『Abstract
This study examines stream chemistry within glacial drainages
in Wright and Taylor Valley Antarctica in conjunction with geochemical
modeling and sediment leach experiments in order to assess the
source of chemical weathering fluxes within polar drainages. The
targeted catchments are underlain by granitoid basement, with
streams flowing through glacial drifts of variable composition.
Analyses of meltwater from Clark Glacier in Wright Valley, and
Howard Glacier (Delta Stream) in Taylor Valley show increases
in solute concentrations as a function of distance from the glaciers.
Surface area normalized weathering rate estimates based on Si
and K fluxes within the streams confirm that significant chemical
weathering is occurring in these systems at rates comparable to
field and laboratory rates of silicate weathering under much warmer
conditions. Downstream increases in several cations (ca, Na, K,
and Mg) occur within both drainages; however solute concentrations
between the two streams differ significantly. Clark Glacier stream
contains Na>Ca whereas Howard Glacier stream contains Ca>Na distally.
Geochemical reaction path modeling for Clark Glacier predicts
increasing concentrations of Ca, Na, and Mg over the reaction
progress, paralleling the results of field data from Clark Stream.
Modeling of Howard Glacier stream also shows an increase in several
cations; however Na concentrations exceed those for Ca, which
differs from the observed field data, and suggests that the differences
in stream chemistry are not due to differing bedrock mineralogy.
Instead, ion-leaching experiments conducted on drift sediments
demonstrate that (1) glacial deposits within Wright Valley and
Taylor Valley may significantly affect stream chemistry through
direct water-rock interactions within the stream channel, and/or
(2) the water chemistries are influenced by eolian additions of
locally sourced due to glacier surfaces. Differences in Fe concentrations
between the two stream systems indicate that biological activity
may also significantly influence iron concentrations within Howard
Glacier stream.
Keywords: Proglacial stream; Mineral dissolution; aqueous geochemistry』
1. Introduction
2. Study area and geologic setting
3. Methods
3.1. Site selection
3.2. sample collection
3.2. Sample collection
3.3. Analytical methods
3.4. Electron microprobe
3.5. Geochemical modeling
3.6. Drift leach experiments
4. Results and discussion
4.1. Clark Glacier stream chemistry
4.2. Howard Glacier stream chemistry
4.3. Onyx River chemistry
4.4. Na and Ca
4.5. Geochemical modeling
4.6. Leaching experiments
4.7. Eolian dust
4.8. Mg and K
4.9. Si
4.10. Fe
4.11. Weathering rates
5. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Appendix A. Supplementary data
References