Lithium Isotope Geochemistry in the Barton Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica

Type : ACL
Nature : Production scientifique
Au bénéfice du Laboratoire : Oui
Statut de publication : Publié
Année de publication : 2022
Auteurs (6) : RYU Jong-sik LIM Hyoun soo CHOI Hye-bin KIM J KIM Ok-sun VIGIER Nathalie
Revue scientifique : Frontiers in Earth Science
Volume : 10
Fascicule :
Pages :
DOI : 10.3389/feart.2022.913687
URL : https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.913687
Abstract : Lithium (Li) has two stable isotopes, 6Li and 7Li, whose large relative mass difference is responsible for significant isotopic fractionation during physico-chemical processes, allowing Li isotopes to be a good tracer of continental chemical weathering. Although physical erosion is dominant in the Polar regions due to glaciers, increasing global surface temperature may enhance chemical weathering, with possible consequences on carbon biogeochemical cycle and nutriment flux to the ocean. Here, we examined elemental and Li isotope geochemistry of meltwaters, suspended sediments, soils, and bedrocks in the Barton Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica. Li concentrations range from 8.7 nM to 23.3 μM in waters, from 0.01 to 1.43 ppm in suspended sediments, from 9.56 to 36.9 ppm in soils, and from 0.42 to 28.3 ppm in bedrocks. δ7Li values are also variable, ranging from +16.4 to +41.1‰ in waters, from −0.4 to +13.4‰ in suspended sediments, from −2.5 to +6.9‰ in soils, and from −1.8 to +11.7‰ in bedrocks. Elemental and Li isotope geochemistry reveals that secondary phase formation during chemical weathering mainly control dissolved δ7Li values, rather than a mixing with sea salt inputs from atmosphere or ice melting. Likewise, δ7Li values of suspended sediments and soils lower than those of bedrocks indicate modern chemical weathering with mineral neoformation. This study suggests that increasing global surface temperature enhances modern chemical weathering in Antarctica, continuing to lower δ7Li values in meltwater with intense water-rock interactions.
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Citation :
Ryu J-S, Lim H, Choi H-B, Kim J, Kim O-S, Vigier N (2022) Lithium Isotope Geochemistry in the Barton Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica. Frontiers in Earth Science 10 | doi: 10.3389/feart.2022.913687