新元古代的"雪球地球"

“雪球地球”假说的提出解释了一些新元古代冰川现象，如低纬度和低海拔冰川沉积、帽碳酸盐岩、负的碳酸盐δ^13C漂移和BIF铁矿等现象。尽管有不同的假说与解释，但“雪球地球”最为流行。“雪球地球”事件被认为起因于地球系统的变化，如Rodinia超大陆的裂解、超级地幔柱的活动及古地磁真极的漂移等。“雪球地球”的极端气候环境变化，促进了生命的演化，造成了寒武纪生物大爆发。     

铜仁地区陡山沱期盖帽碳酸盐岩地质地球化学特征及其成因

通过对贵州铜仁地区陡山沱期盖帽碳酸盐岩进行野外地质观察与室内岩石薄片显微镜下观察和研究,发现盖帽碳酸盐岩普遍发育有晶洞构造、帐篷构造、层状裂隙及包卷状构造等特殊沉积构造,重晶石、黄铁矿广泛发育,δ(13C)(2个研究剖面平均值分别为-4.73×10-3,-4.52×10-3)普遍显著负偏。研究区盖帽碳酸盐岩的地质地球化学特征依据"甲烷渗漏"成因假说能够较合理地解释。     

扬子地台新元古代碳酸盐盖帽碳、氧同位素研究

地质历史上最严重的冰期发生在新元古代末期（约635 Ma），其结束的标志是沉积了一层薄薄的、横向连续展布的、δ13C呈明显负异常的碳酸盐盖帽。地质学家提出了多种成因模型来解释碳酸盐盖帽δ13C负漂移，最著名的有：生物产率下降说，滞留海水翻转说的甲烷渗漏分解说。对黔南、浙西新元古代碳酸盐盖帽碳氧同位素研究表明，δ13C负异是甲烷渗漏和海水翻腾共同作用的结果。理由如下：① 贵州瓮安和朵丁剖面的岩石结构与现代古代甲烷渗漏形成的碳酸盐沉积相似；② 碳酸盐盖帽上覆的浅水相磷块岩沉积为海水倒转说提供了佐证，因为浅水区磷质来源于水体倒转时携带的深海磷。始于 Marrinoan 冰期结束的海水倒转导致碳酸盐盖帽的形成，并促使磷块岩在浅水区域的沉积成矿。水体倒转的另一效应是将深海负δ13C 的碳酸盐带到浅水区域，碳酸盐盖帽和上覆磷块岩的负δ13C值证实了这一点。     

湖北宜昌埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组底部盖帽碳酸盐岩中具极负碳同位素值方解石的U-Pb年龄北大核心CSCD

作为新元古代全球冰期结束的标志,盖帽碳酸盐岩在全球广泛分布。盖帽碳酸盐岩特殊的沉积构造和地球化学特征使其长时间以来成为学界研究新元古代冰期事件的重点关注对象。湖北宜昌三斗坪地区埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组底部盖帽碳酸盐岩中具极负碳同位素值(δ^(13)C最低值小于-40‰,VPDB)方解石的形成与甲烷氧化有关,被认为是甲烷水合物释放导致冰期结束和盖帽碳酸盐岩沉积这一假说的关键证据。但也有学者认为这些具极负碳同位素值方解石是在盖帽碳酸盐岩沉积之后形成的,因此与冰期结束和盖帽碳酸盐岩沉积无关。为探讨盖帽碳酸盐岩中具极负碳同位素值方解石的形成时间,本文利用近年来发展迅速的碳酸盐矿物激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱(LA-ICP-MS)U-Pb定年技术,分别对湖北宜昌九龙湾剖面陡山沱组底部盖帽碳酸盐岩裂隙和孔洞中的暗色方解石、白云石胶结物、白云石围岩进行了年龄测定。测试结果表明,暗色方解石的形成时间为593.7±8.7 Ma(2σ,n=111,MSWD=3.6),比盖帽白云岩沉积时间晚约40Myr,而白云石胶结物和围岩的分析测试获得了与方解石近似的U-Pb年龄,表明后期富甲烷流体的活动也对裂隙早期胶结物和周围的白云岩造成了影响。     

