Antarctica Dry Valleys

There now exist numerous observations of mass-independent isotopic compositions in nature. Most of these have recently been reviewed and will not be repeated here. When the first laboratory measurements of the mass-independent isotope effect were reported by Thiemens and Heidenreich (1983), their occurrence in nature was not expected, except possibly for the early solar system to produce the observed meteoritic CAI data. It is significant to note that, at present, all oxygen-bearing molecules in the atmosphere (except water) possess mass-independent isotopic compositions. These molecules include O2, O3, CO2, CO, N2O, H2O2, and aerosol nitrate and sulfate. Mass-independent sulfur isotopic compositions are also observed in aerosol (solid) sulfates and nitrates and sulfide and sulfate minerals from the Precambrian, Miocene volcanic sulfates, Antarctica dry valley sulfates, Namibian Gypretes, and Chilean nitrates. In addition, martian (SNC meteorites) carbonates and sulfates possess both mass-independent sulfur and oxygen isotopic compositions. These studies have been reviewed recently (Thiemens et al., 2001 Thiemens, 1999). 

Kyle PR, Treves SB (1974a) Geology of DVDP3, Hut Point Peninsula, Ross Island, Antarctica. Dry Valley Drilling Project Bull 3 13-18... 

Cape Roberts Science Team (1998) Background to CRP-1, Cape Roberts Project, Antarctica. Terra Antartica 5(1) 1-30 Carlquist S (1987) Pliocene Nothofagus wood from the Transantarctic Mountains. ALISO ll(4) 571-583 Cartwright K, Treves SB, Torii T (1974) Geology of DVDP 4, Lake Vanda, Wright Valley, Antarctica. Dry Valley Drilling Project (DVDP) Bull 3 49-74... 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ , ]

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