The evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis should have occurred some time before the oxidation of Earth’s atmosphere 2.5 billion years ago. The molybdenum isotopic signature of shallow marine rocks that formed at least 2.95 billion years ago is consistent with deposition in waters that were receiving oxygen from photosynthesis at least half a billion years before the oxidation of the atmosphere.
- Noah J. Planavsky
- Dan Asael
- Olivier J. Rouxel
