Redox-independent chromium isotope fractionation induced by ligand-promoted dissolution

Emily M. Saad, Xiangli Wang, Noah J. Planavsky, Christopher T. Reinhard and Yuanzhi Tang ()
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Emily M. Saad: Georgia Institute of Technology
Xiangli Wang: Yale University
Noah J. Planavsky: Yale University
Christopher T. Reinhard: Georgia Institute of Technology
Yuanzhi Tang: Georgia Institute of Technology

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract The chromium (Cr) isotope system has emerged as a potential proxy for tracing the Earth’s atmospheric evolution based on a redox-dependent framework for Cr mobilization and isotope fractionation. Although studies have demonstrated that redox-independent pathways can also mobilize Cr, no quantitative constraints exist on the associated isotope fractionations. Here we survey the effects of common environmental ligands on the dissolution of Cr(III)-(oxy)hydroxide solids and associated Cr isotope fractionation. For a variety of organic acids and siderophores, δ53Cr values of dissolved Cr(III) are −0.27 to 1.23‰, within the range of previously observed Cr isotope signatures in rock records linked to Cr redox cycling. Thus, ligand-promoted dissolution of Cr-containing solids, a redox-independent process, must be taken into account when using sedimentary Cr isotope signatures to diagnose atmospheric oxygen levels. This work provides a step towards establishing a more robust framework for using Cr isotopes to track the evolution of the Earth’s atmosphere.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01694-y

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