The marineOs/Os record of the past 80 million years

We report new¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁶Os data and Re and Os concentrations in metalliferous sediments from the Pacific to construct a composite Os isotope seawater evolution curve over the past 80 m.y. Analyses of four samples of upper Cretaceous age yield¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁶Os values of between 3 and 6.5 and¹⁸⁷Re/¹⁸⁶Os values below 55. Mass balance calculations indicate that the pronounced minimum of about 2 in the Os isotope ratio of seawater at the K-T boundary probably reflects the enormous input of cosmogenic material into the oceans by the K-T impactor(s). Following a rapid recovery to¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁶Os of 3.5 at 63 Ma, data for the early and middle part of the Cenozoic show an increase in¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁶Os to about 6 at 15 Ma. Variations in the isotopic composition of leachable Os from slowly accumulating metalliferous sediments show large fluctuations over short time spans. In contrast, analyses of rapidly accumulating metalliferous carbonates do not exhibit the large oscillations observed in the pelagic clay leach data. These results together with sediment leaching experiments indicate that dissolution of non-hydrogenous Os can occur during the hydrogen peroxide leach and demonstrate that Os data from pelagic clay leachates do not always reflect the Os isotopic composition of seawater.

New data for the late Cenozoic further substantiate the rapid increase in the¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁶Os of seawater during the past 15 Ma. We interpret the correlation between the marine Sr and Os isotope records during this time period as evidence that weathering within the drainage basin of the Ganges-Brahmaputra river system is responsible for driving seawater Sr and Os toward more radiogenic isotopic compositions. The positive correlation between⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and U concentration, the covariation of U and Re concentrations, and the high dissolved Re, U and Sr concentrations found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra river waters supports this interpretation. Accelerating uplift of many orogens worldwide over the past 15 Ma, especially during the last 5 Ma, could have contributed to the rapid increase in¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁶Os from 6 to 8.5 over the past 15 Ma. Prior to 15 Ma the marine Sr and Os record are not tightly coupled. The heterogeneous distribution of different lithologies within eroding terrains may play an important role in decoupling the supplies of radiogenic Os and Sr to the oceans and account for the periods of decoupling of the marine Sr and Os isotope records.     

Os isotope systematics in ocean island basalts

New ReOs isotopic results for Os-poor basalts from St. Helena, the Comores, Samoa, Pitcairn and Kerguelen dramatically expand the known range of initial ¹⁸⁶Os/¹⁸⁷Os ratios in OIBs to values as high as 1.7. In contrast to the Os isotopic uniformity of Os-rich basalts from the HIMU islands of Tubuai and Mangaia found by Hauri and Hart [1], our values for St. Helena span most of the known range of Os isotopic variability in oceanic basalts (initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁶Os ranges from 1.2 to 1.7). Generation of such radiogenic Os in the mantle requires melting of source materials that contain large proportions of recycled oceanic crust. The very low Os concentrations of most of the basalts analyzed here, however, leave them susceptible to modification via interaction with materials containing radiogenic Os in the near-surface environment. Thus the high ¹⁸⁶Os/¹⁸⁷Os ratios may result from assimilation of radiogenic Os-rich marine sediments, such as Mn oxides, within the volcanic piles traversed by these magmas en route to the surface. Furthermore, the Os isotopic signatures of Os-rich, olivine-laden OIBs may reflect the accumulation of lithospheric olivine, rather than simply their mantle source characteristics. The extent to which these processes alter the view of the mantle obtained via study of ReOs systematics in oceanic basalts is uncertain. These effects must be quantified before ReOs systematics in OIBs can be used with confidence to investigate the nature of mantle heterogeneity and its causes.     

Osmium isotopes in the aerosols of the mantle volcano Mauna Loa

Aerosols and reactive gases from the spring 1984 eruption of Mauna Loa Volcano on Hawaii were collected and analyzed for osmium and its isotopic composition. The measured¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁶Os ratio of1.14 ± 0.03 is close to the ratio in matter with solar systemRe/Os abundance. This result shows that the aerosols from Mauna Loa originated in the mantle and that their composition was not or only slightly influenced by their contact with the crust.     

Coupled Os–Os enrichments in the Earth’s mantle – core–mantle interaction or recycling of ferromanganese crusts and nodules?

