Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Partitioning of strontium between calcite, dolomite and liquids: An experimental study under higher temperature diagenetic conditions, and a model for the prediction of mineral pairs for geothermometry

  • Published:
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The partitioning of Sr between calcite, dolomite and liquids is essentially independent of temperature between 150° and 350° C. The partition coefficients corrected for number of cation sites are b calc=0.096 and b dol= 0.048 for 1 mol cations/6 mol H2O liquid. Upon dilution the partition coefficients increase, but their ratio stays constant at about 2∶1. This ratio is due to the fact that calcite has twice as many Ca-sites for Sr-substitution as dolomite. The 2∶1 relationship is also observed in natural calcite and dolomite which have undergone diagenesis.

The temperature independence of partitioning is caused by the relatively small thermal expansion of calcite and dolomite. Thermal expansion between 25° and 400° C was found to follow the equations V calc=7.0·10−4 T(°C)+36.95 and V dol=6.9·10−4 T(°C)+32.24, V: cm3/mol. Therefore calcite and dolomite cannot serve as a temperature indicator. To have an ideal geothermometer a mineral pair with high and low thermal expansion is required. Literature date demonstrate that wurtzite, sphalerite, and galena are such minerals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barnes, H.L.: Ore solution chemistry. I. Experimental determination of mineral solubilities. Econ. Geol. 58, 1054 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bethke, P.M., Barton, P.B.: Distribution of some minor elements between coexisting sulfide minerals. Econ. Geol. 66, 140 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Boeke, H.E.: Über das Kristallisationsschema der Chloride, Bromide, Jodide von Natrium, Kalium und Magnesium, sowie über das Vorkommen des Broms und das Fehlen von Jod in den Kalisalzlagerstätten. Z. Krist. 45, 346 (1908)

    Google Scholar 

  • Burton, J.A., Prim, R.C., Slichter, W.P.: The distribution of solute in crystals grown from the melt. Part I. Theoretical. J. Chem. Phys. 21, 1987 (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • Flügel, H.W., Wedepohl, K.H.: Die Verteilung des Strontiums in oberjurassischen Karbonatgesteinen der nördlichen Kalkalpen. Ein Beitrag zur Diagenese von Karbonatgesteinen. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 14, 229 (1967)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howie, R.A., Broadhurst, F.M.: X-ray data for dolomite and ankerite. Am. Mineralogist 43, 1210 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, A., Sass, E., Starinsky, A., Holland, H.D.: Strontium behaviour in the aragonite-calcite transformation: an experimental study at 40–98° C. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 36, 481 (1972)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kozu, S., Kani, K.: Thermal expansion of aragonite and its atomic displacements by transformation into calcite between 450 ° and 490 ° C in air. I. Proceed. Imp. Acad. Japan 10, 222 (1934)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nernst, W.: Verteilung eines Stoffes zwischen zwei Lösungsmitteln und zwischen Lösungsmittel und Dampfraum. Z. Phys. Chem. 8, 110 (1891)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rayleigh: On the distillation of binary mixtures. Phil. Mag. J. Sci. (6th series) 4, 521 (1902)

    Google Scholar 

  • Skinner, B.J.: Thermal expansion of ten minerals. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper 450D, 109 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Swanson, H.E., Fuyat, R.K.: Standard X-ray diffraction powder patterns. NBS Circular 539, 2, 51 (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • Usdowski, E.: Dolomit im System Ca2+-Mg2+-CO 2−3 -Cl 2−2 -H2O. Naturwissenschaften 51, 357 (1964)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Usdowski, E.: Die Genese von Dolomit in Sedimenten. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1967

    Google Scholar 

  • Usdowski, E.: Das geochemische Verhalten des Strontiums bei der Genese und Diagenese von Ca-Karbonat- und Ca-Sulfat-Mineralen. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 38, 177 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Usdowski, E.: Fraktionierung der Spurenelemente bei der Kristallisation. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Veizer, J., Demovic, R.: Strontium as a tool in facies analysis. J. Sediment. Petrol. 44, 93 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber, J.N.: Trace element composition of dolostones and dolomites and its bearing on the dolomite problem. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 28, 1817 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. R. L. Jacobson

    Present address: Desert Research Institute, University of Nevada System, Water Resources Building, 89507, Reno, Nevada, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sedimentpetrographisches Institut der Universität Göttingen, Goldschmidtstr. 1, D-3400, Göttingen, Bundesrepublik Deutschland

    R. L. Jacobson & H. E. Usdowski

Authors
  1. R. L. Jacobson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. E. Usdowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jacobson, R.L., Usdowski, H.E. Partitioning of strontium between calcite, dolomite and liquids: An experimental study under higher temperature diagenetic conditions, and a model for the prediction of mineral pairs for geothermometry. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 59, 171–185 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00371306

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00371306

Keywords

Search

Navigation