Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #bandedironformations
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2.4 billion years ago, Earth's atmosphere was free of oxygen. Iron didn't rust! Only anaerobic species could survive.
And then ... cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis, and began to pump oxygen into the atmosphere.
Oops.
🧵 1/n
#GreatOxygenationEvent
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Oxi…
And then ... cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis, and began to pump oxygen into the atmosphere.
Oops.
🧵 1/n
#GreatOxygenationEvent
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Oxi…
Suddenly, iron dissolved in the oceans bonded with oxygen and precipitated, forming layers of rust on the ocean floor. The deposits got thicker and thicker, reaching 100s of meters. 60% of iron is mined from these layers! 2/n
#bandedironformations
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banded_ir…
#bandedironformations
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banded_ir…
Methane was no longer stable: it reacted with oxygen to form CO2. Methane is a far more powerful greenhouse gas - so dropping methane levels triggered sudden cooling. The Earth froze over, with glaciers reaching as far as the tropics. 3/n
#snowballEarth
theconversation.com/billions-of-ye…
#snowballEarth
theconversation.com/billions-of-ye…
