Some aspects of the geochemistry of silicon isotopes

Abstract

The applications of the isotopes of the abundant element silicon as a tracer in the study of the earth sciences are discussed. The relatively long-lived radionuclide of silicon, ³²Si, finds important applications as a tracer for studying aqueous geochemistry, biogeochemical cycles of silicon in the oceans, and the chronology of glaciers and biogenic silica-rich sediments in lacustrine and marine environments. It is pointed out that a simultaneous study of ¹⁶O and ³⁰Si in exotic phases frequently found in carbonaceous chondrites should be useful for delineating nucleosynthetic effects distinctly from isotopic effects due to chemical fractionation.