Stable Isotopic Variability within Modern Travertines
Henry S. Chafetz
James R. Lawrence
ABSTRACT
Six hot and two ambient water travertine systems were sampled to determine the relationships between the stable isotopic composition of the travertines and the waters from which they were deposited. This was conducted in order to evaluate the use of geochemical analyses of ancient travertines for the interpretation of the composition of the waters from which they precipitated, climatic conditions at time of formation, etc. The waters displayed down-flow trends of progressively higher (^ 8'3C values, in all 8 systems, and (H) 618O values, in all 6 hot water systems. Whereas the stable isotopic values of the mineral precipitates sometimes showed similar trends, the magnitude of the downflow changes commonly was quite different than that exhibited by the water data. Additionally, different types of precipitates, which formed within centimeters of each other, commonly had different stable isotopic compositions, e.g., crusts which formed at the air/water interface always had higher 813C and 8'8O values than constituents which formed within the immediately subjacent water column. The lack of a simple relationship between stable isotopic composition of the water and the precipitate is due to the fact that the stable isotopic composition of the precipitates are controlled by a number of variables, including the water's composition, temperature, level of saturation, etc. And these variables can change dramatically within very short distances and at the same spot within very short time intervals. Thus, as demonstrated by the stable isotope data, attempting to interpret the composition of the water from the composition of the deposit is a highly risky venture.
RÉSUMÉ
La variabilité spatiale des teneurs isotopiques à l’intérieur des travertins modernes
Six ensembles travertineux de sources chaudes et deux ensembles à température ambiante ont été échantillonnés afin de déterminer les liens entre la teneur en isotopes stables des travertins et celle des eaux dans lesquels ils ont été déposés. Cette analyse a été faite dans le but d'évaluer l'utilité des analyses géochimiques d'anciens travertins pour déterminer la composition des eaux où a eu lieu la précipitation, les conditions climatiques lors de leur formation, etc. Les eaux ont montré une augmentation vers l'aval des valeurs de 8'3C dans les huit ensembles et de celles de 818O dans les six ensembles " chauds ". Là où les valeurs des isotopes stables des précipités minéraux montraient parfois des tendances similaires, l'ampleur des changements vers l'aval était habituellement fort différente de celle qu'indiquent les données sur les eaux. De plus, les différents types de précipités, situés à des distances centimétriques les uns des autres, avaient souvent des teneurs isotopiques différentes; ainsi les croûtes formées à l'interface de l'eau et de l'air avaient toujours des valeurs plus élevées de 8'3C et de 8'8O que les constituants formés à l'intérieur de la colonne d'eau sousjacente. L'absence d'une relation simple entre la teneur isotopique de l'eau et du précipité est attribuable au fait que la teneur isotopique des précipités est déterminée par un certains nombre de variables, notamment la composition de l'eau, la température, le niveau de saturation, etc. Ces variables peuvent être fort différentes sur de très courtes distances ou au même endroit sur un court laps de temps. Ainsi, comme le démontrent les données sur les isotopes stables, il est fort risqué de vouloir interpréter la composition de l'eau à partir de celle du dépôt.
ZUSAMMENFASSUNG
Dauerhafte isotopische Variabilität innerhalb der modernen Travertine
Sechs Travertin-Systemen mit heiBem Wasser und zwei mit der Umgebung angepaBter Wasserwarme wurden Stich-proben entnommen, um die Beziehungen zwischen der stabilen isotopischen Zusammensetzung der Travertine und den Quellen, durch die sie abgesetzt wurden, zu bestim-men. Dièse Analyse wurde mit dem Ziel durchgefùhrt, den Nutzen geochemischer Analysen von alten Travertinen bei der Interpretation der Zusammensetzung der Quellen, aus denen sie ausgeschieden wurden, der klimatischen Bedingungen zur Zeit ihrer Bildung u.s.w. zu beurteilen. Die Wasser zeigten talwârts Trends von zunehmend hôheren 8'3C-Werten in alien 8 Systemen und 8'80-Werte in alien 6 HeiBwasser-Systemen. Wàhrend die stabilen isotopischen Werte der Mineral-Ausscheidungen manchmal âhnliche Trends zeigten, war der Umfang der Verànderungen talwârts im allgemeinen sehr verschieden von denen, die in den Wasser-Daten angezeigt wurden. AuBerdem hatten verschiedene Arien von Ausscheidungen, welche sich in Zentimeter-Entfernung voneinander bildeten, gewôhnlich unterschiedliche stabile isotopische Zusammensetzungen, d.h. Krusten, die sich an der Schnittstelle Luft/ Wasser bildeten, hatten immer hôhere 8'3C-und 8'80-Werte als Bestandteile, welche sich innerhalb der direkt darunterliegenden Wasser-Sâule bildeten. Das Fehlen einer einfachen Beziehung zwischen stabiler isotopischer Zusammensetzung des Wassers und der Ausscheidung beruht auf der Tatsache, daB die stabile isotopische Zusammensetzung der Ausscheidungen durch eine Reihe von Variablen kontrolliert werden wie Zusammensetzung des Wassers, Temperatur, Saturations-niveau u.s.w. Und dièse Variablen kônnen sich dramatisch veràndern innerhalb sehr geringer Entfernungen und an derselben Stelle innerhalb sehr kurzer Zeitrâume. Wie die stabilen isotopischen Daten zeigen, ist also der Versuch, die Wasserzusammensetzung von der Zusammensetzung der Ablagerung aus zu interpretieren ein, hoch riskantes Untemehmen.
