Beryllium 10 in hydrothermal vent deposits from the East Pacific Ridges: Role of sediments in the hydrothermal processes

Journal Article · Sat Oct 10 00:00:00 EDT 1987 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JB092iB11p11364· OSTI ID:5479860

Valette-Silver, J N; Tera, F; Klein, J; Middleton, R

Beryllium 10 concentrations were determined for 31 handpicked hydrothermal sulfides, six oxyhydroxides, seven basalts, and five sediments collected from the hydrothermally active areas of the East Pacific ridges. The samples includes specimens from the East Pacific Rise (EPR) at 21 /sup 0/N and 13 /sup 0/N, the Galapagos Rift, the Guaymas Basin, and the Gorda and the Juan de Fuca ridges. Additional samples from massive sulfides associated with the Oman ophiolites were studied. In all samples, we obtained values ranging from 0.04 x 10/sup 6/ atoms/g to 125 x 10/sup 6/ atoms/g, with the lowest values being very close to our blank (0.015 x 10/sup 6/ atoms/g). The data show systematic variations with sample location and type. The /sup 10/Be concentrations measured for the mid-ocean basalts are of the order of 0.3 x 10/sup 6/ atoms/g and reach 3800 x 10/sup 6/ atoms/g for the pelagic deep-sea sediments collected near the EPR 21 /sup 0/N. Based on their /sup 10/Be concentrations, we can clearly distinguish two categories of sulfides: sulfides containing low /sup 10/Be concentration (<10 /sup 6/ atoms/g) sitting directly on the mid-ocean basalt (EPR of Juan de Fuca), and sulfides with high /sup 10/Be concentration (>10/sup 6/ atoms/g) located atop of a thick pile of young sediments (Guaymas Basin or Gorda Ridge).

• Research Organization: Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution, Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 5479860
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Vol. 92:B11
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BERYLLIUM 10
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
PACIFIC OCEAN
ABUNDANCE
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
VENTS
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION
RIFT ZONES
SEA BED
SEDIMENTS
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
BERYLLIUM ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FLUIDS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MASS TRANSFER
NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
520300* - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring &amp; Transport- (1989)