TITLE:
Ultralight Oxygen in Corundum-Bearing Rocks of North Karelia, Russia, as a Result of Isotope Separation by Thermal Diffusion (Soret Effect) in Endogenous Fluid Flow
AUTHORS:
E. Yu. Akimova, K. I. Lokhov
KEYWORDS:
Corundum-Bearing Rocks, Noble Gas Isotopes, Anomaliously Light Oxygen, Thermodiffusion, Natural Fluid Pump
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering,
Vol.3 No.12,
December
17,
2015
ABSTRACT: Helium and argon isotopes in fluid
inclusions in minerals of corundum bearing rocks with anomalous light oxygen of
the Khitoostrov (North Karelia, Russia) were studied. It was found that atmospheric
noble gas component is missing. Therefore, all previously proposed models of
participation in the fluid surface ice meltwater are not valid. Proposed and
justified endogenous mechanism of isotope fractionation of oxygen and other
chemical elements by the mechanism of thermal diffusion. Geologically justified
existence of the cascading effect for a number of the separation thermodiffusion
cells, which lead to significant isotope effects. Cascading is realized due to
the “fluid pump”, in which role are acting amphibolized gabbro in the contact
with corundum metasomatites. It is assumed that the mechanism is not specific
for the case corundum metasomatic rocks, which are a special case of
manifestation of such a scenario in processes involving endogenous fluid flows.