Major and selected trace elements for ancient glacial diamictites

Abstract: These data are whole-rock major and trace element measurements for ancient glacial diamictites from the Paleozoic, Neoproterozoic, Paleoproterozoic, and Mesoarchean. They show systematic changes in transition metals that can be attributable to two affects: 1) gradual evolution of the average composition of the upper continental crust towards a more evolved composition; and 2) loss of redox sensitive elements from the continental crust and transfer to the oceans due to increasing levels of oxidative weathering as atmospheric oxygen levels rose.

Other Description: Gaschnig, Rudnick, McDonough, Kaufman, Hu, and Gao, (2014) "Onset of oxidative weathering of continents recorded in the geochemistry of ancient glacial diamictites." Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 408: 87-99.