土壤发生性碳酸盐碳稳定性同位素模型及其应用

干旱、半干旱地区土壤无机碳库比有机碳库大2~5倍，无机碳库及其周转在该地区土壤碳平衡中具有重要意义。土壤发生性碳酸盐是土壤发育过程的产物，与岩生性碳酸盐溶解/沉积平衡、土壤有机碳分解CO2的再转化密切相关。发生性碳酸盐碳稳定性同位素主要由土壤CO2的碳同位素组成决定，可以用描述不饱和层气体质量传递的扩散—生成模型模拟。在土壤碳酸盐体系（土壤CO2(g)、碳酸盐和土壤溶液）处于同位素平衡状态时，根据生物过程产生的分子扩散以及碳酸盐化学平衡反应的分馏模型，发生性碳酸盐δ13C值比有机质δ13C值大14‰~16‰。扩散—生成模型和/或分馏模型可以用于鉴定和定量化分散态发生性碳酸盐组分、区分土壤碳酸盐悬膜上发生性碳酸盐的比例，并可用于定量评价土地利用管理措施对碳酸盐溶解/沉积平衡的影响，这在全球碳循环研究中具有重要意义。     

新元古代陡山沱组－灯影组中 C-Sr 同位素演化及其古环境意义

碳酸盐岩中碳同位素组成的演化对于古环境研究重要意义。笔者研究了浙江煤山剖面的新元古代地层陡山沱组和灯影组中δ13C，δ18O，87Sr/86Sr以及微量元素含量的演化。所分析的87Sr/86Sr值都大于0.714，同时大多数Mn/Sr比值在4～20之间。因为Sr在海洋中的存留时间很长（约3Ma），盖帽碳酸盐的87Sr/86Sr可指示冰期海水的Sr同位素组成，而在雪球事件期间87Sr/86Sr不可能这么高。在冰期之后，由于冰期前沉积的大量碳酸盐岩和冰期时喷发的玄武岩与陆壳岩石一起风化，海洋87Sr/86Sr也不会升到如此之高，可以认为所研究地层87Sr/86Sr已被成岩改造。大多数δ13O大于－10，并且δ13O和δ13C之间不存在明显的相关关系，表明大多数样品记录了初始的碳同位素组成。δ13C的演化曲线在碳酸盐盖帽以及陡出沱组－灯影组交界呈现明显的负漂移（－4‰～－3‰），在主要的陡山沱和灯影时期则最高升至＋3‰～＋4‰。碳酸盐盖帽中的δ13C负漂移可能由多种原因造成，例如：因为在雪球事件时海洋中光合作用几乎完全中止，造成海水与海底热液中CO2（约－6‰）的δ13C值趋同；冰期后即使生物产量已经快速恢复，但是极高的碳酸盐沉积速率仍会造成较低的δ13C值；原来甲烷水合物在冰期后中释放出甲烷；冰期后原来分层的海洋发生垂向洋流。目前尚不能唯一地确定碳酸盐盖幔中的δ13C负漂移是由某一个原因造成的，可能是由几个因素共同作用的结果。随着生物产量、大气中CO2含量和洋流都在雪球事件之后逐渐恢复正常，陡山沱组碳酸盐岩中δ13C也逐渐升高到正常的正值。当大气中巨量的CO2通过风化、碳酸盐岩沉积和有机质埋藏等途径被移除以后，气候开始变冷。当气个冷到某个临界范围时，强烈的温盐环流造成的上升洋流把富集12C的深部海水带到表层海水，造成陡山沱组－灯影组交界处的δ13C表现负漂移，同时使大气中的CO2升高到正常水平。灯影时期的气候要比陡山沱稳定。大气和海洋环境在几乎整个灯影时期都维持在适合生态系统的状态中，因面灯影组的δ13C大多为正值。     

