On the ^(238)U/^(235)U Paleoredox Proxy: A Word of Caution with Black Shales and the Need for Sequential Leaching of Carbonates

Abstract

In the past several years, there has been a growing interest in the emerging U stable isotope systematic as it could prove a useful tracer of the redox state of the global ocean through time. However, important questions remain to be addressed before the full potential of this proxy can be exploited. In this abstract we show 1) how detrital contamination can be dealt with to avoid data misinterpretation, and 2) that bulk carbonates can record the δ^(238)U value of the seawater they form from.

Files

Additional details