¹⁸⁶Os enrichments in volcanic rocks and peridotite-derived iridosmine grains have been attributed to contributions from Earth’s outer core to the mantle, and apparently constrain the scale of mantle convection and an early timing for inner–outer core segregation more than 3.5 Gyr ago. Here, we highlight that marine ferromanganese crusts and nodules are characterised by high Pt/Os ratios and Pt–Os contents that develop much larger ¹⁸⁶Os excesses over geological time (≥0.2%/Gyr) than those hypothesised for Earth’s outer core (<0.005–0.01%/Gyr). ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratios in ferromanganese crusts are radiogenic due to sequestering of continental Os from seawater. Similarly, ancient ferromanganese materials may have had ¹⁸⁶Os excesses (>0.1%) as a result of high Pt/Os ratios in continental crust, even prior to in-growth of ¹⁸⁶Os after formation due to their high Pt/Os ratios. Past recycling of small amounts of these materials into the Earth’s mantle will produce coupled ¹⁸⁷Os–¹⁸⁶Os excesses and little change in Re and platinum-group-element concentrations, as observed in Hawaiian picrites, and in contrast to the predicted result of outer core addition to the mantle. ¹⁸⁷Os and ¹⁸⁶Os enrichments in the Hawaiian mantle source are potentially consistent with it comprising recycled oceanic lithosphere, pelagic sediments and ferromanganese materials, and questions the notion that Os isotopes can be used to uniquely identify core–mantle interactions and the depth at which mantle sources for volcanism originate.     

Osmium-strontium-neodymium-lead isotopic covariations in mid-ocean ridge basalt glasses and the heterogeneity of the upper mantle

Osmium, strontium, neodymium, and lead isotopic data have been obtained for 30 hand picked samples of basaltic glass from the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian mid-oceanic ridges. Large variations in Os isotopic ratios exist in the glasses, from abyssal peridotite-like values to radiogenic compositions similar to oceanic island basalts (¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁶Os and ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratios range from 1.06 to 1.36 and from 0.128 to 0.163, respectively). Os isotopic and elemental data suggest the existence of mixing correlations. This relationship might be ascribed to secondary contamination processes; however, such a hypothesis cannot account for the negative correlation observed between Os and Nd isotopes and the existence of complementary covariations between Os and SrPb isotopes. In this case, OsSrNdPb isotopic variations are unrelated to late post-eruption or shallow level contamination. These relationships provide strong evidence that the Os isotopic composition of the samples are derived from the mantle and thus implies a global chemical heterogeneity of the oceanic upper mantle. The results are consistent with the presence of recycled oceanic crust in the mantle sources of mid-ocean ridge basalts, and indicate that the unique composition of the upper mantle below the Indian ocean results from its contamination by a mantle component characterized by radiogenic Os and particularly unradiogenic Nd and Pb isotopic compositions.     

Sulphide inclusions in diamonds from the Koffiefontein kimberlite, S Africa: constraints on diamond ages and mantle Re–Os systematics

Re–Os isotope compositions of syngenetic sulphide inclusions in both eclogite suite (E-type) and peridotite suite (P-type) parageneses in diamonds from the Koffiefontein mine, South Africa have been analysed using a technique capable of analysing single inclusion grains, or, in some cases multiple inclusions from the same diamonds. Sulphide inclusion Ni contents broadly correlate with Os abundances in that low-Ni (6.8–8.7% Ni), E-type sulphides have 4.7 to 189 ppb Os whereas the two high-Ni (25%), P-type sulphides have 5986 and 6097 ppb Os. Two P-type sulphides from the same diamond define the first mineral isochron obtained for a single diamond which has an age of 69±30 Ma with chondritic initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os. This indicates that the sulphides, and hence the host diamond, crystallised close to the time of kimberlite emplacement (90 Ma), in the Mesozoic. This is supported by Pb isotopic measurements of a fragment from one of the sulphides, together with the absence of significant Type IaB nitrogen aggregation in the host diamond lattice. E-type sulphide inclusions have radiogenic Os isotopic compositions, ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os 0.346 to 2.28, and Re–Os model ages from 1.1 to 2.9 Ga. They define an array on a Re–Os isochron diagram that may be interpreted as defining a single period of E-type sulphide growth at 1.05±0.12 Ga, with an elevated initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os. Alternatively, two episodes of sulphide crystallisation, from a chondritic reservoir, may be invoked in the Archaean and in the Proterozoic. The results for both P- and E-type diamonds point to a spectrum of diamond crystallisation ages. High contents of both Re and Os, and the similarity of Re/Os ratios of sulphide inclusions in diamonds to whole rock eclogite and peridotite xenoliths indicate that small amounts of sulphides can dominate the mantle budget of both these elements during melting. Recent addition to the lithospheric mantle of high-Os material similar to that from which the P-type sulphides crystallised may explain the variable, sometimes young Os model ages seen in whole rock xenolith Re–Os data.     