正构二十四烷裂解成气碳同位素动力学模拟及其地质意义

以甲烷的量子化模型及正构二十四烷(n C24)金管限定体系裂解成气实验为基础,从理论上进一步论述了量子化模型应用于重烃气体（乙烷和丙烷）碳同位素动力学模拟的适应性,计算了甲烷、乙烷及丙烷生烃动力学与碳同位素动力学参数, 重点探讨了δ13C2与δ13C3变化的主控因素。研究结果表明, n C24裂解生成的气态烃碳同位素与早期报道的n C18、n C25及原油裂解生成的气态烃碳同位素具有可比性,可应用于地质条件下解释原油裂解气的某些地球化学特征。n C24生烃地质模型表明,其在150～160℃是稳定的,主要裂解温度介于180～200℃之间,与目前所报道的原油裂解地质模型吻合。随热解程度的增加,δ13C2与δ13C3体现了比δ13C1更明显的变化。气藏充注历史控制的同位素累积效应对天然气碳同位素有很大的影响,与累积聚集气相比,阶段聚集气的δ13C变重,并在更大程度上影响了演化曲线的分异。在此基础上,应用n C24裂解成气碳同位素分馏地质模型探讨了塔里木盆地某些油气藏天然气碳同位素值变化的原因。     

陡山沱组盖帽碳酸盐岩C同位素特征及形成环境——以扬子北缘神农架地区为例

神农架地区位于华南扬子克拉通北缘,发育完整的成冰系- 埃迪卡拉系地层层序。本研究基于新近发现的6个埃迪卡拉系盖帽碳酸盐岩剖面,系统研究了其地层学、沉积学和C同位素地球化学特征,并依据盖帽碳酸盐岩发育的一系列沉积指相标志,讨论了盖帽碳酸盐岩形成的沉积环境。神农架盖帽碳酸盐岩由细粉晶白云岩组成,盖帽白云岩与下伏冰碛岩接触关系多较截然,部分为渐变过渡关系,沉积构造单调,以水平层理或块状层理为主,少见其他特殊沉积构造或岩石、矿物组分,偶见团粒、叶枝状等藻类生物,盖帽白云岩和上覆岩系构成快速海侵 退积的沉积层序。盖帽白云岩δ13C剖面显示,由下向上从极低(-6‰~-9‰)到中低(-4‰~-5‰)负漂移,或从中下部中低幅负偏逐渐向上更负偏(-4‰~-5‰间)或在中低负值附近高频振荡,但上覆沉积物的δ13C剖面保持持续中低负偏。研究表明,沉积指相标志及C同位素共同指示盖帽碳酸盐岩与冰后期海平面快速上升同步,这6个盖帽白云岩剖面 主要发育于神农架中西部浅水陆架潮坪区域。这些盖帽白云岩剖面的δ13C值基本类同于国内外埃迪卡拉盖帽白云岩δ13C剖面的变化规律,具有广泛的全球变化和对比意义。同时,神农架的这几个盖帽白云岩剖面δ13C值有其独特性,该特征是对冰后初期浅水碳酸盐岩沉积作用平衡全球海平面快速上升的响应。进一步研究发现,埃迪卡拉系初期盖帽碳酸盐岩沉积于扬子克拉通广泛的浅水陆架沉积环境,并非发育于从深水盆地—斜坡—陆架的各个沉积相区。     

柴达木盆地天然气的碳同位素地球化学特征及成因分析

依据天然气碳同位素中δ13C1、δ13C2、δ13C3的组成与划分标准，将柴达木盆地天然气划分为煤型气、裂解气、油型气与生物气四种类型，通过对天然气同位素中的δ13C1、δ13C2-δ13C1、δ13C3-δ13C2值的差异分析以及与对应的烃源岩干酪根碳同位素进行对比分析，探讨了柴达木盆地不同地区天然气的成因以及影响因素，这对于探索柴达木盆地的成气规律以及在不同地区天然气勘探的目标选择都有着现实意义。     

