English: The rock cycle and the evolution of controls on atmospheric oxygen

Arrows show fluxes of rock (brown), organic carbon (black), oxygen (green), and other reduced species (red). Dashed circle shows primary negative feedback control on atmospheric oxygen. (a) Modern rock cycle (Mackenzie et al., 2004) fluxes (10¹⁸ ton Gyr−1, ‘Met.’=metamorphism, ‘Ero.’=erosion) and masses (1018 ton). (b) Archean: organic carbon burial is balanced by metamorphism, with negligible oxidative weathering. Atmospheric oxygen is a minor component with concentration determined by the oxygen sensitivity of reactions with reduced atmospheric gases. (c) Proterozoic: sedimentary organic carbon is partly oxidized but mainly recycled. Atmospheric oxygen is controlled by the oxygen sensitivity of oxidative weathering. (d) Modern: sedimentary organic carbon is oxidized with little recycling. Atmospheric oxygen is controlled by feedbacks on carbon burial.

Reference: Mackenzie, F. T., Lerman, A. & Andersson, A. J. (2004) "Past and present of sediment and carbon biogeochemical cycling models". Biogeosciences, 1: 11–32.