Thallium concentration and thallium isotope composition of lateritic terrains
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Accepted version
Author(s)
Howarth, Sarah
Prytulak, Julie
Little, SH
Hammond, Samantha J
Widdowson, Mike
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Continental weathering plays a key role in modifying the geochemical budget of terrestrial reservoirs. Laterites are the products of extreme sub-aerial continental weathering. This study presents the first investigation of thallium (Tl) abundances and stable isotopic compositions of lateritic terrains. Two laterite profiles from India of differing protolith and age are studied. Thallium concentrations range between 7 – 244 ng/g for a basalt-based lateritic profile and 37 – 652 ng/g within a greywacke lateritic profile. The average Tl stable isotope composition of the two profiles is similar to many typical igneous materials, however, the intense tropical weathering causes a small but resolvable fractionation of Tl stable isotopes towards heavy values in the residual soils. The profiles are dominated by significant positive isotope excursions (reported as ε205Tl relative to standard NBS997) of + 3.5 ± 0.5 2sd and + 6.2 ± 0.5 2sd at the inferred palaeowater tables within both laterite profiles. These signatures likely reflect combined changes in redox state and mineralogy. Extensive mineral dissolution under through-flowing fluids alongside the formation of new phases such as phyllosilicates and Mn- and Fe- oxides and hydroxides likely account for some of the Tl mobilisation, sorption and coprecipitation. In the case of laterites, the formation of the new phases and role of surface sorption likely contribute to stable Tl isotope fractionation. The identification of strong isotope excursions at inferred palaeowater tables encourages future research to determine specific mineral phases that may drive significant fractionation of Tl stable isotopes. This study showcases the magnitude of natural variation possible in terrestrial soils. Such information is key to the nascent applications of Tl isotope compositions as tracers of anthropogenic pollution.
Date Issued
2018-10-15
Date Acceptance
2018-04-16
Citation
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2018, 239, pp.446-462
ISSN
0016-7037
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
446
End Page
462
Journal / Book Title
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Volume
239
Copyright Statement
© 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Leverhulme Trust
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Grant Number
ECF-2014-615
NE/P018181/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Laterites
Thallium isotopes
Ferromanganese minerals
Birnessite
DECCAN TRAPS
ELEMENTAL BEHAVIOR
CONTAMINATED SOILS
INDIAN LATERITES
TRACE-ELEMENTS
HEAVY-ELEMENTS
MASS-BALANCE
MC-ICPMS
FRACTIONATION
GEOCHEMISTRY
0402 Geochemistry
0403 Geology
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-04-25