Abstract
Changing conditions on the Earth’s surface can have a remarkable influence on the composition of its overwhelmingly more massive interior. The global distribution of uranium is a notable example. In early Earth history, the continental crust was enriched in uranium. Yet after the initial rise in atmospheric oxygen, about 2.4 billion years ago, the aqueous mobility of oxidized uranium resulted in its significant transport to the oceans and, ultimately, by means of subduction, back to the mantle1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. Here we explore the isotopic characteristics of this global uranium cycle. We show that the subducted flux of uranium is isotopically distinct, with high 238U/235U ratios, as a result of alteration processes at the bottom of an oxic ocean. We also find that mid-ocean-ridge basalts (MORBs) have 238U/235U ratios higher than does the bulk Earth, confirming the widespread pollution of the upper mantle with this recycled uranium. Although many ocean island basalts (OIBs) are argued to contain a recycled component9, their uranium isotopic compositions do not differ from those of the bulk Earth. Because subducted uranium was probably isotopically unfractionated before full oceanic oxidation, about 600 million years ago, this observation reflects the greater antiquity of OIB sources. Elemental and isotope systematics of uranium in OIBs are strikingly consistent with previous OIB lead model ages10, indicating that these mantle reservoirs formed between 2.4 and 1.8 billion years ago. In contrast, the uranium isotopic composition of MORB requires the convective stirring of recycled uranium throughout the upper mantle within the past 600 million years.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albarède, F. & Michard, A. Transfer of continental Mg, S, O and U to the mantle through hydrothermal alteration of the oceanic crust. Chem. Geol. 57, 1–15 (1986)
Zartman, R. E. & Haines, S. M. The plumbotectonic model for Pb isotopic systematics among major terrestrial reservoirs: a case for bi-directional transport. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 52, 1327–1339 (1988)
McCulloch, M. T. The role of subducted slabs in an evolving earth. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 115, 89–100 (1993)
Kramers, J. D. & Tolstikhin, I. N. Two terrestrial lead isotope paradoxes, forward transport modelling, core formation and the history of the continental crust. Chem. Geol. 139, 75–110 (1997)
Collerson, K. D. & Kamber, B. S. Evolution of the continents and the atmosphere inferred from Th-U-Nb systematics of the depleted mantle. Science 283, 1519–1522 (1999)
Elliott, T., Zindler, A. & Bourdon, B. Exploring the kappa conundrum: the role of recycling in the lead isotope evolution of the mantle. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 169, 129–145 (1999)
Zartman, R. E. & Richardson, S. H. Evidence from kimberlitic zircon for a decreasing mantle Th/U since the Archean. Chem. Geol. 220, 263–283 (2005)
Kelley, K. A., Plank, T., Farr, L., Ludden, J. & Staudigel, H. Subduction cycling of U, Th, and Pb. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 234, 369–383 (2005)
White, W. M. & Hofmann, A. W. Sr and Nd isotope geochemistry of oceanic basalts and mantle evolution. Nature 296, 821–825 (1982)
Chase, C. G. Oceanic island Pb: two-stage histories and mantle evolution. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 52, 277–284 (1981)
Blichert-Toft, J., Zanda, B., Ebel, D. S. & Albarède, F. The Solar System primordial lead. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 300, 152–163 (2010)
Gale, A., Dalton, C. A., Langmuir, C. H., Su, Y. & Schilling, J. G. The mean composition of ocean ridge basalts. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 14, 489–518 (2013)
Jenner, F. E. & O'Neill, H. S. C. Analysis of 60 elements in 616 ocean floor basaltic glasses. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 13, 1–11 (2012)
Galer, S. J. G. & O’Nions, K. Residence time of thorium, uranium and lead in the mantle with implications for mantle convection. Nature 316, 778–782 (1985)
Lyons, T. W., Reinhard, C. T. & Planavsky, N. J. The rise of oxygen in Earth’s early ocean and atmosphere. Nature 506, 307–315 (2014)
Stirling, C. H., Andersen, M. B., Potter, E.-K. & Halliday, A. N. Low temperature isotope fractionation of uranium. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 264, 208–225 (2007)
Weyer, S. et al. Natural fractionation of 238U/235U. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 72, 345–359 (2008)
Fujii, Y., Nomura, M., Onitsuka, H. & Takeda, K. Anomalous isotope fractionation in uranium enrichment processes. J. Nucl. Sci. Technol. 26, 1061–1064 (1989)
Bigeleisen, J. Temperature dependence of the isotope chemistry of the heavy elements. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 93, 9393–9396 (1996)
Connelly, J. N. et al. The absolute chronology and thermal processing of solids in the solar protoplanetary disk. Science 338, 651–655 (2012)
Goldmann, A., Brennecka, G., Noordmann, J., Weyer, S. & Wadhwa, M. The 238U/235U of the Earth and the Solar System. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 148, 145–158 (2015)