Bibliografía
Allen, E.T. and Day, A.L., 1935. Hot springs of the Yellowstone National Park. Carnegie Institute Washington Publ. 466, 525 p.
Amundson. R. and Kelly, E., 1987. The chemistry and mineralogy of a CO 2-rich travertine depositing spring in the California Coast Range. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 51: 2883-2890. DOI:10.1016/0016-7037(87)90364-4
Barbieri, M., Masi, U. and Tolomeo, L., 1979. Origin and distribution of strontium in the travertines of Latium (central Italy). Chemical Geology, 24: 181-188. DOI:10.1016/0009-2541(79)90121-9
Bargar, K.E., 1978. Geology and thermal history o) Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin #1444, 55 p.
Barnes, I., 1965. Geochemistry of Birch Creek, Inyo County, California: A travertine depositing creek in an arid climate. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 29: 85-112. DOI:10.1016/0016-7037(65)90119-5
Chafetz, H. S. and Folk, R. L., 1984. Travertines: Depositional morphology and the bacterially-constructed constituents. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 54: 289-316.
Chafetz, H. S., Rush, P. F. and Utech, N. M., 1991a. Microenvironmental controls on mineralogy and habit of CaCO3 precipitates: An example from an active travertine system. Sedimentology, 38: 107-126. DOI:10.1111/j.1365-3091.1991.tb01857.x
Chafetz, H. S., Utech, N. M. and Fitzmaurice, S. P., 1991b. Differences in the 5'3C and 6'8O signatures of seasonal laminae comprising travertine stromatolites. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 61: 1015-1028.
Chesterman, O.W. and Kleinhampl, F.J., 1991. Travertine hot springs, Mono County, California. California Geology, 171-182.
Cortesi, C. and Leoni, M., 1955. Studio sedimentologica a geochimico del tra-vertino di un sondaggio a Bagni di Tivoli. Periodica di Mineralogia, 27: 407-458.
Dandurand, J.L., Gout, R., Hoefs, J., Menschel, G., Schott, J. and Usdowski. E., 1982. Kinetically controlled variations of major components and carbon and oxygen isotopes in a calcite-precipitating spring. Chemical Geology, 36: 299-315. DOI:10.1016/0009-2541(82)90053-5
Emig, W.H. 1917. Travertine deposits of Oklahoma. Oklahoma Geological Survey Bulletin, No. 29, Norman, Oklahoma, 76 p.
Fantidis, J. and Ehhalt, D.H., 1970. Variations of the carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of stalagmites and stalactites: Evidence of non-equilibrium isotopic fractionation. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 10: 136-144. DOI:10.1016/0012-821X(70)90075-0
Farmer, J.D. and DesMarais, D.J., 1992. Comparative biosedimentology of some terraced travertine deposits (abst.). Abstracts with programs, Geological Society of America, 24(7): 53.
Feth, J.H. and Barnes, I., 1979. Spring-deposited travertine in eleven western states. U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigation, # 79-35, Open-file Report.
Folk, R.L., 1993. SEM imaging of bacteria and nannobacteria in carbonate sediments and rocks. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 63: 990-999.
Folk, R.L., 1994. Interaction between bacteria, nannobacteria, and mineral precipitation in hot springs of central Italy. Géographie physique et Quaternaire, 48: 233-246.
Folk, R.L., Chafetz, H.S. and Tiezzi, P.A., 1985. Bizarre forms of depositional calcite in hot-spring travertines, central Italy, p. 349-369. In N. Schneidermann and P.M. Harris, eds., Carbonate Cements. Special Publication Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists #36.
Franson, M.A., éd., 1976. Standard methods for the examination of water and waste water. Washington, D. C1 American Public Health Association. 1193 p.
