Objective The redox states of the Early Ediacaran ocean have long been a research hotspot， particularly its material composition and distribution. The formation process of sedimentary barite nodules in the lower part of the Doushantuo Formation was studied to explore the redox variation of the Ediacaran ocean immediately after the Snowball Earth event using sedimentology and petrology. Additionally， a detailed analysis of the formation process of barite nodules in the lower part of the Doushantuo Formation in the northern part of the Yangtze Block， specifically at the Jinguadun profile， was conducted to infer its depositional environment. Methods Analysis on sedimentary environments of barite nodules from calcareous mudstone of the lower Doushantuo Formation in Jinguadun section were developed via sedimentologic and petromineralogical methods. Results Based on field observations， the surrounding rock layers were found to exhibit a distribution pattern around the nodules. Examining the contact relationships between the nodules and their internal bedding， in accordance with the summary by Sellés-Martínez in 1996， indicates that the barite nodules in this profile formed during the early burial stage. The barite， quartz， and pyrite are the three top authigenic sedimentary minerals in the nodules. The mineral distribution is stratified in the barite nodules. Specially， the inner layer contains dense pyrite aggregates dominated by euhedral-to-subhedral pyrite grains and quartz minerals that grow interwoven together. From the core to the outer edge， radial aggregates were developed in barite and quartz. This study preliminarily demonstrates that the formation of authigenic sedimentary minerals occurring in different parts of the barite nodules precipitate in different redox zones. First， in the sulfate reduction zone within the sediment， an area enriched in organic matter forms a loose outer shell primarily composed of pyrite aggregates. Subsequently， as burial depth increases towards the sulfate-methane transition zone， barite begins to deposit around the pyrite outer shell， causing the high-content pyrite aggregates to gradually become denser. The isolating effect of the pyrite aggregates results in a relatively closed internal space， impacting the deposition of stable barium ions and sulfate radicals by barite. In a slightly acidic environment， the process of pyrite generation promotes the stable deposition of quartz， leading to an internal mineral composition predominantly consisting of quartz. Simultaneously， the external environment evolves into a radial mixture of interwoven barite and quartz. This process highlights the interaction between pyrite and barite under different geological conditions and their influence on the deposition of barium ions and sulfate radicals. The Ba²⁺ sources in the barite likely originate from the methanogenic zone， where dissolution of labile and biogenic barite associated with organic matter occurs. The upward spreading Ba²⁺ ions react with downward diffusing seawater sulfate radicals and deposit barium sulfate in the upper front of sulfate-methane transition zone. Conclusions In summary， the barite nodules form in the early diagenetic soft sediments， exhibiting a phased development. In the initial stages， they are primarily composed of pyrite and quartz； in the later stages， barite and quartz deposition becomes dominant. With the increase in sulfate concentration， it is suggested that in the Early Ediacaran oceans， the sulfate reduction interface may have descended into the sediments near the water-rock interface. As a result， methane in the sulfate-methane transition zone underwent oxidation， thereby reducing their emissions into the atmosphere.