Two-End-Member Mixing in the Fluids Emitted From Mud Volcano Lei-Gong-Huo, Eastern Taiwan: Evidence From Sr Isotopes

Mud volcano is one of the most important conduits for deep seated materials to migrate upward in sedimentary basins, convergent margins, and subduction zones. Understanding their temporal and spatial characteristics and variations provides us the important information on fluid sources and chemical compositions at depth. Mud volcano Lei-Gong-Huo (MV LGH) is a unique mud volcano, which is located on the mélange formation lying on the andesitic volcanic arc. Fluids emitted from 46 mud pools in MV LGH in eastern Taiwan were sampled and their major trace constitutes as well as H, O, and Sr isotopes (87Sr/86Sr and δ88Sr) were measured. Major constitutes of the fluids are Cl−, Na, and Ca. Compared with seawater, LGH fluids have lower Cl−, δD, δ18O, Na/Cl, K/Cl, and Mg/Cl but higher Ca/Cl ratios, indicating water–rock interaction of igneous rock and the ancient seawater at the source region. This interpretation is further supported by Sr isotopes, which show low value of 87Sr/86Sr ratio down to 0.70708. The result of spatial distribution showing strong negative correlation between Na and Ca concentration as well as Ca and 87Sr/86Sr ratios indicates that two end-member mixing is the major chemical characteristic. The fluids interacting with igneous rock carry high Ca, high δ88Sr, low Na, and low 87Sr/86Sr ratio, while those interacting with sedimentary rock carry low Ca, low δ88Sr, high Na, and high 87Sr/86Sr ratio. The source from the igneous region dominates the eastern and southeastern parts of the mud pools while sedimentary source dominates the western and northwestern parts. Most mud pools show mixing behavior between the two sources. Some of the sedimentary-dominated mud pools reveal existence of residual ancient water as indicated by 87Sr/86Sr. The major factor to fractionate the stable Sr isotopes in LGH waters is the source lithology. In summary, fluids emitted by mud pools in LGH originate from two sources, which are water–rock interactions of igneous rock with the ancient seawater from the east and sedimentary rock from the west at depth, resulting from the complex geologic background of mélange formation.

Single-Particle and Collective Structures in Neutron-Rich Sr Isotopes

Neutron-rich Sr nuclei around N=60 exhibit a sudden shape transition from a spherical ground state to strongly prolate-deformed. Recently, much new insight into the structure of Sr isotopes in this region has been gained through experimental studies of the excited levels, transition strengths, and spectroscopic factors. In this work, a “classic” shell model description of strontium isotopes from N=50 to N=58 is provided, using a natural valence space outside the 78Ni core. Both even–even and even–odd isotopes are addressed. In particular, spectroscopic factors are computed to shed more light on the structure of low-energy excitations and their evolution along the Sr chain. The origin of deformation at N=60 is mentioned in the context of the present and previous shell model and Monte Carlo shell model calculations.

A Strontium and Hydro-Geochemical Perspective on Human Impacted Tributary of the Mekong River Basin: Sources Identification, Fluxes, and CO2 Consumption

As the largest and most representative tributary of the Mekong River, the Mun River Basin (MRB) provides critical understanding of regional hydro-geochemical features and rock weathering processes on a basin scale. The present study measured strontium (Sr) isotopes with hydro-geochemistry data of 56 water samples in detail in the MRB in northeast Thailand. The dissolved Sr contents and 87Sr/86Sr isotopic ratios were reported to be 8.7–344.6 μg/L (average 126.9 μg/L) and 0.7085–0.7281 (average 0.7156), respectively. The concentrations of dissolved Sr in the mainstream slightly decreased from upstream to downstream, while the variation trend of 87Sr/86Sr was on the contrary. Correlation analysis showed that Na+ strongly correlated with Cl− (0.995, p < 0.01), while Ca2+ exhibited weak relationships with SO42− (0.356, p < 0.01). Samples of the MRB exhibited lower Mg2+/Na+, Ca2+/Na+, HCO3−/Na+ and 1000Sr/Na ratios, and gathered around the end-member of evaporite dissolution, with slight shift to silicate weathering end-member, demonstrating the dominant contribution of evaporite dissolution and silicate weathering on dissolved loads. Comparing with data of major world rivers from previous research, our results remained consistency with rivers draining through similar geological conditions. The dissolved Sr flux to the adjacent Mekong River was estimated to be 20.7 tons/year. In accordance with the forward model, silicate weathering rate and CO2 consumption rate during dry season were calculated to be 0.73 tons/km2/year and 1.94 × 104 mol/km2/year, and may get underestimated due to intense water consumption by extensive agricultural activities. The superimposed effect of anthropogenic impacts on the water environment could enhance chemical weathering, and thus should be taken into account in regional ion cycles and carbon budgets. These findings highlight the coupling analysis of Sr isotopes and hydro-geochemistry in Earth surface processes and provide basic investigation for sustainable regional water treatment mechanisms in the pan basin of the Mekong River.

Three-stage modification of lithospheric mantle: Evidence from petrology, in-situ trace elements, and Sr isotopes of mantle xenoliths in the Cenozoic basalts, northeastern North China Craton

We present mineralogical and geochemical compositions of mantle xenoliths from two Cenozoic basalt localities of the northeastern North China Craton. These xenoliths include lherzolite, harzburgite, and websterite. They are generally fertile in major elements and different from the typical cratonic lithosphere, which is consistent with previous hypotheses regarding craton destruction. The ratios of 87Sr/86Sr and (La/Yb)N of clinopyroxenes (Cpx) in one lherzolite are relatively low in the core but high in the rim. The center of the Cpx grain has a high U concentration. Changes in trace elements and Sr isotopes indicate that later stage high 87Sr/86Sr melt metasomatism superimposed on the early hydrous melt/fluid. The Cpxs in some xenoliths are low in Ti/Eu but high in Ca/Al and light rare earth elements, which indicates carbonate melt metasomatism. 87Sr/86Sr is increased in the core and decreased in the rim of most Cpx grains, which reflects the superposition of two-stage metasomatism. The early agent should be high in 87Sr/86Sr, and the recent agent should be low in 87Sr/86Sr. The Cpxs in olivine websterite are low in 87Sr/86Sr (0.70220−0.70320), which reflects the recent metasomatism of asthenosphere-derived melt. Collectively, these observations reflect a three-stage modification of the lithospheric mantle. First-stage hydrous melt/fluid could come from the dehydration of young subducted plates. Second-stage melt/fluid of high 87Sr/86Sr could derive from the partial melting of the subducted altered oceanic crust, and the recent melt/fluid of low 87Sr/86Sr should be from the asthenosphere.