Advances in Earth Science ›› 2017, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (8): 800-809. doi: 10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2017.08.0800

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A Review of Magnesium Isotope System in Rivers

Aiguo Dong( ), Guilin Han *( )   

  1. School of Scientific Research, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
  • Received:2017-03-23 Revised:2017-05-31 Online:2017-10-20 Published:2017-08-20
  • Contact: Guilin Han E-mail:aiguo.dong@cugb.edu.cn;hanguilin@cugb.edu.cn
  • About author:

    First author:Dong Aiguo(1982-), male, Xilinhaote City,Nei Monggol Autonomous Region, Lecturer. Research areas include stable isotope geochemistry.E-mail:aiguo.dong@cugb.edu.cn

  • Supported by:
    Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China “Environmental geology” (No.41325010) and “Biogeochemical processes of the material cycle and the effect of the water environment in Mun River, Thailand” (No.41661144029)

Aiguo Dong, Guilin Han. A Review of Magnesium Isotope System in Rivers[J]. Advances in Earth Science, 2017, 32(8): 800-809.

In recent years, a series of important progresses have been made in the aspect of magnesium isotopes behavior in weathering processes. These progresses are not only favorable to understand the change of the magnesium isotopic compositions in rivers, but also establish the foundation to further reveal the magnesium isotope geochemical cycle. The magnesium in rivers is both magnesium sink for weathering and magnesium source for the ocean. The Mg isotopic compositions in rivers are dominated by the magnesium sources and Mg isotope fractionations processes. The sources of magnesium in rivers originate mainly from draining rocks, as well as less contribution from the eolian deposition, groundwater, plant debris, and precipitation. The Mg isotope fractionations in rivers are mainly related to precipitation and dissolution of carbonate minerals, silicate mineral hydrolysis, adsorption on mineral or colloidal matter surface, and plant uptake. Generally, the contribution of carbonate minerals dissolution or precipitation is equal to add or reduce magnesium from carbonate endmember, which has a remarkably negative δ26Mg value. Based on the fact that most clay minerals are rich in 26Mg during nature silicate mineral hydrolysis, then it is possible to infer that residual weathering products enrich in 26Mg. However, there is no significant Mg isotope fractionation causing by the adsorption on mineral or colloidal matter surface during river water migration. For the plant uptake, the root prefers to have 26Mg, leading the plant itself rich in heavier Mg isotopic composition. In addition, formation of secondary minerals in rivers could also reflect the changes of chemical parameters in rivers (such as major elements, CO2 solubility, pH, etc.). Hence, Mg isotopic composition in rivers and associated isotope fractionations are not only the basis for the application of magnesium isotope to trace surface material cycle, but also have important significance for the further understanding the geochemical cycle of magnesium isotopes.

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