The ReOs systematics of the Ronda Ultramafic Complex of southern Spain

The Os isotopic compositions of twelve ultramafic and six mafic layer samples from the Ronda Ultramafic Complex of southern Spain have been determined. Among the ultramafic rocks, ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁶Os varies from 0.98 to 1.12. A weak correlation is observed between ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁶Os and Re/Os. A much stronger correlation exists between Os isotopic ratio and Mg#, suggesting that the Re/Os ratios have been perturbed to some extent. Two alternatives are proposed to explain the relationship between Os composition and Mg#: (1) Continuous processes in the convecting mantle; (2) Radiogenic ingrowth since an ancient melt depletion event. No relationship is observed between ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁶Os and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd. This is probably because the Nd systematics were strongly affected by a recent metasomatic event, which apparently had little effect on the Os isotopic compositions.The Os isotopic ratios of the mafic layers range from 1.7 to 47.9. Within a single thick layer, the ratios vary from 16.5 to 47.9. These high ratios demonstrate that the layers are ancient features. Among the mafic samples, Os isotopic ratio is found to decrease strongly with increasing Os concentration, which ranges from 0.009 ppb to 1.16 ppb. One layer, which had a SmNd model age of less than 200 Ma, yielded a ReOs model age of about 2 Ga. This implies that neither system can be trusted to give accurate information about the time of mafic layer formation.     

The Vendian record of Sr and C isotopic variations in seawater: Implications for tectonics and paleoclimate

New Sr and C isotopic data, both obtained on the same samples of marine carbonates, provide a relatively detailed record of isotopic variation in seawater through the latest Proterozoic and allow, for the first time, direct correlation of these isotopic changes in the Vendian ( 540–610 Ma). The strong isotope variations determined in this study record significant environmental and tectonic changes. Together with a fairly poorly constrained Nd isotopic record, the Sr and C isotopic records can be used to constrain rates of erosion, hydrothermal alteration and organic C burial. Further, comparison of these records with those of the Cenozoic permit investigation of the general relationship between global tectonics and continental glaciation. In particular, results of this study show a very large change in the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of marine carbonates from low pre-Vendian ( > 610 Ma) values ( 0.7066) to high Middle Cambrian values ( 0.7090). This change is greater in magnitude than the significant increase in seawater ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr through the Cenozoic. Both changes are attributed to high erosion rates associated with continent-continent collisions (Pan-African and Himalayan-Tibetan). In the latest Proterozoic these high erosion rates, probably coupled with high organic productivity and anoxic bottom-water conditions, contributed to a significant increase in the burial rate of organic C. Ice ages mark both the Neoproterozoic and Cenozoic, but different stratigraphic relationships between the Sr isotopic increase and continental glaciation indicate that uplift-driven models proposed to explain Cenozoic climatic change cannot account for the latest Proterozoic ice ages.     

Precise Re–Os mineral isochron and Pb–Nd–Os isotope systematics of a mafic–ultramafic sill in the 2.0 Ga Onega plateau (Baltic Shield)

We present Re–Os, Sm–Nd and Pb–Pb isotope and trace element data for the Konchozero sill, a layered mafic–ultramafic intrusion in the Early Proterozoic Onega plateau, one of the oldest continental flood basalt provinces on Earth. The Sm–Nd and Pb–Pb combined mineral and whole-rock isochron ages of 1988±34 and 1985±57 Ma for the sill coincide with the age of ferropicrites from Pechenga (the Kola Peninsula). The lithostratigraphic, chemical and isotope evidence suggest the derivation of Pechenga lavas and the Onega plateau volcanics from a single mantle plume. Peridotite and gabbro whole-rock samples, and primary ulvospinel and ilmenite mineral separates from the sill yield a Re–Os isochron with a slope corresponding to an age of 1969±18 Ma, γ_Os(T) =−0.61±5.9. This age is consistent with the other isotope data, and indicates the closed-system behavior of Re and Os in the rocks. The peridotites and ulvospinel have high Os concentrations (2.5–14 ppb) and low ¹⁸⁷Re/¹⁸⁸Os ratios (0.35–1.1), thus allowing a more accurate determination of the weighted average initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os of 0.1144±0.0019 (2σ_pop), γ_Os(T) =+0.77±1.7. This value is lower than that determined by Walker et al. (Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 61 (1997) 3145–3160) for the Pechenga lavas (γ_Os(T) =+6.1±0.7), and implies a substantial Os-isotope heterogeneity in this ancient plume. Compared to the Onega plateau primary basalt magma, Pechenga ferropicrites are relatively enriched in iron and Ni, have lower (Nb/Th)_N ratios (2.1 vs 1.1) and less radiogenic Nd-isotope compositions (_Nd(T) = +3.1 and +1.4, respectively), but share similar low-radiogenic Pb-isotope characteristics (μ₁=8.57 and 8.60). Incorporation of small amounts (1.5%) of outer core material into the hotter central part of the plume and subsequent contamination of the Pechenga ferropicritic magmas with the 2.9 Ga Belomorian gneisses can explain the observed chemical and isotope variations in the two provinces provided that the core had <0.25 ppm of Pb.     

