The experimental determination of equilibrium Si isotope fractionation factors among H4SiO4 o, H3SiO4 − and amorphous silica (SiO2·0.32 H2O) at 25 and 75 °C using the three-isotope method
(2019) In Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 255. p.49-68- Abstract
The accurate interpretation of Si isotope signatures in natural systems requires knowledge of the equilibrium isotope fractionation between Si-bearing solids and the dominant Si-bearing aqueous species. Aqueous silicon speciation is dominated by silicic acid (H4SiO4 o) in most natural aqueous fluids at pH < 8.5, but forms H3SiO4 −, H2SiO4 2−, and polymeric Si species in more alkaline fluids. In this study isotope exchange experiments were performed at bulk chemical equilibrium between amorphous silica (SiO2∙0.32 H2O) and inorganic aqueous fluids at pH ranging from 5.8 to 9.9 at 25° and 75 °C with experiments... (More)
The accurate interpretation of Si isotope signatures in natural systems requires knowledge of the equilibrium isotope fractionation between Si-bearing solids and the dominant Si-bearing aqueous species. Aqueous silicon speciation is dominated by silicic acid (H4SiO4 o) in most natural aqueous fluids at pH < 8.5, but forms H3SiO4 −, H2SiO4 2−, and polymeric Si species in more alkaline fluids. In this study isotope exchange experiments were performed at bulk chemical equilibrium between amorphous silica (SiO2∙0.32 H2O) and inorganic aqueous fluids at pH ranging from 5.8 to 9.9 at 25° and 75 °C with experiments running as long as 375 days. The three-isotope method was used to quantify the equilibrium Si isotope fractionation, Δeq 30Si, between amorphous silica and aqueous Si; at pH ∼ 6 this equilibrium fractionation factor was found to be 0.45 ± 0.2‰ at 25 °C, and 0.07 ± 0.6‰ at 75 °C. At more basic pH (>9), equilibrium Si isotope fractionation factors between solid and aqueous solution are higher, at 1.63 ± 0.23‰ at 25 °C, and 1.06 ± 0.13‰ at 75 °C. Taking account of the distribution of the aqueous Si species, equilibrium Si isotope fractionation factors between H3SiO4 − and H4SiO4 o of −2.34 ± 0.13‰ and −2.21 ± 0.05‰ at 25 and 75 °C, respectively, were determined. The distinct equilibrium isotope fractionation factors of H3SiO4 − and H4SiO4 o, and its variation with temperature can be used to establish paleo-pH and temperature proxies. The application of the three-isotope method also provides insight into the rates of isotopic exchange. For the solid grain size used (∼20 nm), these rates match closely the measured bulk dissolution rates for amorphous silica for most of the isotope exchange process, suggesting the dominant and rate controlling isotope exchange mechanism in the experiments is detachment and reattachment of material at the amorphous silica surface.
(Less)
- author
- Stamm, Franziska M. LU ; Zambardi, Thomas ; Chmeleff, Jérôme ; Schott, Jacques ; von Blanckenburg, Friedhelm and Oelkers, Eric H.
- publishing date
- 2019-06-15
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- amorphous silica, isotope exchange rates, Si isotope fractionation, three isotope method
- in
- Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
- volume
- 255
- pages
- 20 pages
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85064451360
- ISSN
- 0016-7037
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.gca.2019.03.035
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- id
- 8702d08e-b6d1-4e0c-a2dd-7efe891fe05d
- date added to LUP
- 2019-09-05 14:32:50
- date last changed
- 2022-04-26 03:57:58
@article{8702d08e-b6d1-4e0c-a2dd-7efe891fe05d,
abstract = {{<p>The accurate interpretation of Si isotope signatures in natural systems requires knowledge of the equilibrium isotope fractionation between Si-bearing solids and the dominant Si-bearing aqueous species. Aqueous silicon speciation is dominated by silicic acid (H<sub>4</sub>SiO<sub>4</sub> <sup>o</sup>) in most natural aqueous fluids at pH < 8.5, but forms H<sub>3</sub>SiO<sub>4</sub> <sup>−</sup>, H<sub>2</sub>SiO<sub>4</sub> <sup>2−</sup>, and polymeric Si species in more alkaline fluids. In this study isotope exchange experiments were performed at bulk chemical equilibrium between amorphous silica (SiO<sub>2</sub>∙0.32 H<sub>2</sub>O) and inorganic aqueous fluids at pH ranging from 5.8 to 9.9 at 25° and 75 °C with experiments running as long as 375 days. The three-isotope method was used to quantify the equilibrium Si isotope fractionation, Δ<sub>eq</sub> <sup>30</sup>Si, between amorphous silica and aqueous Si; at pH ∼ 6 this equilibrium fractionation factor was found to be 0.45 ± 0.2‰ at 25 °C, and 0.07 ± 0.6‰ at 75 °C. At more basic pH (>9), equilibrium Si isotope fractionation factors between solid and aqueous solution are higher, at 1.63 ± 0.23‰ at 25 °C, and 1.06 ± 0.13‰ at 75 °C. Taking account of the distribution of the aqueous Si species, equilibrium Si isotope fractionation factors between H<sub>3</sub>SiO<sub>4</sub> <sup>−</sup> and H<sub>4</sub>SiO<sub>4</sub> <sup>o</sup> of −2.34 ± 0.13‰ and −2.21 ± 0.05‰ at 25 and 75 °C, respectively, were determined. The distinct equilibrium isotope fractionation factors of H<sub>3</sub>SiO<sub>4</sub> <sup>−</sup> and H<sub>4</sub>SiO<sub>4</sub> <sup>o</sup>, and its variation with temperature can be used to establish paleo-pH and temperature proxies. The application of the three-isotope method also provides insight into the rates of isotopic exchange. For the solid grain size used (∼20 nm), these rates match closely the measured bulk dissolution rates for amorphous silica for most of the isotope exchange process, suggesting the dominant and rate controlling isotope exchange mechanism in the experiments is detachment and reattachment of material at the amorphous silica surface.</p>}},
author = {{Stamm, Franziska M. and Zambardi, Thomas and Chmeleff, Jérôme and Schott, Jacques and von Blanckenburg, Friedhelm and Oelkers, Eric H.}},
issn = {{0016-7037}},
keywords = {{amorphous silica; isotope exchange rates; Si isotope fractionation; three isotope method}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{06}},
pages = {{49--68}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta}},
title = {{The experimental determination of equilibrium Si isotope fractionation factors among H<sub>4</sub>SiO<sub>4</sub> <sup>o</sup>, H<sub>3</sub>SiO<sub>4</sub> <sup>−</sup> and amorphous silica (SiO<sub>2</sub>·0.32 H<sub>2</sub>O) at 25 and 75 °C using the three-isotope method}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2019.03.035}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.gca.2019.03.035}},
volume = {{255}},
year = {{2019}},
}