Stable ‘Non-Traditional’ Isotopes - Application of Geochemical Tracers to Fluvial Sediment - page 116

Table 5.1 Selected isotope characteristics and examples of use as a geochemical tracer (modified from Miller 2013 )
Element Stable Frequently used Primary fractionation processes Comments Selected references relevant

isotopic ratios 1

isotopes* to riverine environments

106 Cd, 108 Cd,
110 Cd, 111 Cd,
112 Cd, 113 Cd,
114 Cd, 116 Cd

114 Cd/ 110 Cd

Cd Evaporation and condensation,

including that associated with ore
processing; biological processes

Possible use to assess nutrient
uptake and translocation in
microorganisms and plants; may
be used to trace source, but not
adequately tested

Gao et al. ( 2008 ), Cloquet et al.
( 2006 ), Weiss et al. ( 2008 ), Shiel et al.
( 2010 , 2012 )

63 Cu, 65 Cu 65 Cu/ 63 Cu

Cu Redox reaction; biogenic

accumulation; solution speciation

May be used to assess redox
processes during biogeochemical
cycling and to trace source of Cu,
but not adequately tested

We i ss e t a l . ( 2008 ), Bird ( 2011 ),
Kimball et al. ( 2009 ), Zhu et al.
( 2000 ),Petitetal.( 2008 )

196 Hg, 198 Hg,
199 Hg, 200 Hg,
201 Hg, 202 Hg,
204 Hg

202 Hg/ 198 Hg

Hg MDFRedox reactions, biomethylation,

evaporation, condensation; absorption;
MIFphotoreduction, biological
transformations

May be used to assess redox
processes during biogeochemical
cycling of elements

Mil-Homens et al. ( 2013 ), Bergquist
and Blum ( 2009 ), Yin et al. ( 2010 ),
Sonke et al. ( 2010 )

64 Zn, 66 Zn,
67 Zn, 68 Zn,
70 Zn

66 Zn/ 64 Zn

Zn Evaporation and condensation,

including that associated with ore
processing; biogenic uptake; diffusion,
adsorption/ complexation on organics
and Fe oxides

Use appears promising for tracing
Zn sources from industrial
processes, particularly from ore
processing; may be used to assess
Zn cycling in the environment

Bird ( 2011 ), Sonke et al. ( 2010 ), Shiel
et al. ( 2012 ), Bentahila et al. ( 2008 ),
Petitetal.( 2008 )

1 Frequently used within environmental studies