Diagenesis and Sr isotopic evolution of seawater using data from DSDP 590B and 575

New Sr isotopic and concentration analyses of bulk carbonate and porewaters from a carbonate-rich Miocene section sampled at DSDP Site 575 are reported and used, along with our earlier data from a section of similar age at DSDP Site 590B, in a numerical model to determine for each site the rate of Sr exchange during diagenesis and the degree to which this amount of exchange has shifted the⁸⁷Sr⁸⁶Sr of the bulk carbonate from the ratio each increment of sediment had when first deposited. Despite the fact that the two sites have very different water depth (4536 m at 575 vs. 1299 m at 590B), different sedimentation rate ( 10 m/My at 575 vs. 40 m/My at 590B), and significantly different porewater Sr²⁺ gradients, we find that the rate of Sr exchange as a function of sediment age is almost indistinguishable between the two sites. The rate of Sr exchange determined at the two sites is such that the resulting shift in bulk carbonate⁸⁷Sr⁸⁶Sr due to diagenesis is small compared to the total range of⁸⁷Sr⁸⁶Sr values measured, but large compared to the analytical uncertainty of the individual isotopic ratio measurements. By taking this shift into account we reconstruct the original⁸⁷Sr⁸⁶Sr of each increment of carbonate sampled, which when plotted as a function of age becomes our best estimate of the Sr isotopic evolution of seawater. Because Sr is very well mixed in the ocean, at any given time there is a single worldwide value of seawater⁸⁷Sr⁸⁶Sr. Therefore, if we are quantitatively accounting for the effect Sr exchange, we should find the same seawater evolution curve regardless of what DSDP Site is used. When we compare the observed bulk carbonate⁸⁷Sr⁸⁶Sr vs. age at the two sites they are seen to differ by amounts that are sometimes large compared to the analytical uncertainties of the measurements. However, when these data are corrected for the post-depositional Sr isotopic shifts predicted by our diagenetic model, we find almost perfect agreement. This agreement suggests that we have made a realistic determination of the rate of Sr exchange and its consequences in terms of shifting the⁸⁷Sr⁸⁶Sr of the bulk carbonate, and more importantly, that Sr isotopes can be used to correlate marine sediments with an accuracy comparable to the very small analytical uncertainties of modern isotopic measurements.     

Temporal–compositional trends over short and long time-scales in basalts of the Big Pine Volcanic Field, California

Primitive basaltic single eruptions in the Big Pine Volcanic Field (BPVF) of Owens Valley, California show systematic temporal–compositional variation that cannot be described by simple models of fractional crystallization, partial melting of a single source, or crustal contamination. We targeted five monogenetic eruption sequences in the BPVF for detailed chemical and isotopic measurements and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating, focusing primarily on the Papoose Canyon sequence. The vent of the primitive (Mg# = 69) Papoose Canyon sequence (760.8 ± 22.8 ka) produced magmas with systematically decreasing (up to a factor of two) incompatible element concentrations, at roughly constant MgO (9.8 ± 0.3 (1σ) wt.%) and Na₂O. SiO₂ and compatible elements (Cr and Ni) show systematic increases, while ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr systematically decreases (0.7063–0.7055) and ε_Nd increases (− 3.4 to − 1.1). ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os is highly radiogenic (0.20–0.31), but variations among four samples do not correlate with other chemical or isotopic indices, are not systematic with respect to eruption order, and thus the Os system appears to be decoupled from the dominant trends. The single eruption trends likely result from coupled melting and mixing of two isotopically distinct sources, either through melt-rock interaction or melting of a lithologically heterogeneous source. The other four sequences, Jalopy Cone (469.4 ± 9.2 ka), Quarry Cone (90.5 ±17.6 ka), Volcanic Bomb Cone (61.6 ± 23.4 ka), and Goodale Bee Cone (31.8 ± 12.1 ka) show similar systematic temporal decreases in incompatible elements. Monogenetic volcanic fields are often used to decipher tectonic changes on the order of 10⁵–10⁶ yr through long-term changes in lava chemistry. However, the systematic variation found in Papoose Canyon (10⁰–10² yr) nearly spans that of the entire volcanic field, and straddles cutoffs for models of changing tectonic regime over much longer time-scales. Moreover, ten new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages combined with chemistry from all BPVF single eruption sequences show the long-term trend of BPVF evolution comprises the overlapping, temporal–compositional trends of the monogenetic vents. This suggests that the single eruption sequences contain the bulk of the systematic chemical variation, whereas their aggregate compositions define the long-term trend of volcanic field evolution.     

