Collaborative Research: Experimental Study of Mineral-Fluid Fractionation of Non-Traditional Isotopes (Fe, Cu, Zn, S) with Implications for Seafloor Hydrothermal Systems

合作研究：非传统同位素（Fe、Cu、Zn、S）的矿物流体分馏实验研究对海底热液系统的影响

• 批准号: 1232587
• 负责人: David Borrok
• 金额: $ 6.19万
• 依托单位: University of Louisiana at Lafayette
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-09-01 至 2015-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1232587&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Experimental; Study; Mineral

Many empirical studies of hydrothermal vent systems on the seafloor and an increasing number of biogeochemical studies are being carried out to look at various mineralogical and biological processes using unconventional stable isotopes (i.e., those of heavy elements such as iron, zinc, copper, and sulfur). To allow quantitative and predictive results of these empirical studies, fractionation factors of these isotopes must be known. However, at present, no experimental work to derive these coefficients and parameters have been carried out. This research builds off a one-year proof-of-concept study to show that fractionation occurs in these systems in a systematic way. The new project examines the effects of temperature, fluid chemistry, and reaction rate on the fractionation of non-traditional stable isotopes (Fe, Cu, Zn, S) between sulfide minerals and fluids at elevated temperatures and pressures. The work will include phase separation experiments to assess the role of fluid chemistry on non-traditional stable isotope fractionation between vapor and brine. It will use isotope tracers in equilibrium experiments to look at reaction progress and to see how isotope systematics respond to reaction rates and mechanisms. Sulfur isotope exchange for homogeneous and heterogeneous systems will also be tested experimentally. Broader impacts of the work include building fundamental infrastructure for science via the development of kinetic and fractionation factors that are essential for the development of theoretical models for predicting stabilities of minerals containing Fe, Cu, Zn, and S. Impacts also include the engagement of graduate and undergraduate students in state-of-the-art experimental studies of water-rock interaction and the involvement of an early career PI from an institution in an EPSCOR State (Louisiana).

正在进行水热系统和越来越多的生物地球化学研究的许多经验研究，使用非常规稳定的同位素（即，铁，锌，铜和硫）来研究各种矿物学和生物学过程。为了允许这些经验研究的定量和预测结果，必须知道这些同位素的分馏因子。 但是，目前尚未进行这些系数和参数的实验性工作。 这项研究基于一年的概念证明研究，以表明分馏以系统的方式发生在这些系统中。新项目研究了温度，液体化学和反应速率对硫化物矿物质和升高温度和压力下流体之间非传统稳定同位素（Fe，Cu，Zn，s）分馏的影响。这项工作将包括相分离实验，以评估流体化学对蒸气和盐水之间非传统同位素分馏的作用。它将在平衡实验中使用同位素示踪剂来研究反应进步，并查看同位素系统学如何响应反应速率和机制。硫同位素交换均质和异质系统也将通过实验进行测试。这项工作的更广泛的影响包括通过开发动力学和分级因素来建立基础科学基础架构，这些因素对于预测含有FE，CU，Zn和S的理论模型的发展至关重要（路易斯安那州）。