability: Ontogenetic evidence from cultured and field specimens","authors":"Xiulan Zong ,&nbsp;Jibao Dong ,&nbsp;Hong Yan ,&nbsp;Yougui Song ,&nbsp;Huifang Liu ,&nbsp;Shugang Kang ,&nbsp;Zheng Wang ,&nbsp;Hongxuan Lu ,&nbsp;Yunning Cao ,&nbsp;Guozhen Wang ,&nbsp;Chengcheng Liu ,&nbsp;Yana Jia ,&nbsp;Qian Zhang ,&nbsp;Haijiao Gan","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102164","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102164","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Land snail shells preserve stable oxygen and carbon isotope compositions (<em>δ</em>¹⁸O_shell and <em>δ</em>¹³C_shell) that offer valuable seasonal to weather-scale records of terrestrial environmental changes. However, the extent to which ontogenetic processes influence these signals remains insufficiently understood. Here, we investigated intra-shell isotopic variations in giant African land snails from laboratory cultured <em>Achatina fulica</em> and field collected <em>Lissachatina fulica</em> from Panzhihua, China. Laboratory experiments show that adult snail exhibits a <em>δ</em>¹⁸O_shell enrichment of up to 0.8‰, likely driven by internal physiological processes such as biomineralization and metabolism. In addition, <em>δ</em>¹³C_shell show an enrichment of 1.3‰ in subadult and adult shells, potentially associate with increased carbonate ingestion. In natural settings, intra-shell <em>δ</em>¹⁸O_shell variations primarily reflects seasonal fluctuation in precipitation <em>δ</em>¹⁸O, with physiological effects exerting only a minor influence. Although <em>δ</em>¹³C_shell values in wild snails fall within the expected range of C₃ plant-based diets, the potential roles of carbonate ingestion and dietary selectivity should be considered when reconstructing vegetation isotope signatures. These findings establish land snail shells as robust proxies of sub-annual climate variability and offer a modern calibration framework to enhance the use of terrestrial biocarbonates in paleoclimate reconstructions, particularly across monsoonal and moisture-sensitive regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"16 6","pages":"Article 102164"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145332895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Holocene to anthropocene burial of organic carbon in the Yangtze delta","authors":"Jianfeng Su ,&nbsp;Yijing Wu ,&nbsp;Daidu Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102162","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102162","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Holocene organic carbon (OC) burial in mega-deltas is considered to have played a crucial role in modulating long-term atmospheric CO₂ levels, but this role has likely been significantly altered by human activities during the Anthropocene. The absence of precise estimates for Holocene deltaic OC burial rates hinders a comprehensive understanding of carbon cycle evolution. This study, using data from 50 Holocene boreholes and 216 modern surface sediment samples, examines changes in OC sources and their controlling factors, and quantifies OC burial rates in the Yangtze Delta (YD) from the mid-Holocene to the Anthropocene. The results reveal three distinct stages of OC burial evolution. From 8 ka to 2 ka, the weakening East Asian Summer Monsoon reduced terrestrial OC contributions, but the YD maintained slow progradation and stable OC burial rates (∼0.79 Mt/yr). After 2 ka, human activities emerged as the dominant driver, triggering a 78 % increase in OC burial rates (1.40 – 1.44 Mt/yr). Following the impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam, the YD entered an erosion-driven destruction phase, with OC burial rates declining by 59 % compared to pre-dam levels. Accounting for subaqueous delta erosion, the YD has shifted from a net OC burial system to a net OC source, contributing ∼0.81 Mt/yr of OC to the Zhejiang-Fujian mud belt. These findings underscore the pivotal role of sediment burial rates in regulating OC sequestration in mega-deltas and highlight the global implications of human-altered sediment dynamics, suggesting that deltas worldwide may similarly transition from positive and negative OC sequestration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"16 6","pages":"Article 102162"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145216295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Generative AI with prompt engineering in construction: Enhancing predictive slope stability modelling for safe, sustainable, climate-smart mining practices","authors":"Muhammad Kamran ,&nbsp;Muhammad Faizan ,&nbsp;Shuhong Wang ,&nbsp;Danial Jahed Armaghani ,&nbsp;Panagiotis G. Asteris ,&nbsp;Biswajeet Pradhan","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102163","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102163","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Generative AI (GenAI) and prompt engineering are rapidly advancing in industries such as construction and mining, leading to significant improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making processes. These technologies are transforming the construction sector by automating tasks and optimizing workflows, thereby enhancing productivity and risk management. This study explores the application of Google’s Gemini AI tool, a notable breakthrough in GenAI, specifically for predictive modeling of slope stability. The Gemini AI tool is utilized within the Python programming language to generate prompts that incorporate key factors influencing slope stability, with the Google Colab interface facilitating prompt generation and testing. Initially, these