Cenozoic evolution of the sulfur cycle: Insight from oxygen isotopes in marine sulfate

We report new data on oxygen isotopes in marine sulfate (δ¹⁸O_SO4), measured in marine barite (BaSO₄), over the Cenozoic. The δ¹⁸O_SO4 varies by 6‰ over the Cenozoic, with major peaks 3, 15, 30 and 55 Ma. The δ¹⁸O_SO4 does not co-vary with the δ³⁴S_SO4, emphasizing that different processes control the oxygen and sulfur isotopic composition of sulfate. This indicates that temporal changes in the δ¹⁸O_SO4 over the Cenozoic must reflect changes in the isotopic fractionation associated with the sulfide reoxidation pathway. This suggests that variations in the aerial extent of different types of organic-rich sediments may have a significant impact on the biogeochemical sulfur cycle and emphasizes that the sulfur cycle is less sensitive to net organic carbon burial than to changes in the conditions of that organic carbon burial. The δ¹⁸O_SO4 also does not co-vary with the δ¹⁸O measured in benthic foraminifera, emphasizing that oxygen isotopes in water and sulfate remain out of equilibrium over the lifetime of sulfate in the ocean. A simple box model was used to explore dynamics of the marine sulfur cycle with respect to both oxygen and sulfur isotopes over the Cenozoic. We interpret variability in the δ¹⁸O_SO4 to reflect changes in the aerial distribution of conditions within organic-rich sediments, from periods with more localized, organic-rich sediments, to periods with more diffuse organic carbon burial. While these changes may not impact the net organic carbon burial, they will greatly affect the way that sulfur is processed within organic-rich sediments, impacting the sulfide reoxidation pathway and thus the δ¹⁸O_SO4. Our qualitative interpretation of the record suggests that sulfate concentrations were probably lower earlier in the Cenozoic.     

A Sm-Nd isotopic study of atmospheric dusts and particulates from major river systems

¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios, and Sm and Nd abundances, are reported for particulates from major and minor rivers of the Earth, continental sediments, and aeolian dusts collected over the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Overall, Sm/Nd ratios and Nd isotopic compositions in contemporary continental erosion products vary within the small ranges of ¹⁴⁷Sm/¹⁴⁴Nd= 0.115 ± 0.01 and¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd= 0.51204 ± 0.0002 (ε_Nd = −11.4 ± 4). The average period of residence in the continental crust is estimated to be1.70 ± 0.35Ga.

These results combined with data from the literature have implications for the age, history, and composition of the sedimentary mass and the continental crust: (1) The average “crustal residence age” of the whole sedimentary mass is about 1.9 Ga. (2) The range of Nd isotope compositions in the continent derived particulate input to the oceans is the same as Atlantic sediments and seawater, but lower than those of the Pacific, demonstrating the importance of Pacific volcanism to Pacific Nd chemistry. (3) The average ratio of Sm/Nd is about 0.19 in the upper continental crust, and has remained so since the early Archean. This precludes the likelihood of major mafic to felsic or felsic to mafic trends in the overall composition of the upper continental crust through Earth history. (4) Sediments appear to be formed primarily by erosion of continental crust having similar Sm/Nd ratios, rather than by mixing of mafic and felsic compositions. (5) The average ratio of ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd≈ 0.5117 (ε_Nd ≈ −17) in the upper continental crust, assuming its mean age is about 2 Ga. (6) The uniformity of the SmNd isotopic systematics in river and aeolian particulates primarily reflects efficient recycling of old sediment by sedimentary processes on a short time scale compared to the amount of time the material has resided in the crust.     

