A reactive transport framework describing covariation in the isotopic ratios of multiple elements in natural systems

Jennifer L. Druhan, Alexandra V. Turchyn

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Characteristic relationships between chemical reaction rate and isotope fractionation factor are often obscured or easily misinterpreted in natural environments. This ambiguity can be substantially reduced where and when it is possible to combine multiple isotopic constraints within the environmental system, e.g. δ18O and δ13C in epikarst, δ34S and δ18O in marine sulfate. Separately, numerical multi-component reactive transport models are becoming increasingly utilized to deconvolve the stable isotope signatures observed in natural environments. To date, analyses of multi-isotope systems using isotope-enabled reactive transport techniques are only just beginning to emerge, though the approach was suggested over a decade ago. Here, we demonstrate the development of a multi-isotope reactive transport simulation to show how complex signatures can be parsed into physical and chemical factors. We present a hypothetical system using an isotope-enabled reactive transport model to leverage the coevolution of sulfur and calcium isotope ratios as they fractionate in open, structurally heterogeneous environments.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationIsotopic Constraints on Earth System Processes
PublisherWiley
Pages285-300
Number of pages16
ISBN (Electronic)9781119595007
ISBN (Print)9781119594963
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 22 2022

Keywords

  • Microbial sulfate reduction
  • Reactive transport modeling
  • Secondary carbonate precipitation
  • Stable isotope fractionation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A reactive transport framework describing covariation in the isotopic ratios of multiple elements in natural systems'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this