『Abstract
　Weathering of large basaltic provinces is a major sink of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and is also an important part of the geochemical cycle of many other elements. This study aims to improve our understanding of basaltic weathering by analysis of trace elements and Li isotopes in a lateritic profile developed upon the Deccan Trap flood basalt. At its base, the profile consists of unaltered basalt that has a Li concentration and δ⁷Li value of 〜5 ppm and +2.5‰, respectively, which is upwards progressively altered to a highly weathered laterite (iron-rich) residuum at the surface. High concentrations of Fe2O3 (85 wt.％) at 11m depth indicate the presence of a palaeowatertable; the transition metals, the rare earth element (REEs) and U are also strongly enriched in this horizon, whereas fluid mobile elements, such as Li and Rb, are depleted relative to the precursor basalt, and the bulk δ⁷Li value is very low (-5.5‰). A high proportion of leachable Li is found in this horizon, and this is enriched in ⁶Li relative to the bulk. We suggest that leaching extracts the labile weathering products, and these have high ⁶Li as ⁷Li has been preferentially mobilised during basalt weathering. Throughout the rest of the profile, Li concentrations and Li isotope values are best explained by two-component mixing between the precursor basalt and aeolian material with high Li and low δ⁷Li. Mass balance calculations show that at least 50‰ of the Li present in the profile could have been supplied by a mineral aerosol that has a δ⁷Li value between 0‰ and +1.3‰. The depth-integrated δ⁷Li value of the profile is -0.6‰, which suggest that ⁷Li has been preferentially leached from the aerosol after its deposition. The source of this aeolian material is most likely to be ancient continental crust. It is possibly derived from Archaen/Proterozoic terrain to the south and southeast of the Deccan, and/or material from central Asia, similar to that which forms Chinese loess and which is supplied to the North Pacific basin.

Keywords: Lithium isotopes; Weathering; Laterites; Deccan』

1. Introduction
2. Geological setting
　2.1. The Bidar weathering profile and laterization process
3. Methods
　3.1. Sampling and sample preparation
　3.2. Major and trace element analysis
　3.3. Lithium isotope analysis
4 Results
　4.1. Bulk analyses
　　4.1.1. Zone I (47-35m)
　　4.1.2. Zones II and IV (35-10m)
　　4.1.3. Zone III (10-2m)
　　4.1.4. Granite samples
　4.2. Leachable fraction
5. Discussion
　5.1. Palaeowatertable
　5.2. Behaviour of Li and Li isotopes during weathering
　5.3. Input of Li to the weathering profile
6. Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References