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Published on: May 20, 2019
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Eu isotope fractionation and hydrothermal alteration
Seung-Gu Lee1, ShuangShuang Chen2, Tae Jong Lee3
1Geological Survey Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Daejeon, 34132, Korea. sgl@kigam.re.kr.
Scientific Reports
|August 7, 2025
Summary
Europium (Eu) isotope ratios reveal significant variations in mafic volcanic rocks. Hydrothermal reactions, not just magma differentiation, cause Eu isotope fractionation, impacting Earth system evolution understanding.
Area of Science:
- Geochemistry
- Isotope Geochemistry
- Earth System Science
Background:
- Europium (Eu) anomalies from feldspar crystallization offer insights into magma evolution.
- Eu isotope fractionation (δ¹⁵³Eu) and its link to Eu anomalies are a growing research area.
- Understanding Eu isotope variations is key to deciphering Earth system processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate large variations in Eu isotope ratios in mafic volcanic rocks.
- To explore the factors influencing Eu isotope fractionation in geological samples.
- To assess the role of hydrothermal reactions in Eu isotope signatures.
Main Methods:
- Precise determination of Eu isotope ratios using multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
- Utilizing a Samarium (Sm) internal standard for accurate measurements.
- Analysis of mafic volcanic rocks from the Korean Peninsula and ODP site 801C.
Main Results:
- Observed significant variations in δ¹⁵³Eu values for mafic volcanic rocks.
- Hydrothermally altered alkaline mafic rocks showed δ¹⁵³Eu values ranging from -0.65‰ to -0.1‰.
- Fresh subalkaline mafic volcanic rocks exhibited a narrower range of δ¹⁵³Eu values (-0.1‰ to 0.1‰).
Conclusions:
- Eu isotope fractionation is influenced by processes beyond magmatic differentiation.
- Hydrothermal reactions play a significant role in altering Eu isotope ratios.
- This finding expands our understanding of geochemical tracers in Earth system evolution.
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