Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

, Volume 306, Issue 1, pp 289–293 | Cite as

Terrestrial radioisotopes as paleoenvironmental proxies in sedimentary formations

  • Lóránt Bíró
  • Márta Polgári
  • Tivadar M. Tóth
  • Tamás Vigh
  • Norbert Kávási
  • Sarata Kumar Sahoo
Article

Abstract

The presence of anomalous terrestrial radioisotopes must be suspected in black shale-hosted manganese ore deposits, based on high organic matter content, which is useful tool in genetic, among them paleoenvironmental investigations. Our work aims at the characterization of the paleoredox conditions of the Úrkút Manganese Formation based on comparison of terrestrial radioisotopes and selected element ratios. Paleoredox indicators were estimated on U/Th, δU, Ni/Co, V/Cr, V/(V + Ni) and Ce*. The results of paleoredox indicator element ratios show, that these methods must be used with caution (microbial selective element enrichments, mobilizations), and the complex interpretation using mineralogy and microtexture can be recommended.

Keywords

Úrkút Manganese ore Paleoredox proxy Enrichment factor Microbial mediation 

Notes

Acknowledgments

Lóránt Bíró's research was supported by the European Union and the State of Hungary, co-financed by the European Social Fund in the framework of TÁMOP 4.2.4. A/2-11-1-2012-0001 ‘National Excellence Program’.

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Copyright information

© Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  • Lóránt Bíró
    • 1
    • 2
  • Márta Polgári
    • 2
  • Tivadar M. Tóth
    • 1
  • Tamás Vigh
    • 3
  • Norbert Kávási
    • 4
  • Sarata Kumar Sahoo
    • 4
  1. 1.Department of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and PetrologySzeged UniversitySzegedHungary
  2. 2.Institute for Geology and Geochemistry, Research Center for Astronomy and GeosciencesHungarian Academy of SciencesBudapestHungary
  3. 3.Mangán LtdÚrkútHungary
  4. 4.Project for Environmental Dynamics and Radiation EffectsNational Institute of Radiological SciencesChibaJapan

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