Plagioclase strontium isotope

Strontium has four naturally occurring isotopes (Table 4.2). It is a member of the alkaline earths (Group 2A) along with beryllium, magnesium, calcium, barium, and radium (Fig. 2.4). Strontium substitutes for calcium and is abundant in minerals such as plagioclase, apatite, and calcium carbonate. 

Few systematic Sr-Nd isotope studies have been performed on ocean island xenolith suites. Ducea et al. (2002) analyzed clinopyroxenes from plagioclase-spinel and spinel peridotites from Pali, (Oahu, Hawaii) and found relatively depleted strontium and neodymium isotope systematics that they interpret as representing their evolution as residues from the extraction of Pacific Ocean crust. Consistent with this is a 61 20Ma errorchron defined by the pyroxene separates that is within error of the 80-85 Ma age of Pacific lithosphere beneath Hawaii. 

Fig. 6. Isotopic composition of calcite cements from North Coles Levee, South Coles Levee and Canal fields. North Coles Levee dolomite cements shown for comparison. North Coles Levee data from Schultz et al. (1989) South Coles Levee and Canal data from Table 2. Increasingly negative 5 OpDB and lower Sr ratios are correlated with higher temperatures of crystallization. Strontium ratio decrease is attributed to Sr from plagioclase alteration. Shaded box shows calculated composition of calcite in equilibrium with present pore water at Coles Levee fields based on fluid temperature and composition in Fisher Boles (1990) and Sr isotopic data in Feldman et al.( 993).

The Prince Albert Mountains in the northern part of southern Victoria Land consist of a large number of nunataks located on the polar plateau at the heads of Mawson, Harbord, and David glaciers aU of which flow into the Ross Sea. Several of these nunataks are composed of siUs of Ferrar Dolerite although flows of Kirkpatrick Basalt occur on Brimstone Peak (75°48 S, 158°33 E). Molzahn et al. (1996) reported isotope ratios of strontium, neodymium, and osmium as well as trace-element concentrations of five dolerite samples from the nunataks of the Prince Albert Mountains and two basalt samples from Brimstone Peak, including rubidium, strontium, samarium, neodymium, rhenium (Re) and osmium (Os). They also measured isotope ratios of strontium, neodymium, and lead in clinopyroxene and plagioclase of these rocks. 

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