Chlorine-36 tracing of salinity sources in the dry valleys of Victoria land, Antarctica

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(90)90320-K· OSTI ID:7024378

Carlson, C A; Phillips, F M ^[1]; Elmore, D ^[2]; Bentley, H W ^[3]

---

1. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro (USA)
2. Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (USA)
3. Univ. of Arizona, Tucson (USA)

Chlorine-36 was used to trace the origins of salts in six saline lakes in the Dry Valleys of Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Characteristic {sup 36}Cl signatures were estimated for the various potential chloride sources, which include atmospheric deposition, rock weathering, seawater, and deep ground water. {sup 36}Cl/Cl ratios were measured in natural waters and salts from the Dry Valleys. Dilute lake waters (Cl{sup {minus}} < 100 mg/l) were found to have {sup 36}Cl/Cl ratios in the range 100 {times} 10{sup {minus}15} to 1,700 {times} 10{sup {minus}15}, whereas saline waters (Cl{sup {minus}} > 1000 mg/l) had ratios in the range 9 {times} 10{sup {minus}15} to 40 {times} 10{sup {minus}15}. Simple mixing models were employed to quantify the relative contributions of the various chloride sources to Lake Vanda and Don Juan Pond. These results show that Lake Vanda has received its chloride from both deep ground water and the Onyx River. Don Juan Pond has received nearly all its chloride from deep ground water, probably ultimately from rock-water interaction. Deep ground water is the principal sources of chloride to the lakes of Wright Valley. However, preliminary data suggest that marine-derived salts or relict sea water may be a significant sources of chloride to the lakes of Taylor Valley, implying a possible recent marine invasion that did not affect Wright Valley.

• OSTI ID: 7024378
• Journal Information: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA), Journal Name: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA) Vol. 54:2; ISSN GCACA; ISSN 0016-7037
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
ANTARCTICA
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
CHLORINE 36
CHLORINE ISOTOPES
CONCENTRATION RATIO
DEPOSITION
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE RATIO
ISOTOPES
LAKES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORIGIN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLAR REGIONS
PRECIPITATION
RADIOISOTOPES
SALINITY
SALT DEPOSITS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SURFACE WATERS
WATER
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES