『Abstract
Magnesium isotopic compositions of a set of clay-rich saprolites
developed on the Neogene tholeiitic basalt from Hainan Island
in southern China have been measured in order to document the
behavior of Mg isotopes during continental weathering. Compared
with unalterated basalts (δ26Mg = -0.36‰), the overlying
saprolites are strongly depleted in Mg (i.e., τRh,Mg
= -99.1% to -92.9%), and display highly variable δ26Mg,
ranging from -0.49‰ to +0.40‰. Magnesium concentration and δ26Mg
value of the saprolites display a general increasing trend upwards
in the lower part of the profile, but a decreasing trend towards
the surface in the upper part. The variations of Mg concentration
and isotopic composition in this weathering profile can be explained
through adsorption and desorption processes: (1) adsorption of
Mg to kaolin minerals (kaolinite and halloysite), with preferential
uptake of heavy Mg isotopes onto kaolin minerals; and (2) desorption
of Mg through cation exchange of Mg with the relatively lower
hydration energy cations in the upper profile. Evidence for adsorption
is supported by the positive correlation between δ26Mg
and the modal abundance of kaolin minerals in saprolite of the
lower profile, while negative correlations between δ26Mg
and concentrations of lower hydration energy cations (e.g., Sr
and Cs) in the upper profile support the desorption process. Our
results highlight that adsorption and desorption of Mg on clay
minerals play an important role in behavior of Mg isotopes during
extreme weathering, which may help to explain the large variation
in Mg isotopic composition of river waters.
Keywords: magnesium; isotope fractionation; chemical weathering;
basalt; adsorption; desorption』
1. Introduction
2. Samples
3. Analytical methods
4. Results
5. Discussion
5.1. Adsorption and desorption control on Mg concentrations
of saprolites
5.2. Adsorption and desorption control on Mg isotopic compositions
of saprolites
5.2.1. Magnesium isotope fractionation during adsorption of
Mg onto secondary minerals
5.2.2. Magnesium isotope fractionation during desorption in
the upper profile
5.3. Behavior of Mg isotopes during continental weathering and
implications
6. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References