Dr. Gareth Izon

Gareth Izon has a very broad research interests having worked on a variety of events over varying timescales that encompass the majority of Earth’s history. In the broadest sense he is interested in the exploitation of elemental and isotopic proxies to answer a broad range of pertinent geological, palaeoceanographic and low-temperature geochemical questions. At the heart of Izon's research is the desire to develop an understanding of the causes and consequences of transient aberrations in the Earth system (e.g. marine anoxia, climate change and mass extinctions), their effects on global biogeochemical cycles and the implications for the biosphere, both in the past and as a consequence of anthropogenic negligence.

More recently Izon has become increasingly fascinated with the quadruple sulphur-isotope record. The “mass-independency” of the S-isotope record has been used extensively since its discovery to chart the rise in atmospheric oxygen; however, if we consider its secular evolution, the route to its demise at the GOE is far from straightforward: displaying variable magnitude and changeable relationships between the minor S-isotopes (∆36S/∆33S). Understanding how to read this rich tapestry of information is central to answering key questions surrounding the evolution of the biosphere, its effect on planetary chemistry, and ultimately how our planet transitioned towards the habitable oxygenated planet we’re all familiar with today. All of which have ramifications for the search for life outside of our solar system.

During his time at MIT, Dr. Izon will be constructing high-resolution quadruple-S, nitrogen and carbon isotope records from newly cored continuous expressions of the Great Oxidization Event (GOE) obtained from the Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa. These data will provide unprecedented insight into the directionality, and timing of planetary oxygenation, whilst providing a robust framework for future research on the coevolution of Earth’s life and the surface environment.