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New isotope constraints on the Mg oceanic budget point to cryptic modern dolomite formation

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  • Netta Shalev

    (Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology, ETH Zürich)

  • Tomaso R. R. Bontognali

    (Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology, ETH Zürich
    Space Exploration Institute
    University of Basel)

  • C. Geoffrey Wheat

    (University of Alaska Fairbanks)

  • Derek Vance

    (Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology, ETH Zürich)

Abstract

The oceanic magnesium budget is important to our understanding of Earth’s carbon cycle, because similar processes control both (e.g., weathering, volcanism, and carbonate precipitation). However, dolomite sedimentation and low-temperature hydrothermal circulation remain enigmatic oceanic Mg sinks. In recent years, magnesium isotopes (δ26Mg) have provided new constraints on the Mg cycle, but the lack of data for the low-temperature hydrothermal isotope fractionation has hindered this approach. Here we present new δ26Mg data for low-temperature hydrothermal fluids, demonstrating preferential 26Mg incorporation into the oceanic crust, on average by εsolid-fluid ≈ 1.6‰. These new data, along with the constant seawater δ26Mg over the past ~20 Myr, require a significant dolomitic sink (estimated to be 1.5–2.9 Tmol yr−1; 40–60% of the oceanic Mg outputs). This estimate argues strongly against the conventional view that dolomite formation has been negligible in the Neogene and points to the existence of significant hidden dolomite formation.

Suggested Citation

  • Netta Shalev & Tomaso R. R. Bontognali & C. Geoffrey Wheat & Derek Vance, 2019. "New isotope constraints on the Mg oceanic budget point to cryptic modern dolomite formation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-13514-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13514-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Andre Baldermann & Santanu Banerjee & György Czuppon & Martin Dietzel & Juraj Farkaš & Stefan Lӧhr & Ulrike Moser & Esther Scheiblhofer & Nicky M. Wright & Thomas Zack, 2022. "Impact of green clay authigenesis on element sequestration in marine settings," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Alicia M. Wilson & Andrew Osborne & Scott M. White, 2024. "Large-scale groundwater flow and sedimentary diagenesis in continental shelves influence marine chemical budgets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

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