Constraints from Diffusion-Driven Isotope Fractionations in Crystals and Melts

Dear Colleagues,

In the last decade, diffusion-driven isotope fractionation has been recognized to be a powerful means to characterize mass flux in various geological environments. The exciting idea behind this approach is that diffusion, being a kinetic process, generates isotope fractionation that commonly exceeds equilibrium isotope fractionation by an order of magnitude. Such disequilibrium isotopic signatures are recorded not only as isotope variations among different mineral phases or between minerals and their environment (e.g., a melt), but also as isotopic zoning in individual crystals. In fact, such zoning, if coupled to a chemical zoning of the crystal, can be taken as evidence for the diffusion origin of the zoning. This is particularly important if the (chemical) zoning shall be used for diffusion modeling in order to quantify time scales of geological processes. Finally, recent advancements in the in-situ analysis of isotopic compositions have made it possible to unravel isotope variations in crystals and glasses and to investigate the mechanisms behind diffusion-driven isotope fractionation in minerals and melts. Hence, this current Special Issue invites contributions from (developmental) studies on analytical techniques, fundamental theoretical and experimental studies as well as studies investigating natural samples, all aiming at elucidating diffusion-driven isotope fractionations and the implications of these in natural environments.

Dr. Martin Oeser-Rabe
Guest Editor

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• kinetic isotope fractionation
• zoning of crystals and glasses
• isotope diffusion
• in-situ analyses of isotopic compositions
• diffusion modeling