Collaborative Research: Lithium Isotopes in Mid-Ocean Ridge Hydrothermal Fluids: Determining Controls and Assessing the use of Lithium as a Geochemical Tracer

在海底热液系统内循环的海水在经历与海洋环境截然不同的高温高压条件时，会发生深刻的化学变化。因此，从海底喷出的热液在成分上与其来源的海水明显不同，对某些元素来说，热液是全球质量平衡的重要组成部分。要了解这一过程，必须了解海底下反应的岩石/水的比例。在这项工作中，由于Li同位素已被发现是了解海底系统内岩石/水行为的良好工具，因此将研究洋中脊热液系统中的Li同位素系统。先前收集的热液流体的锂同位素组成将在已经分析过主要元素和次要元素以及锂浓度的样品上确定。这些样本来自大洋中脊系统的四个不同地点。

ABSTRACT OCE- 9911612 OCE-0000882Seawater that circulates within submarine hydrothermal systems undergoes profound chemical change as it traverses high temperature and pressure conditions that are far different from those of the ambient ocean. Consequently, the hydrothermal water venting from the seafloor is markedly different in composition from the seawater from which it is derived, and for some elements represents an important component of the global mass balance. To understand this process, the rock/water ratio of reactions beneath the seafloor must be understood. In this work, Li isotope systematics in mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal systems will be investigated because Li has been found to be a good tool for understanding the rock/water behavior within the seafloor systems. The Li isotopic composition of previously collected hydrothermal fluids will be determined on samples that have already been analyzed for major and minor elements and for Li concentration. These samples are from four different sites along the mid-ocean ridge system.