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News Release 11-182
Evidence for Iron-Rich Ancient Ocean Changes View of Earth's Early History
Discovery challenges previous models for environment in which early life evolved
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![Photo of geologists digging into a shale exposure in north China.](/news/mmg/media/images/iron_ocean1_f.jpg)
Geologists Chris Reinhard (front) and Noah Planavsky dig into a shale exposure in north China.
Credit: Chu Research Group, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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![Photo of a resort north of Beijing, China, and surrounding hills which were source of shale samples.](/news/mmg/media/images/iron_ocean2_f.jpg)
Hills surrounding a resort north of Beijing, China, were a source of shale samples for the study.
Credit: Chu Research Group, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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![Photo of researcher Noah Planavsky on a black shale exposure in China.](/news/mmg/media/images/iron_ocean3_f.jpg)
Researcher Noah Planavsky, in quest of samples, hangs tight on a black shale exposure in China.
Credit: Chu Research Group, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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![Photo of scientists collecting unweathered samples along a narrow road north of Beijing.](/news/mmg/media/images/iron_ocean4_f.jpg)
Scientists find unweathered samples of ancient oceans along a narrow road north of Beijing.
Credit: Chu Research Group
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![Photo of scientists who are collecting shale samples in China.](/news/mmg/media/images/iron_ocean5_f.jpg)
Scientists Chu, Li, Love, Rinhard, Planavsky and Lyons while collecting samples in China.
Credit: Chu Research Group, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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![Photo of drill core of shales and siltstones where brown layers are indicative of iron-rich ocean.](/news/mmg/media/images/iron_ocean6_f.jpg)
Drill core of shales and siltstones. The brown layers are a tell-tale sign of an iron-rich ancient ocean.
Credit: Peter McGoldrick, University of Tasmania
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