prompts are employed for data analysis and visualization, followed by their application in both unsupervised and supervised machine learning approaches. The performance evaluation metrics indicate that the integrated approaches, which combine GenAI and prompt engineering, predict slope stability with a high level of accuracy. The model achieved 99% accuracy, with precision, recall, and F₁-scores ranging from 0.98 to 1.00 for both stable and unstable slope classes. This innovative methodology seeks to advance the implementation of GenAI in civil and mining engineering, offering more precise and efficient solutions for managing slope stability and supporting safe, sustainable, and climate-smart mining operations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"16 6","pages":"Article 102163"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145154657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Volcano-sedimentary response to a mantle plume decay: A case study from the Eastern Mediterranean margin","authors":"A. Segev ,&nbsp;E. Sass ,&nbsp;U. Schattner","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102161","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102161","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The decay of a mantle plume is characterized by a decline in magmatic activity, localized volcanic pulses, and short-term topographic fluctuations. These processes are better preserved in marine settings than on land, offering a clearer record of surface dynamics. This study examines the decay of the Levant mantle plume during the Albian-Cenomanian by analyzing the effect of recurring volcanism and vertical motions on the volcano-sedimentary stratigraphy exposed in Mt. Carmel, located on the eastern Mediterranean continental margin, a gas giant province. Geological mapping and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating reveal four distinct volcanic pulses (V₁–V₄) between ∼99 Ma and 95.4 Ma, each associated with surface uplift followed by subsidence and sedimentation. These cycles suggest pressure accumulation and release, likely driven by residual plume-related magmatic activity rather than regional tectonics. Volcanism, vertical motions, and shallow marine areas created local basins with varying connections to the sea, resulting in diverse depositional environments characterized by lithologies such as chalk, limestone, dolomite, marl, and tuff. The volcanic structures influenced facies changes and contributed to the formation of dolomite in shallow, partially closed marine environments. A final pulse, V₅ at 82 Ma, occurred after 13 Myr of quiescence, marking a shift in the regional tectonic setting. The lack of post-Maastrichtian volcanism and a 25 Myr long period of subsidence indicate plume termination. These findings demonstrate how a decaying plume loses its ability to influence surface dynamics. The Albian-Turonian reefs, situated atop a long-lasting crustal high structural block (swell) at the Arabian platform’s edge, serve as a significant example for analogous worldwide.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"16 6","pages":"Article 102161"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145154671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynamics of disordered mackinawite (FeSm) at low temperatures and its geochemical implications","authors":"Hoon Young Jeong ,&nbsp;Hyun Hwi Lee ,&nbsp;Minji Park ,&nbsp;Sookyung Kim ,&nbsp;Kim Ford Hayes ,&nbsp;So-Jeong Kim ,&nbsp;Young-Soo Han","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102160","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102160","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Disordered mackinawite (FeS_m), an initial iron sulfide forming under ambient, anoxic conditions, plays a central role in sedimentary iron and sulfur cycling and may have contributed to early biochemical processes relevant to the origin of life. However, its structural variability complicates the assessments of its geochemical behavior and environmental impacts. Here, we demonstrate that FeS_m undergoes anoxic corrosion at 25 °C, generating H₂ even in the absence of traditional oxidants such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) or elemental sulfur (S⁰). This abiotic H₂ production provides a potential reductant for early Earth carbon fixation and may support modern oligotrophic ecosystems by influencing carbon cycling. The pH-dependent H₂ production kinetics suggests that protons (H⁺) likely act as the primary oxidant in FeS_m corrosion. The formation of Fe(III)-rich surface layers during this process passivates further corrosion and modulates surface reactivity—potentially facilitating the oxidation of H₂S to S⁰ and intermediate species, thus driving FeS_m transformation into greigite (Fe₃S₄) and pyrite (FeS₂). Particle growth mechanisms vary with pH: Ostwald ripening dominates under acidic conditions, while oriented attachment is favored at neutral to alkaline pH. Instead, with prolonged aging, FeS_m becomes stabilized through less-oriented attachment, producing polycrystalline particles. Both surface passivation and particle growth contribute to the resilience and dynamic behavior of FeS_m under diverse geochemical conditions, reinforcing its role in sustaining iron and sulfur biogeochemical cycles. This study offers mechanistic insights into the structural evolution of FeS_m, with implications for both early Earth environments and modern sedimentary systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"16 6","pages":"Article 102160"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145216294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}