wAbstract
@This study presents major-, trace-element and Mg isotope data
for the dissolved load and suspended particulates of Icelandic
rivers draining dominantly basaltic catchments, including both
glacier-fed and direct-runoff rivers. These samples provide the
opportunity to understand the behaviour of Mg isotopes during
chemical weathering, where variations due to lithology are not
extant. Given the significant role of Mg in the carbon cycle,
such variations may provide important information on the regulation
of Earth's climate. Hydrothermal waters, groundwater, precipitation
(glacial ice), basalt glass, olivine and representative soils
have also been analysed. The dissolved load shows a wide range
of Β26Mg compositions, compared to the parent basaltic
glass (Β26Mg=-0.29ρ), ranging from -0.96 to +0.64ρ,
while precipitation and hydrothermal waters possess Β26Mg
values of -0.83ρ and +0.85ρ, respectively, with lower Mg concentrations
than the dissolved load. Biomass activity in vegetation and organic
material in soils and rivers (colloids) appear to have little
effect on the Mg isotope compositions. Rather, the data suggest
that Mg elemental and isotopic variations are largely controlled
by the formation and stability of secondary phases in response
to differing hydrological conditions. In some samples seawater,
in the form of direct precipitation or glacial runoff, also appears
to be an important source of Mg. Glacier-fed rivers, groundwaters,
and some direct-runoff rivers, with a high pH, have higher Β26Mg
than basalt, which is most likely due to the incorporation of
light Mg isotopes in secondary minerals. In contrast, those direct-runoff
rivers which have a relatively low pH, have low Β26Mg
(relative to basalt), consistent with preferential incorporation
of heavy Mg isotopes into secondary phases, although it is not
possible to rule out some contribution from precipitation. Riverine
suspended particulates are depleted in mobile elements, and have
Β26Mg compositions values both higher and lower than
unweathered basalt. In the glacier-fed and direct-runoff rivers
where the Β26Mg of the dissolved phase is heavy, due
to the formation of secondary phases, the suspended load is light,
because it contains more of those phases. The opposite is true
for the remainder of the direct-runoff rivers which have low pH.
This could be due to dissolution of secondary minerals, enriched
in light Mg, which are unstable at low pH, or the formation of
new secondary phases.
Keywords: magnesium isotopes; Iceland; chemical weathering; physical
weathering; secondary mineral formation/stabilityx
1. Introduction
2. Geology, climate and river setting
3. Field and analytical techniques
@3.1. Sampling
@3.2. Cations, anions and trace elements
@3.3. Mg isotopes
4. Results
@4.1. Major and trace element data
@4.2. Mg isotope and elemental data
5. Discussion
@5.1. Basalt and soil samples
@5.2. Suspended load
@5.3. External inputs
@5.4. Dissolved load
@@5.4.1. Magnesium isotope and elemental variations
@@5.4.2. Magnesium isotope behaviour
6. Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References