Malone, Mitchell J.; Baker, Paul A. (1999): Temperature dependence of the strontium distribution coefficient in calcite; an experimental study from 408 degrees to 2008 degrees C and application to natural diagenetic calcites. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Tulsa, OK, United States, Journal of Sedimentary Research, 69 (1), 216-223, georefid:1999-049186
Abstract:
The temperature dependence of Sr coprecipitation with calcite was determined experimentally in solutions with Sr/Ca ratios and ionic strengths closely resembling marine pore fluids. Aragonite-to-calcite and dolomite-to-calcite transformations were conducted over a temperature range from 40 degrees to 200 degrees C. Temperature dependence of the distribution coefficient of strontium in calcite (D (super C) (sub Sr) ) is significant. D (super C) (sub Sr) in aragonite-to-calcite experiments varied from 0.046 at 40 degrees to 0.068 at 200 degrees C. D (super C) (sub Sr) in dolomite-to-calcite experiments varied from 0.034 at 40 degrees C to 0.062 at 200 degrees C. Experimental values of D (super C) (sub Sr) are somewhat dependent on the precursor phase. The experimental results are applied to natural diagenetic and hydrothermal calcites recovered from the sediment-covered Middle Valley part of the Juan de Fuca Ridge spreading center (Ocean Drilling Program Holes 857C and 858D). Low-Mg calcites from Hole 858D have Sr contents appropriate for their present-day in situ temperatures and pore-water Sr values. In contrast, high-Mg calcites from Hole 858D that precipitated from supersaturated pore waters at inferred high growth rates have elevated Sr contents relative to calculated equilibrium values. The Sr contents of calcites from Hole 857C are close to predicted equilibrium values in some instances but are substantially different in others. Deviations from predicted equilibrium Sr contents, especially in nodules, are attributed to the formation of mixed generations of carbonate precipitating with increasing burial depths and temperatures through pore waters with variable Sr composition.
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