Barium isotope (re-)equilibration in the barite-fluid system and its implications for marine barite archives

Variations in the Ba isotopic composition of seawater are largely driven by the extent of barite precipitation in the marine photic zone and replenishment of Ba by upwelling and/or continental inputs. Pelagic barites offer a robust tool for tracing sources and sinks of Ba in the (paleo)ocean as they record these isotopic variations. Knowledge of the Ba isotope fractionation between barite and ambient waters is therefore imperative. Here, the Ba isotope fractionation between barite and Ba2+ (aq) under equilibrium conditions has been estimated by the three-isotope method with a 135Ba-enriched reactive fluid. The estimated Ba isotope fractionation was A137/134BaBarite-Ba2+ = -0.07 & PLUSMN; 0.08%o. Textural observations of barite crystals recovered up to 756 days of reaction reveal smoothing of solid surfaces but also typical dissolution features such as development of pits and cracks. Thus, dissolution/re-precipitation is likely the mechanism controlling the observed isotope exchange that is facilitated by the further development of porosity in the crystals. Additionally, the isotope exchange in the experimental runs fits a second-order law yielding a surface normalized isotope exchange rate of & SIM;2.8 x 10-10 mol/m2/s. This exchange rate could theoretically result in complete isotope exchange between pelagic barite with a typical edge size of 1 & mu;m and ambient seawater or pore fluid within years, altering the barite's Ba isotopic composition during settling towards the seafloor and/or after deposition in marine sediments. Although there is considerable uncertainty in extrapolating experimental results to natural conditions and longer time scales, the rapid rates of exchange observed experimentally over short timescales suggest that isotope exchange in pelagic barite should be considered during interpretation of the Ba isotope composition as a paleoarchive. & COPY; 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Variations in seawater Ba isotopic composition are driven by barite precipitation and replenishment of Ba. Pelagic barites provide a tool for tracing Ba sources and sinks. The isotope fractionation between barite and Ba2+ was estimated as A137/134BaBarite-Ba2+ = -0.07 ± 0.08%o. Textural observations suggest dissolution/re-precipitation is the mechanism controlling isotope exchange. The exchange rate could lead to complete isotope exchange between barite and seawater/pore fluid within years, affecting barite's isotopic composition during settling and deposition in marine sediments. Experimental results imply that isotope exchange should be considered in interpreting Ba isotopic composition as a paleoarchive. © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.