Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2023, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (3): 399-424.DOI: 10.13745/j.esf.sf.2022.10.46

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Application of magnesium stable isotopes for studying important geological processes—a review

LIU Jiawen1,2(), TIAN Shihong1,2,3,*(), WANG Ling1,*()   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China
    2. School of Earth Sciences, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China
    3. SinoProbe Laboratory of Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing 100094, China
  • Received:2022-04-27 Revised:2022-10-30 Online:2023-05-25 Published:2023-04-27

Abstract:

Magnesium (Mg) is the fourth most abundant major rock-forming element on Earth (after O, Fe and Si). It has three naturally occurring stable isotopes, 24Mg, 25Mg and 26Mg, among them the relative atomic mass difference between 26Mg and 24Mg is up to 8.33%. Such a large relative atomic mass difference can result in variable degrees of Mg isotope fractionation in different geological processes, thus making Mg stable isotopes effective tracers for studying various geological evolution processes. In recent years, improvements of isotope analytical methods and the development of isotope-ratio mass spectrometry have greatly expanded the use of Mg stable isotopes in geological research, and the related publications have been comprehensively reviewed. Here, following a brief introduction to the reference materials and analytical methods for Mg isotope analysis, this paper discusses in detail the application of Mg isotope in four geological research fields, including applications 1) in ore genesis studies as effective tracers for probing mineralization processes and source of ore-forming materials; 2) in lamprophyre genesis studies for compositional analysis of source materials; 3) in geothermometer research, where four common mineral-pair Mg isotope geothermometers are reviewed and their applicability analyzed; and 4) in the study of Mg isotopic fractionation during metamorphic evolution, peritectic reaction and magmatic processes involving garnet-bearing rocks, and its implications. This systematic review is aimed to deepen the understanding of Mg stable isotopes and further demonstrate their broad application prospects.

Key words: Mg isotopes, analytical method, ore genesis, lamprophyre genesis, geological geothermometer, metamorphic magmatic process

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