Weathering in a world without terrestrial life recorded in the Mesoproterozoic Velkerri Formation

Abstract

Prior to the expansion of life on to land, abiotic weathering may have resulted in different boundary conditions affecting the composition of the biosphere. Here the authors studied clay minerals from a Precambrian rock record to reveal the weathering processes and find difference in weathering produced minerals preserved in the Mesoproterozoic Velkerri Formation.