Chemical Separation and Isotopic Variations of Cu and Zn From Five Geological Reference Materials

This paper presents an adapted anion exchange column chemistry protocol which allowed separation of high-purity fractions of Cu and Zn from geological materials. Isobaric and non-spectral interferences were virtually eliminated for consequent multiple-collector ICP-MS analysis of the isotopic composition of these metals. The procedure achieved ∼ 100% recoveries, thus ensuring the absence of column-induced isotopic fractionation. By employing these techniques, we report isotopic analyses for Cu and Zn from five geological reference materials: BCR-027 blende ore (BCR), δ⁶⁵Cu = 0.52 ± 0.15‰ (n = 10) and δ⁶⁶Zn = 0.33 ± 0.07‰ (n = 8); BCR-030 calcined calamine ore (BCR), δ⁶⁶Zn = -0.06 ± 0.09‰ (n = 8); BCR-1 basalt (USGS), δ⁶⁶Zn = 0.29 ± 0.12‰ (n = 8); NOD-P-1 manganese nodule (USGS), δ⁶⁵Cu = 0.46 ± 0.08‰ (n = 10) and δ⁶⁶Zn = 0.78 ± 0.09‰ (n = 9); SU-1 Cu-Co ore (CCRMP), δ⁶⁵Cu = -0.018 ± 0.08‰ (n = 10) and δ⁶⁶Zn = 0.13 ± 0.17‰ (n = 6). All uncertainties are ± 2s; copper isotope ratios are reported relative to NIST SRM-976, and zinc isotope ratios relative to the Lyon-group Johnson Matthey metal (batch 3-0749 L) solution, JMC Zn. These values agree well with the limited data previously published, and with results reported for similar natural sample types. Samples were measured using a GVi IsoProbe MC-ICP-MS, based at the Natural History Museum, London. Long-term measurement reproducibility has been assessed by repeat analyses of both single element and complex matrix samples, and was commonly better than ± 0.07‰ for both δ⁶⁶Zn and δ⁶⁵Cu.     

Beryllium geochemistry in soils: evaluation of Be/Be ratios in authigenic minerals as a basis for age models

Soils contain a diverse and complex set of chemicals and minerals. Being an ‘open system’, both in the chemical and nuclear sense, soils have defied quantitative nuclear dating. However, based on the published studies of the cosmogenic atmospheric ¹⁰Be in soils, its relatively long half-life (1.5 Ma), and the fact that ¹⁰Be gets quickly incorporated in most soil minerals, this radionuclide appears to be potentially the most useful for soil dating. We therefore studied the natural variations in the specific activities of ¹⁰Be with respect to the isotope ⁹Be in mineral phases in eight profiles of diverse soils from temperate to tropical climatic regimes and evaluated the implications of the data for determining the time of formation of soil minerals, following an earlier suggestion [Lal et al., 1991. Development of cosmogenic nuclear methods for the study of soil erosion and formation rates. Current Sci. 61, 636–639.]. We find that the ¹⁰Be/⁹Be ratios in both bulk soils and in the authigenic mineral phases are confined within a narrower range than in ¹⁰Be concentrations. Also, the highest ¹⁰Be/⁹Be ratios in authigenic minerals are observed at the soil-rock interface as predicted by the model. We present model ¹⁰Be/⁹Be ages of the B-horizon and the corresponding soil formation rates for several soil profiles. The present study demonstrates that the ¹⁰Be/⁹Be ratios in the authigenic phases, e.g. clay and Fe-hydroxides, can indeed be used for obtaining useful model ages for soils younger than 10–15 Ma. However, the present work has to be pushed considerably further, to take into account more realistic age models in which, for instance, downward transport ¹⁰Be and clays, and in-situ dissolution of clay minerals at depths, altering the ¹⁰Be/⁹Be ratios of the acidic solutions, are included. We show that in the case of younger soils (< 1 Ma) studied here, their ¹⁰Be inventories and ¹⁰Be/⁹Be ratios have been significantly disturbed possibly by mixing with transported soils.     

