High-temperature equilibrium isotope fractionation of non-traditional stable isotopes: Experiments, theory, and applications

Isotope Fractionation Processes of Selected Elements

“…Studies by Teng et al (2007), Wiechert and Halliday (2007), Young et al (2009), Handler et al (2009 and Bourdon et al (2010) (Handler et al 2009;Wiechert and Halliday 2007;Yang et al 2009;Liu et al 2011), clinopyroxene and phlogopite are more variable and slightly heavier than olivine suggesting that inter-mineral fractionations are controlled by Mg-O bond strengths (Liu et al 2011). Furthermore, as pointed out by Young et al (2015), the effects of mineral chemistry are crucial to understand high-temperature mineral Mg isotope distributions. The Mg isotope composition of the Moon and chondrites are indistinguishable from Earth, suggesting a homogenous Mg-isotope distribution in the solar system and no Mg isotope fractionation during the Moon-forming event (Sedaghatpour et al 2013).…”

Late accretion history of the terrestrial planets inferred from platinum stable isotopes

“…Stable isotopic fractionations relating to metal-silicate differentiation have been reported in several stable isotope systems, e.g., Si (Young et al, 2015), Mo (Hin et al, 2013;Burkhardt et al, 2014), Zn (Mahan et al, 2017). The metal-silicate partitioning of Pt is much greater than for these other elements and, combined with the differences in oxidation state and bonding environment between mantle silicates and the Fe-Ni metallic core, Pt has the potential for significant stable isotope fractionation related to metal-silicate partitioning and core formation.…”

Variations of Stable Isotope Ratios in Nature

“…With respect to iron isotopes, an enrichment of the heavy Fe isotopes in the metal phase relative to Fe-oxides should be expected (Young et al 2015). Experiments on the iron isotope distribution between metal and silicates have yielded, however, no iron isotope fractionation between the two phases (Poitrasson et al 2009;Hin et al 2012).…”