Banded iron formations were caused by the production of which atmospheric gas?

A) Carbon Dioxide

B) Water Vapor

C) Oxygen

D) Nitrogen

Answer;

- C. Oxygen

Explanation;

-Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, are the microbes that were responsible for the release of oxygen that we use today in the atmosphere. These microbes conduct photosynthesis using solar energy form the sun, water and carbon dioxide to produce carbohydrates and oxygen.

-As the algae would produce O2 as a waste product of photosynthesis, the free oxygen would combine with the iron ions to form magnetite (Fe3O4), an iron oxide (Banded iron formations).

The answer is c oxygen