川东北普光地区新型杂卤石钾盐矿的物源:Sr、S同位素证据

新型杂卤石钾盐矿是近年来发现于四川盆地东北部早—中三叠世的一种可溶性海相固体钾盐,因其可利用性及低成本可开采特征,及其对海相找钾实现突破性进展提供的指示意义,引起了工业界及学术界的广泛关注.但当前以新型杂卤石钾盐矿为载体的海相成钾理论研究尚处于探索阶段,本文聚焦川东北普光地区中下三叠统新型杂卤石钾盐矿,将锶、硫同位素研...     

内蒙古大井铜锡多金属矿床矿石中Cu-S同位素特征及成矿预测

内蒙古大井铜锡多金属矿床是大兴安岭成矿带代表性矿床之一,矿区位于内蒙古东部林西县境内,成矿地质条件良好。矿床矿石中同位素特征及与成矿的关系研究薄弱。本文通过对矿体中黄铜矿Cu同位素,黄铜矿、黄铁矿S同位素和Pb同位素的研究表明:黄铜矿δ⁶⁵Cu 值总体范围为 -0.46‰+0.32‰,平均值为0 ‰,2σ误差平均值约为0.03‰;黄铜矿、黄铁矿δ³⁴S值总体范围为 +0.076 ‰+3.00‰,平均值为+1.83‰,且δ³⁴S值分散程度也较小,整体较均一,属于岩浆硫的同位素特征;Pb同位素数据整体变化很小,具体为²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=18.29118.353,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb =15.50115.574,²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb =38.05138.265。结合区域前人的研究表明,大井矿Cu同位素的变化是由于硫化物-岩浆分异过程导致,大井矿矿石黄铜矿δ⁶⁵Cu的变化可能指示了矿化阶段成矿硫化物的演化方向,δ⁶⁵Cu逐渐降低的方向可能存在隐伏矿体,研究区域东部生产区域与外围预测未生产区域具有一致的Cu同位素特征,Cu同位素证据表明大井矿外围预测区可能存在深部隐伏矿体。     

污染场地六价铬迁移转化机制与数值模拟研究

随着全球工业化迅猛发展,土壤和地下水六价铬污染日益严重。基于某铁合金厂铬渣场地现场调查与采样分析,开展铬渣场地土样吸附、渗透和弥散试验,研究六价铬在粉质黏土土样中的吸附特性和迁移规律,建立考虑对流-弥散-吸附的六价铬迁移三维动力学模型,结合数值软件获取污染源位于场地上、下游时地下水中六价铬迁移分布特征,并揭示弥散度?和分配系数 对六价铬时空分布的影响。试验结果表明,粉质黏土对六价铬吸附符合Langmuir等温吸附模型,最大吸附量为466.6 mg/kg;蒸馏水和160 mg/L 六价铬溶液入渗下粉质黏土渗透系数约为6.5×10–7～6.7×10–7 cm/s,1 000 mg/L六价铬溶液的渗透系数增大至4.4×10–6 cm/s;粉质黏土水动力弥散系数D为1.4×10–4 m2/d,计算得到阻滞因子 为4.2～10。数值模拟结果表明,场地下游受到六价铬污染时,即使不考虑分子扩散作用,上游仍有被污染的风险,污染程度取决于含水层的弥散度;考虑含水层对六价铬吸附时,土体分配系数越大,六价铬污染羽分布范围越小,在预测地下水中六价铬浓度分布时应重点考虑六价铬吸附等转化过程。     

Swelling capacity and permeability of an unprocessed and a processed bentonitic clay

Research on the longevity of potential bentonite-based barrier materials is an important part of the Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program. Valuable information on the longterm effectiveness of bentonitic barriers can be obtained by examining the properties of unprocessed bentonites from natural deposits. This study compares the swelling capacity (P_s) and hydraulic conductivity (K) of an unprocessed (clay that has not been ground and dried by the supplier) and a processed bentonite from south-central Saskatchewan, Canada. The clay deposit is 75 to 85 Ma old. At a given clay density, the processed bentonite exhibits a greater P₃ and a lower K than the unprocessed clay. This can be at least partially attributed to the partial cementation of the unprocessed bentonite particles; this cementation is likely ruptured when the clay is ground during processing. Even though K for the unprocessed clay is higher than that of the processed clay, it is still low enough (< 10¹¹m/s) to meet the permeability requirements of a barrier material in a nuclear fuel waste disposal vault. The unprocessed clay also has the has the ability to self seal: exposure to water, the normalized flow rate of water through some samples was as high as 10^-5 m³/s, but the rate rapidly decreased to < 10^-10m³/s the clay absorbed water and swelled. The data indicate that the unprocessed bentonite clay maintains anacceptably high swelling capacity and low permeability millions of years after deposition.     

