加速器质谱中心知识库

Significant boron isotope fractionation occurs in nature (-70 aEuro degrees to +75 aEuro degrees) due to the high geochemical reactivity of boron and the large relative mass difference between B-10 and B-11. Since the 1990s, reconstruction of ancient seawater pH using the isotopic composition of boron in bio-carbonates (delta B-11(carb)), and then calculation of the past pCO(2) have become important issues for the international isotope geochemistry community, and are called the delta B-11-pH proxy. Although many achievements have been made by this proxy, various aspects of boron systematics require rigorous evaluation. Based on the previous researches, mechanism of boron isotope fractionation, variation of boron isotope (delta B-11) in nature (especially in bio-carbonates) and controlling factors of the delta B-11-pH proxy, such as the dissociation constant of B(OH)(3) in seawater (pK(a)), the delta B-11 of seawater (delta B-11(SW)), the boron isotopic fractionation factor between B(OH) (4) (-) and B(OH)(3) (alpha (4-3)), and the incorporated species of boron into bio-carbonates, are reviewed in detail and the research directions of this proxy are proposed. Generally, the controversy about pK(a), delta B-11(sw), and alpha (4-3) is relatively less, but whether boron incorporated into bio-carbonates only in the form of B(OH) (4) (-) remains doubtful. In the future, it is required that the physicochemical processes that control boron incorporation into carbonates be rigorously characterized and that the related chemical and isotopic fractionation be quantified. It is also necessary and important to establish a "best-fit empirically equation" between delta B-11(carb) and pH of seawater based on the precipitation experiments of inorganic or culture experiments of corals or foraminifera. In addition, extended application of the delta B-11-pH proxy to the earlier part of the Phanerozoic relying on the Brachiopods is worthy of studying. Like other geochemical indicators, there are limiting factors of delta B-11; however, it remains a very powerful tool in the reconstruction of past seawater pH at present.