Friedman, L., 1970. Some investigations of the deposition of travertine from Hot Springs - 1. The isotopic chemistry of a travertine-depositing spring. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 34, 1303-1315. DOI:10.1016/0016-7037(70)90043-8
Friedman, I. and O'Neil, J.R., 1977. Compilation of stable isotope fractionation factors of geochemical interest. In M. Fleischer, éd., Data of Geochemistry. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 440-KK.
Goff, F. and Shevenell, L., 1987. Travertine deposits of Soda Dam, New Mexico, and their implications for the age and evolution of the Vallès Caldera hydrothermal system. Geological Society America Bulletin, 99: 292-302. DOI:10.1130/0016-7606(1987)99<292:TDOSDN>2.0.CO;2
Golubic, S., 1969. Cyclic and nonocyclic mechanisms in the formation of travertine. Verhandlungen der lnternationalen Vereinigung fur Theoretische und Angewandte Limnologie, 17: 956-961.
Gonfiantini, R., Panichi. C. and Tongiorgi, E., 1968. Isotopic disequilibrium in travertine deposition. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 5: 55-58. DOI:10.1016/S0012-821X(68)80012-3
Hendy, C.H., 1971. The isotopic geochemistry of speleothems. 1. The calculation of the effects of different modes of formation on the isotopic composition of speleothems and their applicability as paleoclimatic indicators. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 35: 801-824. DOI:10.1016/0016-7037(71)90127-X
Hennig, G.J., Grun, R. and Brunnacker, K., 1983. Speleothems, travertines, and paleoclimates. Quaternary Research, 20: 1-29. DOI:10.1016/0033-5894(83)90063-7
Herman, J.S. and Lorah, M.M., 1987. C02 outgassing and calcite precipitation in Falling Spring Creek, Virginia, U.S.A. Chemical Geology, 62: 251-262. DOI:10.1016/0009-2541(87)90090-8
Herman, J.S. and Lorah, M.M., 1988. Calcite precipitation rates in the field: Measurement and prediction for a travertine-depositing stream. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 52: 2347-2355. DOI:10.1016/0016-7037(88)90292-X
Huntsman, S.A. and Sunda, W.G., 1980. The role of trace metals in regulating phytoplankton growth, with emphasis on Fe, Mn, and Cu, p. 285-328. In I. Morris, éd., The Physiological Ecology of Phytoplankton. University of California Press, Berkeley.
Jacobson. R.L. and Usdowski, E., 1975. Geochemical controls on a calcite precipitating spring. Contributions Mineralogy Petrology, 51: 65-74. DOI:10.1007/BF00403513
Johnson. J.W., Oelkers, E.H. and Helgeson, H.O, 1992. Support 92: A software package for calculating the standard molal thermodynamic properties of minerals, gases, aqueous species, and reactions from 1 to 5000 bar and 0 to 1000DC. Computers and Geosciences, 18: 899-947. DOI:10.1016/0098-3004(92)90029-Q
Kitano, Y., 1963. Geochemistry of calcareous deposits found in hot springs. Journal of Earth Sciences (Nagoya University), 11: 68-100.
Kottlowski, F.E., 1953. Tertiary-Quaternary sediments of the Rio Grande Valley in southern New Mexico. New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook. Fourth Field Conference, Southwestern New Mexico, p. 144-148.
Kronfeld, J., Vogel, J.C., Rosenthal, E. and Weinstein-Evron, M., 1988. Age and paleoclimatic implications of the Bet Shean travertines. Quaternary Research, 30: 298-303. DOI:10.1016/0033-5894(88)90005-1
Lao, Y. and Benson, L., 1988. Uranium-series age estimates and paleoclimatic significance of Pleistocene tufas from the Lahontan Basin, California and Nevada. Quaternary Research, 30: 165-176. DOI:10.1016/0033-5894(88)90021-X
Lorah, M.M. and Herman, J.S., 1988. The chemical evolution of a travertine-depositing stream: Geochemical processes and mass transfer reactions. Water Resources Research, 24: 1541-1552. DOI:10.1029/WR024i009p01541
Love, K. M., 1985. Petrology of Quaternary travertine deposits of the Arbuckle Mountains, Oklahoma. M.Sc. thesis, University of Houston, 240 p.
Love, K. M. and Chafetz, H. S., 1988. Diagenesis of laminated travertine crusts, Arbuckle Mountain, Oklahoma. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 58: 441-445.
Love, K. M. and Chafetz, H. S.1990. Petrology of the Turner Falls travertine accumulation, p. 65-78. In J. Herman and D.A. Hubbard, eds., Travertine-Marl: Stream Deposits in Virginia. Virginia Division Mineral Resources Publ. No. 101.