宁镇山脉的盖帽碳酸盐岩北大核心CSCD

埃迪卡拉系底部发育一套覆盖在成冰纪冰碛杂砾岩之上的碳酸盐岩地层,被称为"盖帽碳酸盐岩",它是超级温室气候事件的沉积标志层,代表了新元古代"雪球"冰期的结束。通过对宁镇山脉地区新元古代地层的野外调查,在镇江丹阳帽山剖面南沱冰碛杂砾岩层顶部发现厚约4 m的含锰碳酸盐岩。沉积岩石学和稳定碳、氧同位素研究表明,这层碳酸盐岩具有盖帽碳酸盐岩的典型特征,可以与扬子板块其他地区的盖帽碳酸盐岩进行对比。这是宁镇山脉地区存在盖帽碳酸盐岩的首次报道。     

Major shoreline retreat and sediment starvation following Snowball Earth

While cap dolostones are integral to the Snowball Earth hypothesis, the current depositional model does not account for multiple geological observations. Here we propose a model that rationalises palaeomagnetic, sequence‐stratigraphic and sedimentological data and supports rapid deglaciation with protracted cap dolostone precipitation. The Snowball Earth hypothesis posits that a runaway ice‐albedo can explain the climate paradox of Neoproterozoic glacial deposits occurring at low palaeolatitudes. This scenario invokes volcanic degassing to increase atmospheric greenhouse gases to a critical threshold that overcomes the albedo effect and brings the planet back from the ice‐covered state. Once this occurs, Earth should shift rapidly from a snowball to an extreme greenhouse. However, cap dolostone units overlying glacial sediments, typically interpreted as transgressive deposits, exhibit multiple magnetic reversals indicating they accumulated in >10⁵ years. By reviewing modern post‐glacial systems, sequence stratigraphic concepts and principles of sedimentology, we suggest that cap dolostones are not restricted to the transgression but rather represent sediment starvation following a major landward shoreline migration associated with the demise of Snowball Earth. Thus, the duration in which cap dolostone accumulated is not directly coupled to the timescale of the Snowball Earth deglaciation.     

新元古代”雪球”假说与生命演化的环境

新元古代末期，地球至少经历了两次全球性的冰川作用，研究者提出了“雪球”假说来解释新元古代时期一系列特殊的地质现象，该假说已成为研究新元古代全球冰川作用和其后生物大爆发事件的窗口。但一些学者并不赞成地球曾经是被冰雪完全覆盖的“雪球”，并分别提出了“半融雪球/无冰水体”和“薄冰”假说。尽管每一种假说都不能解释所有的地质、地球化学现象，但越来越越多的证据，特别是分子有机地球化学和古生物学的证据表明，“雪球”时期的海洋并没有完全被冰封盖，在赤道地区的冰盖可能很薄或存在无冰的水体。无冰水体的存在可以使一些光合生物继续生存和演化，这对其后的“寒武纪生物大爆发”事件和生命演化具有重要的意义。     

新元古代帽碳酸盐岩中帐篷状构造的成因

帐篷构造是碳酸盐岩中的一种特殊沉积组构,因其倒“V”字形形态类似于帐篷(tepee)而得名,被认为是一种无成因意义的沉积组构。传统的帐篷构造在海相至陆相碳酸盐岩中都有发育,形态和胶结物的不同反映了沉积环境的变化,其成因为裂隙填充的胶结物结晶膨胀导致层面突起变形。新元古代帽碳酸盐岩中广泛发育有倒“V”字形的类似构造,但由于形态和成因上都和传统的帐篷构造有所区别,被称为“帐篷状构造”(te-pee-likestructure)。目前其成因解释主要有:“巨风暴潮波痕”、“甲烷气体渗漏”、“地下水侵位”和“晶体结晶”的假说。由于帐篷状构造的形成过程与机制和帽碳酸盐岩的成因密切相关,对帐篷状构造的进一步研究必将帮助我们对新元古代冰期结束机制的理解。     

