Year
2016
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Recommended Citation
Menozzi, Davide, Assessment of sequential extraction and mineral separation for studying uranium-series isotopes in Regolith, Doctor of Philosophy thesis, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, 2016. https://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/4736
Abstract
In a weathering profile, the variation with depth of the uranium-series (U-series) isotopic composition can be modelled to estimate regolith production rates. Secondary phases precipitated from solution (solution-derived phases) and organic matter present in regolith may introduce uncertainties in the model and decrease the accuracy of regolith production rates. A pre-treatment to remove these phases could address this drawback. It is also necessary that the pre-treatment does not affect the isotopic composition of minerals derived from the bedrock (bedrock-derived phases). This thesis aims at developing the method to estimates regolith production rates using U-series isotopes. This was done by testing sequential extraction (a chemical procedure used to remove specific solution-derived phases and organic matter from regolith) and mineral separation as methods to isolate bedrock-derived phases. In addition, Useries,major elements and mineralogical analyses were used together to explore U-series isotopes fractionation during pedogenesis.
FoR codes (2008)
0402 GEOCHEMISTRY, 0503 SOIL SCIENCES, 0499 OTHER EARTH SCIENCES, 0403 GEOLOGY
Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Wollongong.