Radionuclide adsorption to sediments from nuclear waste dumping sites in the Kara Sea

Environmental parameters (salinity, sediment concentration, equilibration time) affecting radionuclide partitioning between sediment and seawater were experimentally investigated for Kara Sea sediments collected from nuclear waste dumping sites in Abrosimov and Stepovogo Bays off Novaya Zemlya. Adsorption kinetics were examined and the influence of salinity and sediment concentration were evaluated over the range of concentrations expected in the bays for the following radionuclides: ^{110 m}Ag; ²⁴¹Am; ¹⁰⁹Cd; ⁶⁰Co; ⁵⁷Co-cobalamine; ¹³⁴Cs; ¹⁵²Eu; ⁵⁴Mn; ¹³³Ba; ¹⁰⁶Ru; and ⁸⁵Sr. The major findings of this investigation are that 1. radionuclide distribution coefficients (K_ds) were most sensitive to variations in sediment character (²⁴¹Am, ⁶⁰Co, ¹⁰⁹Cd) and concentration (⁵⁷Co-cobalamine, ⁸⁵Sr, and ¹³³Ba), 2. distribution coefficients generally decreased with increasing sediment concentration and 3. fast adsorption kinetics (near equilibrium ≈1 day) were observed only for ¹³⁷Cs and ^{110 m}Ag. The observed differences in K_ds for sediments from the two dumpsites exemplifies the importance of undertaking site-specific determinations of K_ds. For purposes of confining radioactive wastes to the dumpsites in Stepovogo and Abrosimov Bays, the findings of this study indicate that based on sediment character alone, Stepovogo Bay will be more effective at retaining radionuclides than Abrosimov Bay. This is unfortunate since less radioactive waste resides in Stepovogo Bay (0.6 PBq) than in Abrosimov Bay (1.4 PBq).     

Helium isotope geochemistry of mid-ocean ridge basalts from the South Atlantic

We report new helium isotope results for 49 basalt glass samples from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 1°N and 47°S.³He/⁴He in South Atlantic mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) varies between 6.5 and 9.0 R_A (R_A is the atmospheric ratio of1.39 × 10⁻⁶), encompassing the range of previously reported values for MORB erupted away from high³He/⁴He hotspots such as Iceland. He, Sr and Pb isotopes show systematic relationships along the ridge axis. The ridge axis is segmented with respect to geochemical variations, and local spike-like anomalies in³He/⁴He, Pb and Sr isotopes, and trace element ratios such as(La/Sm)_N are prevalent at the latitudes of the islands of St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Gough to the east of the ridge. The isotope systematics are consistent with injection beneath the ridge of mantle “blobs” enriched in radiogenic He, Pb and Sr, derived from off-axis hotspot sources. The variability in³He/⁴He along the ridge can be used to refine the hotspot source-migrating-ridge sink model.

MORB from the 2–7°S segment are systematically the least radiogenic samples found along the mid-ocean ridge system to date. Here the depleted mantle source is characterized by⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.7022, Pb isotopes close to the geochron and with²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb of 17.7, and³He/⁴He of 8.6–8.9 R_A. The “background contamination” of the subridge mantle, by radiogenic helium derived from off-ridge hotspots, displays a maximum between 20 and 24°S. The HePb and HeSr isotope relations along the ridge indicate that the³He/⁴He ratios are lower for the hotspot sources of St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Gough than for the MORB source, consistent with direct measurements of³He/⁴He ratios in the island lavas. Details of the HeSrPb isotope systematics between 12 and 22°S are consistent with early, widespread dispersion of the St. Helena plume into the asthenosphere, probably during flattening of the plume head beneath the thick lithosphere prior to continental breakup. The geographical variation in theHe/Pbratio deduced from the isotope systematics suggests only minor degassing of the plume during this stage. Subsequently, it appears that the plume component reaching the mid-Atlantic ridge was partially outgassed of He during off-ridge hotspot volcanism and related melting activity.

Overall, the similar behavior of He and Pb isotopes along the ridge indicates that the respective mantle sources have evolved under conditions which produced related He and Pb isotope variations.     