Geochemical properties of Neoproterozoic “cap dolomites” in the Patom paleobasin and problem of their genesis

The characteristic feature of many Upper Neoproterozoic glacial sequences is their “cap carbonates” (CC) resting without visible unconformity upon glaciogenic diamictites. Such an unusual association, peculiar structures and textures, and negative δ¹³C values (approximately −4 ± 2‰) that are atypical of marine carbonates provoked long debates about the nature of these carbonates, which play an important role in the Snowball Earth hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, the Earth was entirely covered by ice during large-scale glaciations, and CC accumulation was related to the global change in geochemical processes. In this work, we discuss data on the chemical and isotopic (C, O, Sr) compositions of CCs, which overlie glacial sediments of the Nichatka and Bol’shoi Patom formations accumulated in different parts of the Neoproterozoic Patom paleobasin (Central Siberia). High concentrations of Fe (up to 6400 ppm), Mn (2320 ppm), and radiogenic Sr (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr₀ up to 0.7172) established in CCs indicates a strong influence of the continental flow. Extraordinary Snowball Earth conditions are not necessary for the accumulation of these rocks, geochemical and sedimentological properties of which may be explained by the discharge of thawing waters into partly or completely isolated near-glacier basin, their intermittent freezing, and/or washout of “frozen” carbonates from the surface of thawing glaciers. The peculiar thin-laminated texture of CC may be related to seasonal processes of climatic cycles. They were accumulated in the course of general (relatively long-term) depletion of the atmosphere and hydrosphere in ¹³C, which has nothing to do with the CC formation as a specific type of carbonate sediments. Amplitude and duration of the negative δ¹³C excursion in carbonates associated with the Lower Vendian glacial sediments (665–635 Ma) are appreciably lower than the negative anomaly in rocks of the Zhuya Group that likely correspond to the Shuram-Vonoka Event (∼560−580 Ma ago), which probably marks the crucial point in the Precambrian deglaciation: mass destabilization of methane hydrates and degradation of the Early Vendian psychrosphere in oceans.     

Sedimentary and Geochemical Characteristics of Sinian Cap Carbonates in the Upper Yangtze Region

A global-scale glaciation occurred at about 600 Ma ago. As a result, the Earth became the “Snowball Earth“. The glaciation came to the end abruptly when atmospheric carbon dioxide increased to such an extent as to be about 350 times the modem level because of subaerial volcanic degassing. The rapid termination of glaciation would have led to warming of the Snowball Earth and extreme greenhouse conditions would have been created. The transfer of atmospheric carbon dioxide to oceans would give rise to the rapid precipitation of calcium carbonate in warm surface seawaters, thus forming the cap carbonate rocks as observed worldwide today. Regionally persisting, thin layers of carbonate rocks directly and ubiquitously overlie Proterozoic glacial deposits almost on every continent, and are commonly referred to as cap carbonates. Their unusual litho- fabrics, stratigraphically abrupt basal and upper-level contacts and strongly negative carbonate isotopic signatures ( δ ^13Cearb. values range from -7.0‰ —0‰) suggest a chemical oceanographic origin, the details of which remain unknown. It is proposed that these enigmatic deposits are related to the destabilization of gaseous hydrate in terrestrial permafrost following rapid postglacial warming and flooding of widely exposed continental shelves and internal basins. The authors carried out studies on the geochemistry, sedimentology and palacontology of the Sinian cap carbonates in Guizhou and Hunan provinces, including the occurrence of cap carbonates of unusual fabrics, strongly negative carbon isotopic signatures, and a lot of bitumen nodules.From the results it is suggested that the cap carbonates were formed from solid methane seepage, and it is in agreement with Kennedy‘‘ s viewpoint (2001) that the cap carbonates resulted from the rapid precipitation of calcium carbonate in response to solid methane seepage.     

