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Updated: Sep 12, 2025

Visualizing Methane-Cycling Microbial Dynamics in Coastal Wetlands
Published on: January 31, 2025
Metal-driven anaerobic oxidation of methane and the Sturtian deglaciation
Jun Hu1,2, Sanzhong Li3,4, Shui-Jiong Wang5,6
1Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Key Lab of Submarine Geosciences and Prospecting Techniques, MOE and College of Marine Geosciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
Abstract:
The Sturtian and Marinoan glaciations shaped Neoproterozoic palaeoenvironmental evolution. While methane emission likely intensified the Marinoan greenhouse effect, its role during the Sturtian glaciation-coinciding with widespread iron formations (IFs)-remains poorly understood. Here, we analysed bio-essential metals (Ni, Co, Zn), rare earth elements and yttrium (REY), Fe (δ56Fe) and Ni (δ60Ni) isotopes in hematite and magnetite, alongside bulk-rock and in-situ C isotopes of Mn-rich carbonates from five well-preserved Sturtian-aged IFs in South China. Our findings provide geochemical evidence for a methane-related biogeochemical pathway driving Fe-bearing mineral transformation via methanogenesis and metal-driven anaerobic methane oxidation (AOM), mediated by methanogens and anaerobic methane-oxidizing archaea (ANME) in ferruginous settings. Additionally, the Sturtian deglaciation facilitated atmospheric-oceanic O2 exchange, increased nutrient influx from weathering, and methane release under slow AOM oxidation kinetics, potentially aiding ice sheet melting or prolonging glacial waning.
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