Copper and gallium isotopic behavior in highly weathered soils

First-principles calculations of equilibrium Ga isotope fractionations between several important Ga-bearing minerals and aqueous solutions

“…In this study, Ga substitution for metal ions in these mineral lattice sites forms Ga-bearing mineral structures. A growing number of field and experimental observations indicate that large Ga isotope fractionations can be produced during chemical weathering processes 8 , 9 . Yuan et al (2022) demonstrated that Ga isotope fractionation between solution and weathered basalt could reach up to 1.50‰ 8 and concluded that the solution was more isotopically enriched ( 71 Ga) than that of the rocks.…”

“…Yuan et al (2022) demonstrated that Ga isotope fractionation between solution and weathered basalt could reach up to 1.50‰ 8 and concluded that the solution was more isotopically enriched ( 71 Ga) than that of the rocks. In addition, Liu et al (2022) work revealed that soil samples are enriched 71 Ga relative to bedrock, and the adsorption process can also produce obvious Ga isotope fractionation 9 . For the equilibrium Ga isotope fractionation between these Ga-bearing minerals and the solutions, the solution phases tend to enrich 71 Ga relative to minerals.…”

“…The latest research on Ga isotope fractionation shows that Ga isotope fractionation in natural samples is obvious. Thus, Ga isotopes can be used as an emerging geochemical tool to study a range of geochemical processes, including both low-temperature weathering and high-temperature evaporation 1,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] .Although the general rule of isotopic equilibrium fractionation is that equilibrium fractionation becomes very small at high temperatures, studies on weathering processes, adsorption processes, and Ga isotopic fractionation of carbonaceous chondrites have revealed that Ga isotopic fractionation is relatively significant. Previous studies have found that the Ga isotope fractionations of terrestrial samples are very small [11][12][13][14] .…”

“…The latest research on Ga isotope fractionation shows that Ga isotope fractionation in natural samples is obvious. Thus, Ga isotopes can be used as an emerging geochemical tool to study a range of geochemical processes, including both low-temperature weathering and high-temperature evaporation 1,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] .…”