皖南新元古代两次冰期事件

新元古代的冰期事件一直是地质界研究的热点之一。包括中国在内 ,世界许多地区新元古代地层中普遍发育有一至两层冰碛岩 ,有的地区甚至可以见到三层冰碛岩 ,在冰碛岩之上往往有碳酸盐岩盖层 ( Cap Carbonate)。通过对皖南休宁新元古代冰碛岩的岩石地层学 ,以及碳、氧稳定同位素化学地层学的研究 ,证实了休宁新元古代地层存在两期冰川的记录 ,并通过与国内外同时代典型地层剖面的对比 ,认为休宁蓝田剖面的两层冰碛岩可能分别相当于 Sturtian冰期和 Marinoan冰期的沉积 ,其时代分别约为 710— 73 0 Ma,5 90— 60 0 Ma     

三峡地区陡山沱早期水体性质的稀土元素和锶同位素制约

通过分析三峡地区九龙湾剖面新元古代盖帽碳酸盐岩的稀土元素和锶同位素组成,对新元古代“雪球地球”事件结束后水体的性质提供了制约。盖帽碳酸盐岩的REE配分模式具有轻重稀土元素亏损的特征,存在轻微Y正异常以及较高的Y/Ho值,没有明显的La异常。这些特征与受淡水影响的陆缘盆地、湖泊等沉积环境相似,而不同于正常海水。这表明盖帽碳酸盐岩不是正常的海相沉积物,而是发育在淡水与海水混合环境中的沉积物。盖帽碳酸盐岩具有较高的87Sr/86Sr值,这是由于新元古代“雪球地球”事件结束后大量陆源风化物的输入引起的。因此,盖帽碳酸盐岩较高的87Sr/86Sr值不能代表当时全球海水信息,只能反映局部混合水体的信息。轻微的Ce负异常显示陡山沱组早期水体处于弱氧化状态。盖帽碳酸盐岩的REE和Sr同位素综合特征表明在新元古代“雪球地球”事件结束后,陡山沱组早期水体是携带大量陆源风化物的冰融水与海水混合的水体,而且此时的混合水体处于弱氧化状态。     

Neoproterozoic cap carbonates: a critical appraisal of existing models and the plumeworld hypothesis

Evidence for glaciation during the mid-late Neoproterozoic is widespread on Earth, reflecting three or more ice ages between 730 Ma and 580 Ma. Of these, the late Neoproterozoic Marinoan glaciation of approximately 635 Ma stands out because of its ubiquitous association with a characteristic, microcrystalline cap dolostone that drapes glacially influenced rock units worldwide. The Marinoan glaciation is also peculiar in that evidence for low altitude glaciation at equatorial latitudes is compelling. Three models have been proposed linking abrupt deglaciation with this global carbonate precipitation event: (i) overturn of an anoxic deep ocean; (ii) catastrophically accelerated rates of chemical weathering because of supergreenhouse conditions following global glaciation (Snowball Earth Hypothesis); and (iii) massive release of carbonate alkalinity from destabilized methane clathrates. All three models invoke extreme alkalinity fluxes into seawater during deglaciation but none explains how such alkalinity excess from point sources could be distributed homogeneously around the globe. In addition, none explains the consistent sequence of precipitation events observed within cap carbonate successions, specifically: (i) the global blanketing of carbonate powder in shallow marine environments during deglaciation; (ii) widespread and disruptive precipitation of dolomite cement; followed by (iii) localized barite precipitation and seafloor cementation by aragonite. The conceptual model presented here proposes that low latitude deglaciation was so massive and abrupt that the resultant meltwater plume could extend worldwide, physically separating the surface and deep ocean reservoirs for ≥10³ years. It is proposed that cap dolostones formed primarily by microbially mediated precipitation of carbonate whitings during algal blooms within this low salinity plumeworld rather than by abiotic precipitation from normal salinity seawater. Many of the disruption features that are characteristic of cap dolostones can be explained by microbially mediated, early diagenetic dolomitization and cementation. The re-initiation of whole ocean circulation degassed CO₂ into the atmosphere in areas of upwelling, triggering localized, abiotic CaCO₃ precipitation in the form of aragonite fans that overlie cap dolostones in NW Canada and Namibia. The highly oxygenated shallow marine environments of the glacial and post-glacial Neoproterozoic world provided consistently favourable conditions for the evolutionary development of animals and other oxygenophiles.     