The geochemical cycle of boron: Constraints from boron isotope partitioning experiments between mica and fluid

The fractionation of boron isotopes between synthetic boromuscovite and fluid was experimentally determined at 3.0 GPa/500 °C and 3.0 GPa/700 °C. For near-neutral fluids Δ¹¹B_(mica-fluid) = δ¹¹B_(mica) − δ¹¹B_(fluid) is − 10.9 ± 1.3‰ at 500 °C, and − 6.5 ± 0.4‰ at 700 °C. This supports earlier assumptions that the main fractionation effect is due to the change from trigonal coordination of boron in neutral fluids to tetrahedrally coordinated boron in micas, clays and melts. The T-dependence of this effect is approximated by the equation Δ¹¹B_{(mica,clay,melt–neutral fluid)} = − 10.69 · (1000/T [K]) + 3.88; R² = 0.992, valid from 25 °C for fluid–clay up to about 1000 °C for fluid–silicate melt. Experiments at 0.4 GPa that used strongly basic fluids produced significantly lower fractionations with Δ¹¹B_{(mica–fluid)} of − 7.4 ± 1.0‰ at 400 °C, and − 4.8 ± 1.0‰ at 500 °C, showing the reduced fractionation effect when large amounts of boron in basic fluids are tetrahedrally coordinated. Field studies have shown that boron concentrations and ¹¹B/¹⁰B-ratios in volcanic arcs systematically decrease across the arc with increasing distance from the trench, thus reflecting the thermal structure of the subducting slab. Our experiments show that the boron isotopic signature in volcanic arcs probably results from continuous dehydration of micas along a distinct P–T range. Continuous slab dehydration and boron transport via fluid into the mantle wedge is responsible for the boron isotopic signature in volcanic arcs.     

沉积物的矿物和地球化学特征与盆地构造、古气候背景

构造和气候的变化是盆地充填和演化的两个主要控制因素,对沉积物而言,其主要是对沉积物类型和分布的控制。从沉积物的矿物学和地球化学的角度,提取了与盆地构造和气候演变有关的主要参数,包括碳酸盐岩矿物中的δ¹³C、δ¹⁸O、石英/长石、高岭石/粘土、伊利石/粘土的比值,反演地质历史中盆地在构造和气候上的变化。对松辽盆地白垩系的研究表明,泉三段、泉四段中石英/长石低值代表了在盆地坳陷期存在着具有一定强度的构造运动。伊利石/粘土和高岭石/粘土的分析反映出松辽盆地白垩世的气候经历了由泉三段沉积期气候干旱到青山口组沉积期气候湿润、姚家组沉积期气候快速转向干旱、嫩一段沉积期湿润的气候和嫩三、四段沉积期湿热气候的演变。碳酸盐岩中碳、氧同位素分析显示松辽盆地在83.3 Ma左右发生了海侵事件,在82.8 Ma左右发生了海退事件。     

表生环境中镁同位素的地球化学循环

近些年表生环境中镁同位素分馏取得了一系列重要研究进展,这些新认识为深入理解表生环境中镁同位素地球化学循环奠定了基础。表生环境中镁同位素的地球化学循环主要涉及风化、河流搬运、碳酸盐沉淀、水岩反应等重要地质过程。风化过程中镁同位素发生显著分馏,硅酸盐风化产物中富集重的镁同位素,轻的镁同位素易进入水体。河流搬运过程中,镁同位素不发生分馏,但外源输入可能影响水体的镁同位素组成。河水汇入海洋后,碳酸盐沉淀过程可导致轻的镁同位素以碳酸盐的形式从海水中移出。在海底高温水岩反应过程中,海水中绝大多数的镁(80%~87%)都进入岩石,循环后的热液可能富集轻的镁同位素。海底低温水岩反应过程中海水的镁可以进入岩石并形成次生矿物,此过程的镁同位素分馏主要与次生矿物的形成有关。此外,海水中的镁易与黏土矿物发生交换反应,此过程黏土矿物倾向于吸附轻的镁同位素。总之,在表生环境中上地壳的镁(δ26Mg约为-0.22‰)经历风化作用、河流搬运、海洋贮存,最终以碳酸盐岩(δ26Mg一般小于-1‰)或与玄武岩发生反应的形式重新回到岩石圈。     

