Calcium and strontium isotope fractionation during precipitation from aqueous solutions as a function of temperature and reaction rate; II. Aragonite
Date
2017-04-25
Authors
AlKhatib, Mahmoud
Eisenhauer, Anton
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
In order to study Strontium (Sr) partitioning and isotope fractionation of Sr and Calcium (Ca) in aragonite we performed
precipitation experiments decoupling temperature and precipitation rates (R*, lmol/m2 h) in the interval of about
2.3–4.5 lmol/m2 h. Aragonite is the only pure solid phase precipitated from a stirred solutions exposed to an atmosphere
of NH3 and CO2 gases throughout the spontaneous decomposition of (NH4)2CO3. The order of reaction with respect to
Ca ions is one and independent of temperature. However, the order of reaction with respect to the dissolved inorganic carbon
(DIC) is temperature dependent and decreases from three via two to one as temperature increases from 12.5 and 25.0 to
37.5 C, respectively. Strontium distribution coefficient (DSr) increases with decreasing temperature. However, R* responds
differently depending on the initial Sr/Ca concentration and temperature: at 37.5 C DSr increase as a function of increasing
R* but decrease for 12.5 and 25 C. Not seen at 12.5 and 37.5 C but at 25 C the DSr-R* gradient is also changing sign
depending on the initial Sr/Ca ratio. Magnesium (Mg) adsorption coefficient between aragonite and aqueous solution
(DMg) decreases with temperature but increases with R* in the range of 2.4–3.8 lmol/m2 h. Strontium isotope fractionation
(D88/86Sraragonite-aq) follows the kinetic type of fractionation and become increasingly negative as a function of R* for all
temperatures. In contrast Ca isotope fractionation (D44/40Caaragonite-aq) shows a different behavior than the Sr isotopes. At
low temperatures (12.5 and 25 C) Ca isotope fractionation (D44/40Caaragonite-aq) becomes positive as a function of R*. In contrast,
at 37.5 C and as a function of increasing R* the D44/40Caaragonite-aq show a Sr type like behavior and becomes increasingly
negative. Concerning both the discrepant behavior of DSr as a function of temperature as well as for the Ca isotope
fractionation as a function of temperature we infer that the switch of sign in the trace element partitioning as well as in
the direction of the Ca isotope fractionation is probably due to the switch of complexation from a Ca2+-NH3 complexation
at and below 25 C to an Ca2+-H2O aquacomplex at 37.5 C. The DSr–D88/86Srcalcite-aq correlation for calcite is independent of
temperature in contrast to aragonite. We interpreted the strong DSr-temperature dependency of aragonite, the smaller range
of Sr isotope fractionation as well as the shallower D88/86Srcalcite-aq–R* gradients to be a consequence of the increased aragonite
solubility and the ‘‘Mg blocking effect”. In contrast to Sr the Ca isotope fractionation values in calcite and aragonite
depend both on the complexation in solution and independent on polymorphism.
2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Description
Keywords
Aragonite , Calcite , Strontium , Magnesium , Calcium , Isotopes , Fractionationation , Blocking effect