Isotopic Constraints on Earth System Processes

by Sims, Kenneth W. W.; Maher, Katharine (Kate); Schrag, Daniel P.

• ISBN13: 9781119594970
• ISBN10: 1119594979
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2022-06-01
• Publisher: American Geophysical Union

Summary

Using isotopes as a tool for understanding Earth processes

From establishing the absolute age of the Earth to providing a stronger understanding of the nexus between geology and life, the careful measurement and quantitative interpretation of minor variations in the isotopic composition of Earth’s materials has provided profound insight into the origins and workings of our planet.

Isotopic Constraints on Earth System Processes presents examples of the application of numerous different isotope systems to address a wide range of topical problems in Earth system science.

Volume highlights include:

• examination of the natural fractionation of non-traditional stable isotopes
• utilizing isotopes to understand the origin of magmas and evolution of volcanic systems
• application of isotopes to interrogate and understand Earth’s Carbon and Oxygen cycles
• examination of the geochemical and hydrologic processes that lead to isotopic fractionation
• application of isotopic reactive transport models to decipher hydrologic and biogeochemical processes

The American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals.

Author Biography

Kenneth W. W. Sims, University of Wyoming, USA

Kate Maher, Stanford University, USA

Daniel P. Schrag, Harvard University, USA

Table of Contents

Preface (KWWS, DPS, KM)

Section I: Using Isotopes to place constraints on Earth history

Chapter 1: From the Beginning: Model ages, Mantle evolution and Chondritic (or nonchondritic) Earth OR Isotopic perspectives of early Earth from the oldest rock record
Vicki Bennett (ANU) with Allen Nutman.

Chapter 2: Updating the Use of Cenozoic Volcanic Rock Space-Time-Composition Patterns to Study the Evolution of the Deep Continental Lithosphere in Southwestern North America
Lang Farmer (UC Boulder), Alan Glazner (UNC) and Diane Fritz (UC Boulder)

Chapter 3: Lengthscales of chemical and isotopic heterogeneity in the mantle and consequences for melt generation
John Lassiter (UT Austin) and Daniel Villanueva

Chapter 4: Detrital Garnet Geochronology: a new tool to constrain ancient tectonic processes and provenance.
Kathryn Maneiro (Boston College) and Ethan Baxter (Boston College)

Chapter 5: Three Billion Years of Environmental Change in the Stable Carbon Isotope Record
Dan Schrag and Tom Laakso (Harvard)

Section II: Using Isotopes to understand Earth processes

Chapter 6: Kinetic oxygen and carbon isotope effects in the CaCO3-DIC-H2O system
James Watkins (UO) and Laurent Devriendt (NIOZ)

Chapter 7: Effects of calcite fraction and organic carbon on calcite recrystallization rate in deep sea sediments estimated from pore fluid strontium concentrations
Renjie Zhou (as first author), and Zhang Shou (Texas A&M)

Chapter 8: Using multiple isotope systems to study diagenesis in deep sea sediments
Frank M. Richter (U. of Chicago) and Dan Schrag (Harvard)

Chapter 9: Revisiting the Marine Ca Cycle
Shaun Brown (LBL) and Matt Fantle (PSU)

Chapter 10: Calcium isotopes of the Central American Volcanic Arc: Constraints on the flux of sediments in subduction-related magmas
Justin Simon (LPI)

Chapter 11: Understanding isotopic fractionation from mineral dissolution, mineral precipitation to redox reactions
Kate Maher (Stanford), Don DePaolo (UC Berkeley), Laura Lammers, Claresta Joe-Wong

Chapter 12: The Lau Back Arc Spreading Center: A natural laboratory to compare and contrast decompressional melting versus flux melting
Ken Sims (UW), Lisa Kant (UW), Charles Langmuir (Harvard), Jeff Standish ( U Minn.)

Chapter 13: Nontraditional Stable Isotopes in Hydrothermal Ecosystems
Ken Sims (UW) and Eric Boyd (MSU)

Section III: Using Isotopes to care for our planet

Chapter 14: Utilizing isotopic shifts to aid in constraint and optimization of groundwater remediation strategies
Jennifer Druham (U of Illinois) et al.

Chapter 15: Application of stable U isotopes to verification of groundwater remediation
Ken Sims (UW) and Susan Swapp (UW)

Chapter 16: Development of heavy stable isotopes for tracking fate and transport of redox-sensitive contaminants
Tom Johnson and former students (U. of Illinois – Urbana).