Diagenetic mass transport in the southern San Joaquin basin, California, U.S.A.: Implications from the strontium isotopic composition of modern pore fluids

Three types of chemically and isotopically distinct pore fluids from the southern San Joaquin basin previously recognized by J.B. Fisher and J.R. Boles also have distinctive ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios and Sr concentrations. Meteoric fluids have stable isotopic compositions which lie on or near the meteoric water line and low chlorinities. Sr concentrations are between 0.01 and 2.6 mg l⁻¹, and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios range from 0.7061 to 0.7078. Diagenetically modified connate marine fluids have δD-and δ¹⁸O-values more positive than −35‰ and 0‰, respectively, and have chlorinities generally comparable to seawater. Sr concentration are much higher than the meteoric group (16–198 mg l⁻¹), although the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7070–0.7081) are not distinctive. Mixed meteoric-modified connate fluids have δD, δ¹⁸O and chlorinity intermediate between the meteoric and modified connate groups. Sr concentrations are also intermediate, between 16 and 22 mg l⁻¹, but ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7080–0.7087) are generally more radiogenic than either the meteoric or modified connate groups.

All of the fluids have ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios comparable to or lower than Tertiary seawater. Alteration of detrital plagioclase is the probable origin of the low isotopic ratios. Mass-balance calculations based on the Sr data suggest that essentially no transport of Sr occurred during diagenesis of sandstones containing modified connate pore fluids, while large amounts of Sr have been transported out of meteoric reservoirs by fluid flow. The chemically anomalous mixed meteoric-modified connate fluids contain the most radiogenic strontium in the basin. These fluids are spatially associated with major faults, and may represent clay mineral dehydration waters which have been transported upward from greater depth.

These results suggest that the three types of fluids identified by Fisher and Boles represent three distinct mass transport regimes: a largely stagnant deep-basin system containing modified connate pore fluids; an actively recharging meteoric system along the basin flanks; and a third system restricted to the southern basin which may be characterized by largescale cross-formational fluid flow, rather than dilution by meteoric waters.     

210Pb and 7Be as Tracers for Aerosol Transfers at Center Guizhou，China：Ⅰ．The Explanation by Weekly Interval

It′s essential to measure air concentrations and depositional fluxes of environmental radionuclides in different regions for modeling global contamination transfer and validation, tracing deposition process and dating, referencing watershed erosion trace and assessing natural radiation of ecosystem. This study introduces the research background and methods and explains weekly variations of ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be concentrations in surface air and precipitation at Mt. Guanfeng/Guiyang since 2001. The results indicate that ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be concentrations in surface air fluctuate periodically at 2~6 week interval because of the meteorological condition changes. The annual trend in ²¹⁰Pb air concentration is overall influenced by air temperature variation and periodical rainfall. ⁷Be air concentration varies up and down regualarly. The synchronization of low concentrations for both ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be in surface air and high ratio (²¹⁰Pb/⁷Be ≥ 0.8) indicate oceanic poor ²¹⁰Pb-⁷Be air mass invasion. The synchronization of high concentrations of ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be in surface air and low ratio (²¹⁰Pb/⁷Be ≤ 0.7) implies rich ⁷Be air mass invasion from altostratus atmosphere. Weekly concentrations of ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be in precipitation and the K_d coefficients are high in late Autumn to Spring, and low in late Spring to Autumn. Although ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be concentrations vary seasonally, their weekly concentrations in precipitation increase with that of air concentration. The ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be weekly concentrations for seasonal division is about 0.2 Bq/L and 1 Bq/L, respectively. However, the K_d coefficient decreases when ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be air concentrations increase. Deposition of ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be with precipitation mainly take place in Spring and Summer; The weekly fallout of ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be increases with increasing precipitation; the increase of ⁷Be is triple of that of ²¹⁰Pb and 2.5 when precipitation nears to zero. The weekly-high fallout of ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be with precipitation corresponds with the dramatic decrease of their air concentrations within or vicinal weeks. The ratio of ²¹⁰Pb to ⁷Be in rainfall is overall ≤ 0.5 and varies synchronously with the ratio in surface air, indicating that the two radionuclides are cleaned by precipitation from air at close speed. In the extreme freezing disaster in 2008, both ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be air concentrations were low and coupling with coexist of low concentration of aerosol and high nuclides activities. Weekly concentration of ⁷Be in surface air at Mt. Guanfeng demonstrates the anticipated concentration level in the low-latitude and high-elevation region; the short-term fluctuations of ⁷Be concentration indicated the hysteresis was influcenced by the strong air current submersion and the low-elevation air mass rising differently at Mt. Guanfeng and Mt. Waliguan.      