新元古代冰期及其年代

新元古代在全球范围内出现了几期冰期事件,称之为“雪球地球”事件。这种剧烈的环境变化带来此后地球上生命演化的一次飞跃。“雪球地球”事件的核心是全球冰期的同时性,需要同位素地质年代学的证据。新元古代末期两次主要的冰期事件是Marinoan冰期和Sturtian冰期,其中Marinoan冰期结束于635Ma;Sturtian冰期可能发生在710～720Ma,已发表的年龄数据限定它在670Ma之前结束。Marinoan冰期后的Gaskiers冰期发生在580～590Ma。对华南的古城、铁丝坳、长安组、江口组等进行进一步精确定年,将对限定Sturtian冰期持续时间和Cryogenian、南华系的下限年龄具有重要意义。     

The snowball Earth hypothesis: testing the limits of global change

The gradual discovery that late Neoproterozoic ice sheets extended to sea level near the equator poses a palaeoenvironmental conundrum. Was the Earth's orbital obliquity > 60° (making the tropics colder than the poles) for 4.0 billion years following the lunar‐forming impact, or did climate cool globally for some reason to the point at which runaway ice‐albedo feedback created a `snowball' Earth? The high‐obliquity hypothesis does not account for major features of the Neoproterozoic glacial record such as the abrupt onsets and terminations of discrete glacial events, their close association with large (> 10‰) negative δ<sup>13</sup>C shifts in seawater proxies, the deposition of strange carbonate layers (`cap carbonates') globally during post‐glacial sea‐level rise, and the return of large sedimentary iron formations, after a 1.1 billion year hiatus, exclusively during glacial events. A snowball event, on the other hand, should begin and end abruptly, particularly at lower latitudes. It should last for millions of years, because outgassing must amass an intense greenhouse in order to overcome the ice albedo. A largely ice‐covered ocean should become anoxic and reduced iron should be widely transported in solution and precipitated as iron formation wherever oxygenic photosynthesis occurred, or upon deglaciation. The intense greenhouse ensures a transient post‐glacial regime of enhanced carbonate and silicate weathering, which should drive a flux of alkalinity that could quantitatively account for the world‐wide occurrence of cap carbonates. The resulting high rates of carbonate sedimentation, coupled with the kinetic isotope effect of transferring the CO₂ burden to the ocean, should drive down the δ¹³C of seawater, as is observed. If cap carbonates are the `smoke' of a snowball Earth, what was the `gun'? In proposing the original Neoproterozoic snowball Earth hypothesis, Joe Kirschvink postulated that an unusual preponderance of land masses in the middle and low latitudes, consistent with palaeomagnetic evidence, set the stage for snowball events by raising the planetary albedo. Others had pointed out that silicate weathering would most likely be enhanced if many continents were in the tropics, resulting in lower atmospheric CO₂ and a colder climate. Negative δ¹³C shifts of 10–20‰ precede glaciation in many regions, giving rise to speculation that the climate was destabilized by a growing dependency on greenhouse methane, stemming ultimately from the same unusual continental distribution. Given the existing palaeomagnetic, geochemical and geological evidence for late Neoproterozoic climatic shocks without parallel in the Phanerozoic, it seems inevitable that the history of life was impacted, perhaps profoundly so.