scholarly journals Extreme fractionation of selenium isotopes and possible deep biospheric origin of platinum nuggets from Minas Gerais, Brazil

Geology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Raphael Cabral ◽  
Stephan König ◽  
Benjamin Eickmann ◽  
Michael Brauns ◽  
Miguel Tupinambá ◽  
...  

Platinum-rich nuggets offer an opportunity for understanding how precious metals accumulate. We analyzed the selenium (Se) isotopic composition of Se-rich (102–103 μg g–1) platinum-palladium (Pt-Pd) nuggets from a recent placer deposit in Minas Gerais, Brazil, for which a biogenic origin has been inferred. We obtained Se isotopic values with a relatively narrow range (δ82/76SeNIST3149 = –17.4‰ to –15.4‰ ± 0.2‰, two standard deviations [2 SD]). The Pt-Os age of the nuggets is 181 ± 6 Ma (2 SD). The data indicate that the nuggets did not form in the recent placer deposit, but by replacement of hydrothermal vein minerals at ~70 °C and at least 800 m below the surface. The high abundance and extreme isotopic composition of Se as well as the presence of other biophilic elements like iodine, organic carbon, and nitrogen within the nugget matrix are consistent with a microbial origin. Although abiogenic reduction of Se oxyanions cannot be ruled out, the nuggets plausibly record Se-supported microbial activity in the deep biosphere.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 181-190
Author(s):  
Dmitry A. Novikov ◽  
Aleksandr N. Pyrayev ◽  
Fedor F. Dultsev ◽  
Anatoliy V. Chernykh ◽  
Svetlana V. Bakustina ◽  
...  

The article presents the first results of complex isotope-hydrogeochemical studies of reservoir waters of the Upper Jurassic deposits of the central regions of the Zaural megamonoclysis. It was shown that most waters have a narrow distribution of oxygen and hydrogen isotopes (δD from -103.2 to -85.6 ‰ and δO from -15.4 to -12.9 ‰). Some of them have pronounced excursions on the isotopic composition, which indicates a difference in their genesis: from condensate to mixed with ancient infiltrogenic. The isotopic composition of carbon of water-dissolved carbon dioxide (δС from -41.6 to -16.3 ‰) indicates its biogenic origin and the possibility of interstratal flows from overlying horizons.


2013 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naotaka Yasue ◽  
Ryu Doiuchi ◽  
Akinori Takasuka

Abstract Yasue, N., Doiuchi R., and Takasuka, A. 2013. Trophodynamic similarities of three sympatric clupeoid species throughout their life histories in the Kii Channel as revealed by stable isotope approach. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 71: . Trophic similarity/difference among multispecies pelagic fish is a focal point in understanding the processes of climate impacts on their population dynamics. We tested trophic overlap of Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus, Japanese sardine Sardinops melanostictus, and Pacific round herring Etrumeus teres in the Kii Channel, Japan, by comparing the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios among these clupeoid species from the larval to adult stages throughout the year. Space and time were both significant factors of variations of the isotopic composition values for the three species, and fish size was also significant for sardine and round herring. The isotopic composition values of the three species were homogeneous when compared with those of plankton and some other non-clupeoid species. Moreover, the isotopic composition values of the three clupeoid species collected simultaneously showed closer similarities than those in different areas and dates in all life stages. Thus, spatial and temporal differences in food availability were more apparent compared with interspecific differences in prey items specific to each species. Our analysis indicated strong trophic overlaps throughout the life histories among the three clupeoid species. Hence, they are concluded to be ecologically congeneric (directly competing) species in terms of trophic positions in the pelagic ecosystem.


2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Taylor ◽  
Debashish Mazumder

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios were analysed for hatchery-reared, recaptured and wild mulloway, Argyrosomus japonicus, to investigate temporal and growth-related changes in isotopic composition for stocked fish after release, and to evaluate changes in isotopic composition in terms of ontogenetic dietary switches. δ13C and δ15N values decreased and increased, respectively, after release. The isotope composition of released fish was distinct from wild fish until 200 days after release, but after 200 days post-release fish did not differ significantly from wild fish of similar or greater sizes. Abrupt dietary transitions from crustaceans to teleost fish (>50 cm total length (TL)) were evident in a rapid δ13C and δ15N change in wild mulloway, and δ15N was significantly greater in wild fish >65 cm TL compared with wild fish <50 cm TL. Multivariate carbon and nitrogen isotopic data were suitable for separating stocked and wild fish for up to 200 days after release, but did not separate wild fish grouped according to dietary composition. Carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition closely reflected dietary transitions and rapid adaptation by stocked mulloway to wild diets, which was evident in a high tissue turnover rate of up to 0.017 day–1. Stable isotopes are a useful tool for examining the integration of released fish into stocked ecosystems and can be used to describe convergence in the diets of wild and released fish.


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