南华北盆地太康隆起煤系页岩气地质特征及勘探潜力

基于南华北盆地上古生界煤系页岩气勘探实践及认识,通过研究该区页岩气烃源岩地球化学特征、储集层特征、含气性特征,总结页岩气地质特征,分析勘探潜力。页岩气主要发育于太原组、山西组,烃源岩有机质类型以Ⅲ型为主,镜质体反射率为2.1%~3.4%,处于过成熟阶段;太原组、山西组泥页岩有机碳含量均值分别为2.34%、1.66%;页岩气储集层矿物成分以石英、黏土矿物为主,主要储集空间类型为矿物质孔和微裂缝;太原组、山西组页岩含气量均值分别为1.73 m³/t、1.55 m³/t,相对于海相页岩含气特征属于中等—偏高的范围;采用容积法计算页岩气地质资源量为7112×10⁸m³,资源丰度为2.54×10⁸m³。经综合对比评价认为庄头斜坡、杞县凹陷是南华北盆地太康隆起页岩气较为有利的勘探目标区。     

K-Ar、40Ar/39定年中尼尔值和初始氩比值

K-Ar、⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar定年中, 用以计算囚禁⁴⁰Ar绝对量的⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar, 称为初始氩比值.现代大气中的初始氩比值叫尼尔值, 为295.5.K-Ar、⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar定年的表观年龄都是在假设初始氩比值与现代大气中的尼尔值一致的基础上得到的.事实证明, 地球样品的初始氩比值不总是尼尔值, 因此这种假定不可靠, 尤其在对年轻样品进行K-Ar、⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar定年时, 会带来错误的表观年龄结果.对于K-Ar、⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar精细年代学, 特别对于年轻样品和低钾含量样品, 只有初始氩比值才对定年研究有意义, 而初始氩比值只能通过⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar等时线法求得.所以严格地讲, 只有等时线年龄才是可靠的.结合实验流程, 本文分析了⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar定年中为什么大多数等时线获取的初始氩比值接近尼尔值, 一是因为常规⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar坪年龄的计算方法, 二是因为吸附氩的干扰.初始氩比值的一致性, 被用来证明样品同位素同源和封闭特性, 对年龄数据的精度及可靠性有非常大的影响, 尤其是年轻样品.因此, 在⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar定年中要选取氩同位素初始比值一致的同源样品, 并在实验流程中尽量克服样品吸附气体.本文对传统⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar方法中坪年龄、年龄坪的意义提出了质疑, 对提高⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar定年的精度具有重要意义, 并使之能够应用到极年轻的火山岩定年中.     

Temporal Variation in Sr and 87Sr/86Sr of Yangtze River: An Example from Datong Hydrological Station

Temporal variation of dissolved ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in the Yangtze River is poorly understood compared to other Tibetan rivers. In this study, dissolved Sr and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr were measured from a temporal series of water samples collected biweekly at Datong Hydrological Station over a period of one year. Our results show that Sr concentration in the Yangtze River ranges from 1.74 to 2.92 μmol/L with ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.710125 to 0.710965. The Sr concentration and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr shows a distinct seasonal variation, with a general increase in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios from summer to winter and some fluctuations during July and December, then followed by a gradually decrease till the next rainy season. The seasonal variation results from the variation of contributions from different sub-basin due to the spatially and seasonally variable rainfall across the basin. During the flood season, more contribution from upper reach (low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values) due to the strong rainfall decreases the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio at lower reach. While the severe drought which happened in the middle-lower reaches (high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values) from January to May explains the decrease in the later part of the data by the decrease of the contribution from middle-lower reaches. The discharge weighted annual ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and annual Sr flux of the Yangtze River based on the time series data are 0.710628 and 1.9×10⁹ mol/a, respectively. It was also indicated that dissolved ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in the Yangtze River is well correlated to the extreme climate events and might contribute to our explanation for reconstructing past climatic changes by using ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the sedimentary record in the delta .     

