Multi-mode chemical exchange in seafloor alteration revealed by lithium and potassium isotopes

An efficient Li dual-column system and high-precision Li isotope measurement of high matrix and low-Li samples by MC-ICP-MS

“…1–4 Lithium and its isotopes are useful tracers for chemical weathering, clay formation, and hydrothermal alteration as well as cosmochemistry processes. 5–11 Over the last decade, emerging studies have been focused on using marine carbonates as Li isotope archives to shed light on climate change, chemical weathering and clay formation in the Earth's history. 6,8,11–32 Although analytical methods to determine Li isotope ratios have been well developed using multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS), existing methods are often challenged by carbonates and other high matrix and low-Li samples like seawater, hydrothermal fluids, and altered oceanic crust.…”