The longevity of subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath Jiangsu-Anhui Region ——The Os isotope model age of mantle-derived peridotite xenoliths

The basalt-borne peridotite xenoliths from Jiangsu-Anhui provinces were analyzed for whole rock Os isotopic compositions in two laboratories of USTC, China and CRPG, France, respectively. The 187Os/188Os ratio of the sample set ranges from 0.119 to 0.129 (25 samples, USTC)and from 0.117 to 0.131 (17 samples, CRPG). The Os isotopic compositions of most samples are less than 0.129 and depleted relatively to the primitive mantle, showing a good correlation with the major element compositions. With the 187Os/188Os-Al2O3 alumichron, the samples yield a model age of 2.5 ± 0.1 Ga (data of USTC) and 1.9 ± 0.1 Ga (data of CRPG), late Archean to early Proterozoic, The two samples with the lowest 187Os/188Os ratio (0.119 and 0.117) have the TRD (Re depleted age) of 1.1 Ga (USTC) and 1.4 Ga (CRPG), mid-Proterozoic. The Os isotope model age shows that the peridotite xenoliths from Cenozoic alkali basalt in Jiangsu-Anhui provinces have an old formation age (early- to mid- Proterozoic). They are not newly produced mantle after the Phanerozoic replacement of the lithosphere mantle, but residual fractions of Proterozoic mantle.     

Spatial and temporal variability in the stable isotope systematics of modern precipitation in China: implications for paleoclimate reconstructions

The stable isotopic composition of materials such as glacial ice, tree rings, lake sediments, and speleothems from low-to-mid latitudes contains information about past changes in temperature (T) and precipitation amount (P). However, the transfer functions which link δ¹⁸O_p to changes in T or P, dδ¹⁸O_p/dT and dδ¹⁸O_p/dP, can exhibit significant temporal and spatial variability in these regions. In areas affected by the Southeast Asian monsoon, past variations in δ¹⁸O and δD of precipitation have been attributed to variations in monsoon intensity, storm tracks, and/or variations in temperature. Proper interpretation of past δ¹⁸O_p variations here requires an understanding of these complicated stable isotope systematics. Since temperature and precipitation are positively correlated in China and have opposite effects on δ¹⁸O_p, it is necessary to determine which of these effects is dominant for a specific region in order to perform even qualitative paleoclimate reconstructions. Here, we evaluate the value of the transfer functions in modern precipitation to more accurately interpret the paleorecord. The strength of these transfer functions in China is investigated using multiple regression analysis of data from 10 sites within the Global Network for Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP). δ¹⁸O_p is modeled as a function of both temperature and precipitation. The magnitude and signs of the transfer functions at any given site are closely related to the degree of summer monsoon influence. δ¹⁸O_p values at sites with intense summer monsoon precipitation are more dependent on the amount of precipitation than on temperature, and therefore exhibit more negative values in the summer. In contrast, δ¹⁸O_p values at sites that are unaffected by summer monsoon precipitation exhibit strong relationships between δ¹⁸O_p and temperature. The sites that are near the northern limit of the summer monsoon exhibit dependence on both temperature and amount of precipitation. Comparison with simple linear models (δ¹⁸O_p as a function of T or P) and a geographic model (δ¹⁸O_p as a function of latitude and altitude) shows that the multiple regression model is more successful at reproducing δ¹⁸O_p values at sites that are strongly influenced by the summer monsoon. The fact that the transfer function values are highly spatially variable and closely related to the degree of summer monsoon influence suggests that these values may also vary temporally. Since the Southeast Asian monsoon intensity is known to exhibit large variations on a number of timescales (annual to glacial–interglacial), and the magnitude and sign of the transfer functions is related to monsoon intensity, we suggest that as monsoon intensity changes, the magnitude and possibly even the sign of the transfer functions may vary. Therefore, quantitative paleoclimate reconstructions based on δ¹⁸O_p variations may not be valid.     

The Late Eocene 187Os / 188Os excursion: Chemostratigraphy,cosmic dust flux and the Early Oligocene glaciation

