Boron isotope variations during fractional evaporation of sea water: new constraints on the marine vs. nonmarine debate

A. Vengosh, A. Starinsky, Y. Kolodny, A. R. Chivas, M. Raab

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

162 Scopus citations

Abstract

Examination of boron isotopes, elemental B, Br, and Li in brines, and coprecipitated salts during fractional evaporation of sea water shows that Br, Li, and B in the evaporated sea water have lower concentrations than expected, as determined from mass-balance calculations. The deficiency is found beyond a degree of evaporation of ~30 and is associated with a gradual increase in the δ 11 B values of the evaporated sea water, from 39‰ to 54.7‰. The boron isotope composition of sea water (δ 11 B = 39‰) is significantly higher than that of continental water (δ 11 B = -3‰ ± 5‰). Salt deposits may be depleted in 11 B by 20‰ to 30‰ relative to their parent brines. These variations suggest that boron isotopes can be used to determine the origin (marine vs. nonmarine) of brines and ancient evaporitic environments. -from Authors

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)799-802
Number of pages4
JournalGeology
Volume20
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 1992
Externally publishedYes

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