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Stable Tungsten Isotope Composition of Hydrothermal Sediments and Its Implications for the Oceanic Tungsten Cycle

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  • 1. MOE Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China;
    2. School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China;
    3. Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Nanjing 210008, China;
    4. Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Cologne 50674, Germany;
    5. Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China

Online published: 2025-10-20

Abstract

Stable tungsten isotopes (δ186/184W) are a promising new geochemical proxy for tracing surface material cycles and reconstructing ancient ocean environments. A clear understanding of the source-sink system of stable W isotopes in the ocean is essential for expanding the application. Research indicates that riverine input constitutes the primary source of W in modern oceans, while non-euxinic sediments serve as the main sink. However, the fluxes and isotopic characteristics of different types of non-euxinic sediment sinks remain unclear. Hydrothermal sediments, enriched in hydrothermal sourced iron-manganese oxides, can adsorb significant amounts of W from seawater during sedimentation, resulting in authigenic W enrichment and making them a potentially significant sink. This study analyzed hydrothermal sediment samples from ODP Site 834A in the Lau Basin, South Pacific, to estimate the contribution of hydrothermal sediments to the global oceanic W budget. The high W/ Th in the samples suggests minimal detrital input, while the W/Mo ratio, rare earth element distributions, and δ186/184W values indicate that W in the sediments was primarily adsorbed from seawater by iron-manganese oxides, with manganese oxides playing
a dominant role. The lower-than-expected isotopic fractionation between sediments and seawater may reflect porewater effects driven by rapid sedimentation and high depositional flux. Based on the W/Mn ratios and global hydrothermal Mn fluxes, the hydrothermal sediments W sink flux is estimated to constitute less than 5% of the total riverine input, implying the presence of other unrecognized major W sinks. 

Cite this article

LIU Shu, HU Rong, LI Tao, YANG Ruiyu, LI Gaojun . Stable Tungsten Isotope Composition of Hydrothermal Sediments and Its Implications for the Oceanic Tungsten Cycle[J]. Geological Journal of China Universities, 2025 , 31(05) : 515 -523 . DOI: 10.16108/j.issn1006-7493.2024071

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