湘鄂西龙马溪组页岩解析气同位素组成特征及应用

湘鄂西地区位于中扬子板块,研究区龙马溪组富有机质页岩的有机质类型以Ⅱ₁型为主,Ⅱ₂型次之,TOC含量高,有机质热成熟度高,页岩矿物以脆性矿物为主,黏土矿物次之。通过分析三个实验阶段(20 ℃、65 ℃、90 ℃)解析气样发现,气体中CH₄含量较高(90.34%~99.64%),含有少量非烃气体。龙马溪组页岩气CH₄碳同位素值为-41.9‰~-30.8‰,C₂H₆碳同位素值为-42.3‰~-36.2‰,δ²H_CH4为-193.4‰~-156.0‰,随着成熟度的增加,CH₄碳同位素、C₂H₆碳同位素以及CH₄氢同位素都有升高的趋势。烃类气体碳同位素具有明显的倒转现象,即δ¹³C₁>δ¹³C₂。根据解析实验三个阶段的气体同位素特征和测得的各阶段含气特征建立游离气与吸附气所占比例的计算公式,进一步推算出解析过程总含气量中所含有的游离气量以及吸附气量。     

Isotopic composition of zinc, copper, and iron in lunar samples

We determined by ICP-MS the concentrations and isotopic ratios of Fe, Cu, and Zn in the Ti-rich lunar basalt 74275, in the lunar orange glass 74220, and in up to 10 lunar soils, namely, 14163, 15231, 64501, 66041, 68841, 69941, 70011, 72501, 75081, and 76501. Two analyses of zinc in lunar basalt 74275 give δ⁶⁶Zn = 0.17‰ and 0.75‰, values within the range of those measured in terrestrial basalts; copper in lunar basalt 74275 has δ⁶⁵Cu  +1.4‰, which is isotopically heavier than values observed in terrestrial basalts. In the orange glass, we measured δ⁵⁶Fe = −0.24‰, δ⁶⁵Cu = −0.42‰, and δ⁶⁶Zn  −3.6‰. These values of δ are more negative than those obtained for 74275 and for typical lunar basalts, but for Cu, comparable to those observed in terrestrial sulfides and meteorites. In lunar soils we found 0.11‰  δ⁵⁶Fe  0.51‰, 2.6‰  δ⁶⁵Cu  4.5‰, and 2.2‰  δ⁶⁶Zn  6.4‰. Insofar as we can generalize from a small sample set, S, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Cd show similar trends in isotopic fractionation on the Moon. Lunar basalts have nearly terrestrial isotopic ratios. Relative to the lunar basalt 74275, the pyroclastic glass 74220 is enriched in the lighter isotopes of Fe, Cu, and Zn, and the soils are enriched in the heavier isotopes of Fe, Cu, and Zn. The patterns in the basalts are likely inherited from the source material; the light-isotope enrichments seen in the orange glass originated during lava fountaining or, less probably, during partial condensation of vapor; and the heavy-isotope enrichments in the lunar soils were likely created by a combination of processes that included micrometeorite vaporization and sputtering. In the orange glass, the light-isotope enrichments (relative to lunar basalts) of Zn are larger than those of Cu. If these enrichments reflect accurately the isotopic composition of the gas, they suggest that Cu is more volatile than Zn in the liquid from which the gas derived. A simple model built on the known flux of micrometeorites to the lunar surface and a published estimate that micrometeorites generate 10 times their own mass of vapor, predicts heavy-isotope enrichments comparable to those observed in soils but only if the regolith gardening rate is set at about one twentieth of the generally accepted value of 1 cm/My. This discrepancy may reflect the difference in the time constants for micrometeorite milling and decimeter-scale gardening, or the importance of sputtering.     