Manfra. L., Masi, U. and Turi, B., 1976. La composizione isotopica dei travertini del Lazio. Geologica Romana, 15: 127-174.
Michaelis, J., Usdowski, E. and Menschel, G., 1985. Partitioning of 13C and 12C on the degassing of CO 2 and the precipitation of calcite-Rayleigh-type fractionation and a kinetic model. American Journal of Science, 285: 318-327. DOI:10.2475/ajs.285.4.318
Miller, L.G., 1980. Dissolved inorganic carbon isotope ratios in reducing marine sediments. M.Sc. thesis, University of Southern California, 101 p.
Pazdur, A., Pazdur. M. F., Starkel, L. and Szulc, J., 1988. Stable isotopes of Holocene calcareous tufa in Southern Poland as paleoclimatic indicators. Quaternary Research, 30: 177-189. DOI:10.1016/0033-5894(88)90022-1
Pedley, H.M., 1990. Classification and environmental models of cool freshwater tufas. Sedimentary Geology, 68: 143-154. DOI:10.1016/0037-0738(90)90124-C
Pentecost, A. and Spiro, B., 1990. Stable carbon and oxygen isotope compo-siton of calcites associated with modern freshwater cyanobacteria and algae. Geomicrobiology Journal, 8: 17-26. DOI:10.1080/01490459009377875
Pursell, VJ., 1985. The petrology and diagenesis of Pleistocene and Recent travertines from Gardiner, Montana, and Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. M.Sc. thesis, University of Texas at Austin, 153 p.
Reddy, M.M., 1983. Characterization of calcite dissolution and precipitation using an improved experimental technique. Sciences géologiques, Mémoires, 71: 109-117.
Srdoc, D., Horvantincic, N., Obelic, B., Krajcar, I, and Sliepcevic, A., 1985. Procesi talozenja kalcita u krskim vodama s posebnim osvrtom na Plitvicka jezera, krs Juopsl. (Calcite deposition processes in karstwaters with special emphasis on the Plitvice Lakes, Yugoslavia), Zagreb. Carsus lugoslavie 11 (4-6): 1-104 (English summary, p. 98-104).
Steinen, R.P., Gray, N.H. and Mooney, J., 1987. A Mesozoic carbonate hot-spring deposit in the Hartford Basin of Connecticut. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 57: 319-326.
Sturchio, N.C, 1990. Radium isotopes, alkaline earth diagenesis, and age determination of travertine from Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, U.S.A. Applied Geochemistry Barnes Memorial Issue.
Suarez, D.L., 1983. Calcite supersaturation and precipitation kinetics in the Lower Colorado River, All-American Canal and East Highline Canal. Water Resources Research, 19: 653-661. DOI:10.1029/WR019i003p00653
Szabo, B.J., 1990. Ages of travertine deposits in eastern Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. Quaternary Research, 34: 24-32. DOI:10.1016/0033-5894(90)90070-2
Thompson, P., Schwarcz, H.P. and Ford, D.C, 1976. Stable isotopic geochemistry, geothermometry, and geochronology of speleothems from West Virginia. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 87: 1730-1738. DOI:10.1130/0016-7606(1976)87<1730:SIGGAG>2.0.CO;2
Turi, B., 1986. Stable isotope geochemistry of travertines, p. 207-238. In P. Fritz and J. C. Fontes, eds., Handbook of Environmental Isotope Geochemistry. Elsevier, New York.
Usdowski, B., 1982. Reactions and equilibria in the systems CGvH2O and CaCO3-CO2-H2O (0"-500C). Neues Jahnbush fur Minéralogie, 144: 148-171.
Usdowski, E., Hoefs, J. and Menschel, G., 1979. Relationship between '3C and B0 fractionation and changes in major element composition in a recent calcite-depositing spring - A model of chemical variations with inorganic CaCO3 precipitation. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 42: 267-276. DOI:10.1016/0012-821X(79)90034-7
Utech, N. M., 1988. Geochemical and pétrographie analyses of travertine precipitating waters and associated travertine deposits, Arbuckle Mountains, Oklahoma. M.Sc. thesis, University of Houston, 367 p.
| Autores : | Henry S. Chafetz y James R. Lawrence |
|---|---|
| Título : | Stable Isotopic Variability within Modern Travertines |
| Revista : | Géographie physique et Quaternaire, Volumen 48, número 3, 1994, p. 257-273 |
| URI : | http://id.erudit.org/iderudit/033007ar |
| DOI : | 10.7202/033007ar |
Tous droits réservés © Les Presses de l'Université de Montréal, 1994