Strontium isotopes as indicators of mineral weathering in catchments

Bain, D. C.; Bacon, Jeffrey R.

doi:10.1016/0341-8162(94)90002-7

Cited by 76 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The strontium in water and thus 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of water mostly comes from the products of mineral weathering and atmospheric deposition (e.g. Bain and Bacon, 1994;Capo et al, 1998). Climate and, seasonality, which influences catchment discharge, also control the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of rivers (e.g.…”

Section: Water Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr in different environmental samples — Effects of anthropogenic contamination and implications for isoscapes in past migration studies

Maurer

Galer

Knipper

et al. 2012

Science of The Total Environment

207

190

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Sr/ 86 Sr reference maps (isoscapes) are a key tool for investigating past human and animal migrations. However, there is little understanding of which biosphere samples are best proxies for local bioavailable Sr when dealing with movements of past populations. In this study, biological and geological samples (ground vegetation, tree leaves, rock leachates, water, soil extracts, as well as modern and archeological animal teeth and snail shells) were collected in the vicinity of two early medieval cemeteries ("Thuringians", 5-6th century AD) in central Germany, in order to characterize 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of the local biosphere. Animal tooth enamel is not appropriate in this specific context to provide a reliable 87 Sr/ 86 Sr baseline for investigating past human migration. Archeological faunal teeth data (pig, sheep/goat, and cattle) indicates a different feeding area compared to that of the human population and modern deer teeth 87 Sr/ 86 Sr such as freshwater bivalve shells and tree cores were examined in order to track potential historic anthropogenic contamination of the water and the vegetation. The data obtained from the archeological bivalve shells show that the modern rivers yield 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios which are similar to those of the past. However, the tree cores registered decreasing 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values over time towards present day likely mirroring anthropogenic activities such as forest liming, coal mining and/or soil acidification. The comparison of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of the Thuringian skeletons excavated in the same area also shows that the vegetation samples are very likely anthropogenically influenced to some extent, affecting especially 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of the shallow rooted plants.

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Section: Water Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr in different environmental samples — Effects of anthropogenic contamination and implications for isoscapes in past migration studies

Maurer

Galer

Knipper

et al. 2012

Science of The Total Environment

207

190

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“…Natural strontium (Sr) isotopes have been proved to be useful tools for tracing the past and for monitoring present-day environmental processes (Bain and Bacon, 1994;Åberg, 1995;Shand et al, 2009). The geochemical behaviour of Sr is generally similar to that of Ca (Aubert et al, 2002), but is different from that of the alkali elements K and Na.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Strontium in river water is derived from two sources, the dissolved minerals in the river basin and atmospheric deposition following evaporation of seawater (Faure, 1986;Bain and Bacon, 1994;Aubert et al, 2002). Therefore, the ratio of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr reflects the contribution of two sources, bedrock weathering and atmospheric inputs (Capo et al, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies have demonstrated the usefulness of the Sr isotope technique in tracing the geochemical cycling processes of river water (Graustein and Armstrong, 1983;Bain and Bacon, 1994;Capo et al, 1998;Shand et al, 2009). By using 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios, Graustein and Armstrong (1983) traced the sources of strontium in natural waters, vegetation, and soil taken from watersheds in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico, and found that more than 75% of the strontium in the vegetation was derived from atmospheric sources, and less than 25% from weathering of the underlying bedrock.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By using 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios, Graustein and Armstrong (1983) traced the sources of strontium in natural waters, vegetation, and soil taken from watersheds in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico, and found that more than 75% of the strontium in the vegetation was derived from atmospheric sources, and less than 25% from weathering of the underlying bedrock. The 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio of rainwater, stream water, soils, and rocks were determined by Bain and Bacon (1994) to determine mineral weathering, and the origin of the solutes in the stream water in two Scottish catchments. Additionally, a number of case studies also highlighted that Sr isotopes represented a powerful tool in determining weathering processes and quantifying end-member mixing processes when combined with other hydrochemical data (Shand et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Strontium concentrations and isotope ratios in a forest-river system in the South Qinling Mts., China

Song

Zhang

et al. 2016

Water Research

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a b s t r a c tThe concentrations of dissolved strontium (Sr) and isotope ratios ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) in rainwater, river water, and water from forest soil are measured to investigate the contributions of these sources to a river during base flow conditions in the relatively pristine South Qinling Mountains, China. Dissolved Sr concentrations and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios vary significantly between different water types (p < 0.01) suggesting that it is suitable for differentiating sources. Dissolved Sr is also positively correlated with most ions and a range of physicochemical parameters (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 respectively) in water samples including Ca 2þ , Mg 2þ , EC, and TDS (p < 0.001) indicating their similarities in the drivers of biogeochemical processes and common origins. The correlations between Sr isotopes and Ca/Na, Ca/K, and 1000/Sr ratios suggest that three end-members of atmospheric inputs, carbonate and silicate weathering control the Sr water chemistry in the river water. Using the three-source mixing model, atmospheric inputs, carbonate, and silicate weathering contribute 74%, 20%, and 6% respectively to the dissolved Sr in the river water. This research has provided new insights into the contribution of sources of Sr to a river system in a mountainous catchment.

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What is the source of baseflow in agriculturally fragmented catchments? Complex groundwater/surface‐water interactions in three tributary catchments of the Wabash River, Indiana, USA

Frisbee

Meyers

Stewart-Maddox

et al. 2017

Hydrological Processes

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Some conceptual models suggest that baseflow in agriculturally fragmented watersheds may contain little, if any, groundwater. This has critical implications for stream quality and ecosystem functioning. Here, we (a) identify the sources and flowpaths contributing to baseflow using 222Rn and 87Sr/86Sr and (b) quantify mean apparent ages of groundwater and baseflow using multiple isotopic tracers (CFC, SF6, 36Cl, and 3H) in 4 small (0.08 to 0.64 km2) tributary catchments to the Wabash River in Indiana, USA. 222Rn activities and 87Sr/86Sr ratios indicate that baseflow in 3 catchments is sourced primarily from groundwater; baseflow in the fourth is dominated by a source similar to agricultural run‐off. CFC‐12 data indicate that springs in 1 catchment are discharging significant proportions of water that recharged between 1974 (42 ± 2 years) and 1961 (55 ± 2 years). Those same springs have 36Cl/Cl ratios between 1,381.08 ± 29.37 (×10−15) and 1,530.64 ± 27.65 (×10−15) indicating that a substantial proportion of the discharge likely recharged between 1975 (41 years) and 1950 (66 years). Groundwater samples collected from streambed mini‐piezometers in a separate catchment have CFC‐12 concentrations indicating that a large proportion of the recharge occurred between 1948 (68 ± 2 years) and 1950 (66 ± 2 years). Repeat sampling conducted in September 2015 after above‐average summer rainfall did not show significant decreases in mean apparent age. The relatively old ages observed in 3 of the catchments can be explained by geological complexities that are likely present in all 4 catchments, but overwhelmed by flow from the shallow phreatic aquifer in the fourth catchment.

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Strontium isotopes as indicators of mineral weathering in catchments

Cited by 76 publications

References 17 publications

Bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr in different environmental samples — Effects of anthropogenic contamination and implications for isoscapes in past migration studies

Bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr in different environmental samples — Effects of anthropogenic contamination and implications for isoscapes in past migration studies

Strontium concentrations and isotope ratios in a forest-river system in the South Qinling Mts., China

What is the source of baseflow in agriculturally fragmented catchments? Complex groundwater/surface‐water interactions in three tributary catchments of the Wabash River, Indiana, USA

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