Decoupled Erosion of Authigenic and Detrital Components in Soil

In the study of surface processes, it is generally assumed that erosion occurs equally throughout the soil profile so that chemical depletion of the topsoil can represent the intensity of chemical weathering and the duration of surface exposure to cosmogenic radiation can reflects the soil residence time, and then the rate of erosion can be calculated. In comparison with fresh bedrock, the depletion of soluble elements in soil mainly comes from fine-grained secondary clay components, while the depletion degree of detrital minerals is weak. The preferential erosion of fine-grained secondary clay will lead to the underestimation of weathering intensity, and the retention time of detrital mineral will be longer than the total retention time of soil， and thus the soil erosion rate will be underestimated. Based on the uranium isotope comminution ages of soil in the Lesotho Highlands, we found that erosion operates differentially between the detrital and authigenic components of the soil. Uranium isotope comminution ages show a soil residence time of (543±32) ka for the detrital particles. In contrast, soil residence time of the authigenic phases is constrained to be (22±11) ka according to the accumulation of recoiled ²³⁴U from the absorbed ²³⁸U to river water. The residence time of secondary clay matches with the regional erosion rate 24-33 t/(km²·a) calculated from weathering flux, indicating that secondary clay is the main component of soil erosion. The results indicate that the decoupled erosion of different components in soil may be common. This finding implies that the intensity of weathering based on bulk soil erosion and the rate of soil erosion determined by exposure dating of coarse soil grains may be invalidated due to the preferential erosion of authigenic particles. As a result, a lower estimate of weathering flux may be made, and therefore the role of chemical weathering in the global carbon cycle could be underestimated.     

Anomalous behaviour of uranium isotopes in coastal marine environment of the west coast of India

During the last few years, a remarkable anomaly between ²³⁸U and ²³⁴U activities has been observed in the top layers of the coastal sediments along the western region of the Indian sub-continent. Sediment samples from Bombay (19°N, 73°E) to Kottilppad (8°N, 77°E) were leached with saturated ammonium carbonate solution to extract uranium isotopes from the surface layers of the sediment particles without attacking the mineral cores. The ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratios in these leachates are in the range of 1.12–1.14 while ²³⁵U/²³⁸U activity ratio is 0.046 which is the same as for other natural uranium.

The surface organic matter from the sediment particles was removed by treatment with hydrogen peroxide in presence of 0.05 M hydrochloric acid. ²³⁴U/²³⁸U and ²³⁵u/²³⁸U activity ratios in the extract and the residues were determined.

It is observed that disequilibrium between ²³⁸U and ²³⁴U exists only on the surface of sediment particles. ²³⁴U/²³⁸U on the surface of the sediment particles is the same as in the ambient water and as the surface organic matter is removed from the particle surface, the cores show equilibrium activities.     

重庆南川三汇场寒武系碳酸盐岩中不同期次大气淡水作用的证据

多期构造叠加及多种成岩环境下的早古生代碳酸盐岩储集层形成机理十分复杂。重庆南川三汇场剖面寒武系碳酸盐岩出露完整,是研究沉积与成岩史的理想解剖点之一。研究表明,三汇场剖面寒武系白云岩分别经历了早期海水胶结、大气淡水淋滤、准同生白云岩化、中浅层埋藏、中期构造大气水作用、中晚期埋藏及热液作用和构造晚期表生大气水成岩作用,不同期次的大气淡水作用特征不同。在早成岩期,沿向上变浅的高频层序界面附近发育了鲕模孔、窗格溶孔等组构性溶孔,胶结物和充填物的δ¹⁸O、δ¹³C值均比同期海水负偏,⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr值与同期海水相近,不发光(CL),含有较小的液相包裹体;加里东晚期—海西期,发育了非组构扩溶孔洞缝,伴有氧化沥青,不发光充填物的δ¹⁸O、δ¹³C负偏、⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr值正偏,发育含烃的低温不混溶包裹体,并叠加后期的深埋藏及热液成岩作用;燕山期和喜马拉雅期, 发育孤立的非组构溶蚀孔洞、缝洞,多被巨晶方解石或黏土充填,方解石中δ¹⁸O、δ¹³C强烈负偏($\delta^{13}C_{PDB}$=-4.6‰~-23.4‰,$\delta^{18}C_{PDB}$=-8.6‰~-17.8‰)、含有低温不混溶包裹体(<28.5℃),是有机质或生物甲烷(细)菌参于下的表生大气水成岩作用产物。