Diachronous Redistribution of Hf and Nd Isotopes at the Crystal Scale—Consequences for the Isotopic Evolution of a Poly-Metamorphic Crustal Terrane

In metamorphic rocks, mineral species react over a range of pressure–temperature conditions that do not necessarily overlap. Mineral equilibration can occur at varied points along the metamorphic pressure–temperature (PT) path, and thus at different times. The sole or dominant use of zircon isotopic compositions to constrain the evolution of metamorphic rocks might then inadvertently skew geological interpretations towards one aspect or one moment of a rock’s history. Here, we present in-situ U–Pb/Sm–Nd isotope analyses of the apatite crystals extracted from two meta-igneous rocks exposed in the Saglek Block (North Atlantic craton, Canada), an Archean metamorphic terrane, with the aim of examining the various signatures and events that they record. The data are combined with published U–Pb/Hf/O isotope compositions of zircon extracted from the same hand-specimens. We found an offset of nearly ca. 1.5 Gyr between U-Pb ages derived from the oldest zircon cores and apatite U–Pb/Sm–Nd isotopic ages, and an offset of ca. 200 Ma between the youngest zircon metamorphic overgrowths and apatite. These differences in metamorphic ages recorded by zircon and apatite mean that the redistribution of Hf isotopes (largely hosted in zircon) and Nd isotopes (largely hosted in apatite within these rocks), were not synchronous at the hand-specimen scale (≤~0.001 m3). We propose that the diachronous redistribution of Hf and Nd isotopes and their parent isotopes was caused by the different PT conditions of growth equilibration between zircon and apatite during metamorphism. These findings document the latest metamorphic evolution of the Saglek Block, highlighting the role played by intra-crustal reworking during the late-Archean regional metamorphic event.

Potential influence of a planned landfill on a high karst plateau in Southwestern Montenegro to nearby karstic springs

The potential threat of a landfill projected on a high karst plateau in southwest Montenegro is investigated with respect to the subjacent nearby springs. The locality is called Duboki do. As the springs are used for drinking water supply this investigation is urgently needed. For the springs exist two hypotheses concerning their catchment area: I) from the high karst plateau, or II) from a topographically lower area. The stable H- and O-isotope ratios of water samples from the springs are compared with precipitation isotope data, to reveal the catchment area of the springs. The isotope results indicate that the catchment area of the springs is at higher altitude fitting to, and in good agreement with, winter precipitation from the high karst plateau of the planned land-fill locality.

Storage Changes Stable Isotope Composition of Cucumbers

Vegetable food stuff produced under controlled and identical conditions from one farm of identical “age” (batch) has a similar isotopic composition. This fact can be used to control the origin of vegetables. This question is of special relevance when food-contaminations have to be traced back to the producer, or certain production claims have to be controlled. However, as vegetables are harvested, brought to whole-sale merchants and to retail shops, where they remain until being bought by the consumer, one has to consider possible changes in isotopic composition during this transfer period, when comparing vegetables of questioned origin with reference samples taken directly from the field/producer. We investigated changes in the isotope composition of vegetables during storage by studying as an example cucumbers from one batch. We stored the cucumbers in a vegetable storage under controlled conditions and removed one sample every day and analyzed its isotopic composition. We found changes in the δ15N and δ18O isotope values over the investigated period of 21 days, with both parameters showing positive linear correlations, and maximum enrichments with time of more than 1.5‰ for δ15N and more than 2‰ for δ18O. However, within the interval the samples remained in a saleable condition the isotope variations remained more or less within the variability of the sample batch. Our study demonstrates that changes in the isotopic signature in vegetables might occur after harvest during storage and have to be taken into account when (commercial) samples collected in a market are investigated.