High resolution records (ca. 100 kyr) of Os isotope composition (¹⁸⁷Os / ¹⁸⁸Os) in bulk sediments from two tropical Pacific sites (ODP Sites 1218 and 1219) capture the complete Late Eocene ¹⁸⁷Os / ¹⁸⁸Os excursion and confirm that the Late Eocene ¹⁸⁷Os / ¹⁸⁸Os minimum, earlier reported by Ravizza and Peucker-Ehrenbrink [Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 210 (2003) 151–165], is a global feature. Using the astronomically tuned age models available for these sites, it is suggested that the Late Eocene ¹⁸⁷Os / ¹⁸⁸Os minimum can be placed at 34.5 ± 0.1 Ma in the marine records. In addition, two other distinct features of the ¹⁸⁷Os / ¹⁸⁸Os excursion that are correlatable among sections are proposed as chemostratigraphic markers which can serve as age control points with a precision of ca. ± 0.1 Myr. We propose a speculative hypothesis that higher cosmic dust flux in the Late Eocene may have contributed to global cooling and Early Oligocene glaciation (Oi-1) by supplying bio-essential trace elements to the oceans and thereby resulting in higher ocean productivity, enhanced burial of organic carbon and draw down of atmospheric CO₂. To determine if the hypothesis that enhanced cosmic dust flux in the Late Eocene was a cause for the ¹⁸⁷Os / ¹⁸⁸Os excursion can be tested by using the paired bulk sediment and leachate Os isotope composition; ¹⁸⁷Os / ¹⁸⁸Os were also measured in sediment leachates. Results of analyses of leachates are inconsistent between the south Atlantic and the Pacific sites, and therefore do not yield a robust test of this hypothesis. Comparison of ¹⁸⁷Os / ¹⁸⁸Os records with high resolution benthic foraminiferal δ¹⁸O records across the Eocene–Oligocene transition suggests that ¹⁸⁷Os flux to the oceans decreased during cooling and ice growth leading to the Oi-1 glaciation, whereas subsequent decay of ice-sheets and deglacial weathering drove seawater ¹⁸⁷Os / ¹⁸⁸Os to higher values. Although the precise timing and magnitude of these changes in weathering fluxes and their effects on the marine ¹⁸⁷Os / ¹⁸⁸Os records are obscured by recovery from the Late Eocene ¹⁸⁷Os / ¹⁸⁸Os excursion, evidence of the global influence of glaciation on supply of Os to the ocean is robust as it has now been documented in both Pacific and Atlantic records.     

Mo marine geochemistry and reconstruction of ancient ocean redox states

Molybdenum(Mo) proxies, including bulk concentration and isotopic composition, have been increasingly used to reconstruct ancient ocean redox states. This study systematically reviews Mo cycles and their accompanying isotopic fractionations in modern ocean as well as their application in paleo-ocean redox reconstruction. Our review indicates that Mo enrichment in sediments mainly records the adsorption of Fe-Mn oxides/hydroxides and chemical bonding of H2 S. Thus, Mo enrichment in anoxic sediments generally reflects the presence of H2 S in the water column or pore waters. In addition to the effect of euxinia, sedimentary Mo enrichment is related to the size of the oceanic Mo reservoir. Given these primary mechanisms for oceanic Mo cycling, Mo abundance data and Mo/TOC ratios acquired from euxinic sediments in geological times show that fluctuations of the oceanic Mo reservoir are well correlated with oxygenation of the atmosphere and oceans and suggest that oxygenation occurred in phases. Mo proxies suggest that Mo isotopes in strongly euxinic sediments reflect the contemporaneous Mo isotopic composition of seawater, but other processes such as iron-manganese(Fe-Mn) adsorption and weak euxinia can result in different fractionations. Diagenesis may complicate Mo enrichment and its isotopic fractionation in sediments. With appropriate constraints on the Mo isotopic composition of seawater and various outputs, a Mo isotope mass-balance model can quantitatively reconstruct global redox conditions over geological history. In summary, Mo proxies can be effectively used to reconstruct oceanic redox conditions on various timescales due to their sensitivity to both local and global marine redox conditions. However, given the complexity of geochemical processes, particularly the effects of diagenesis, further work is required to apply Mo proxies to ancient oceans.     

Osmium isotope of the Co-rich crust from seamount Allison,central Pacific and its use for determination of growth hiatus and growth age

Based on its microstructure, Co-rich crust A1-1 from seamount Allison, central Pacific, was scraped at averaged interval of 1.3 mm to measure osmium isotopic composition, and subsequently to establish the 187Os/188Os profile of scraping section of the crust. By observing the variation of 187Os/188Os under 10Be chronology and matching it to the well-known seawater Os isotope evolution of the past 40 Ma, two growth hiatuses (H1 and H2) occurring in the periods respectively between 13.6 and 29.6 Ma and between 8 and 9.8 Ma in the crust were recognized. According to the two hiatuses, the dating scheme for each scraped layer of the crust was suggested. For the upper layers younger than 6.8Ma, their growth ages were calibrated under 10Be chronology; for the lower layers older than 6.8Ma, their growth ages were obtained from 187Os/188Os evaluation curve by linear interpolation. Hereby, the age for the most inner layer of the crust was determined to be 39.5 Ma. H1 and H2 exactly correspond to the boundary between phosphatization and non-phosphatization and volcanic ash layer in the crust, respectively.