Staudigel, H., Davies, G. R., Hart, S. R., Marchant, K. M. & Smith, B. M. Large scale isotopic Sr, Nd and O isotopic anatomy of altered oceanic crust: DSDP/ODP sites 417/418. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 130, 169–185 (1995)
Bach, W., Peucker-Ehrenbrink, B., Hart, S. R. & Blusztajn, J. S. Geochemistry of hydrothermally altered oceanic crust: DSDP/ODP Hole 504B: implications for seawater-crust exchange budgets and Sr- and Pb-isotopic evolution of the mantle. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 4, 8904 (2003)
Dunk, R. M., Mills, R. A. & Jenkins, W. J. A reevaluation of the oceanic uranium budget for the Holocene. Chem. Geol. 190, 45–67 (2002)
Kelley, K. A., Plank, T., Ludden, J. & Staudigel, H. Composition of altered oceanic crust at ODP Sites 801 and 1149. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 4, 8910 (2003)
Brennecka, G. A., Wasylenki, L. E., Bargar, J. R., Weyer, S. & Anbar, A. D. Uranium isotope fractionation during adsorption to Mn-oxyhydroxides. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45, 1370–1375 (2011)
Bopp, C. J., IV, Lundstrom, C. C., Johnson, T. M. & Glessner, J. J. Variations in 238U/235U in uranium ore deposits: isotopic signatures of the U reduction process? Geology 37, 611–614 (2009)
Elliott, T., Plank, T., Zindler, A., White, W. & Bourdon, B. Element transport from slab to volcanic front at the Mariana arc. J. Geophys. Res. 102, 14991–15019 (1997)
Hermann, J. Allanite: thorium and light rare earth element carrier in subducted crust. Chem. Geol. 192, 289–306 (2002)
Rudge, J. F. Mantle pseudo-isochrons revisited. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 249, 494–513 (2006)
Gutjahr, M. et al. Reliable extraction of a deepwater trace metal isotope signal from Fe–Mn oxyhydroxide coatings of marine sediments. Chem. Geol. 242, 351–370 (2007)
Goldstein, S. J., Murrell, M. T. & Janecky, D. R. Th and U isotopic systematics of basalts from the Juan de Fuca and Gorda Ridges by mass spectrometry. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 96, 134–146 (1989)
Bourdon, B., Goldstein, S. J., Bourles, D., Murrell, M. T. & Langmuir, C. H. Evidence from 10Be and U series disequilibria on the possible contamination of mid-ocean ridge basalt glasses by sedimentary material. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 1, 2000GC000047 (2000)
Reinitz, I. & Turekian, K. K. 230Th/238U and 226Ra/230Th fractionation in young basaltic glasses from the East Pacific Rise. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 94, 199–207 (1989)
Andersen, M. B., Vance, D., Keech, A. R., Rickli, J. & Hudson, G. Estimating U fluxes in a high-latitude, boreal post-glacial setting using U-series isotopes in soils and rivers. Chem. Geol. 354, 22–32 (2013)
Richter, S. et al. The isotopic composition of natural uranium samples—Measurements using the new 233U/236U double spike IRMM-3636. Int. J. Mass Spectrom. 269, 145–148 (2008)
Andersen, M. B. et al. A modern framework for the interpretation of 238U/235U in studies of ancient ocean redox. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 400, 184–194 (2014)
Hiess, J., Condon, D. J., McLean, N. & Noble, S. R. U238/U235 systematics in terrestrial uranium-bearing minerals. Science 335, 1610–1614 (2012)
Russell, W. A., Papanastassiou, D. & Tombrello, T. A. Ca isotope fractionation on the Earth and other solar system materials. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 42, 1075–1090 (1978)
Cheng, H. et al. Improvements in 230Th dating, 230Th and 234U half-life values, and U–Th isotopic measurements by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 371–372, 82–91 (2013)
Steele, R. C. J., Elliott, T., Coath, C. D. & Regelous, M. Confirmation of mass-independent Ni isotopic variability in iron meteorites. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 75, 7906–7925 (2011)
Stirling, C. H., Halliday, A. N. & Porcelli, D. In search of live 247Cm in the early solar system. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 69, 1059–1071 (2005)
Stirling, C. H., Halliday, A. N., Potter, E.-K., Andersen, M. B. & Zanda, B. A low initial abundance of 247Cm in the early solar system: implications for r-process nucleo-synthesis. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 251, 386–397 (2006)
Brennecka, G. A. & Wadhwa, M. Uranium isotope compositions of the basaltic angrite meteorites and the chronological implications for the early Solar System. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 109, 9299–9303 (2012)
Brennecka, G. A. et al. 238U/235U variations in meteorites: extant 247Cm and implications for Pb-Pb dating. Science 327, 449–451 (2010)
Amelin, Y. et al. U–Pb chronology of the Solar System's oldest solids with variable 238U/235U. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 300, 343–350 (2010)
Rocholl, A. & Jochum, K. P. Th, U and other trace-elements in carbonaceous chondrites: implications for the terrestrial and solar-system Th/U ratios. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 117, 265–278 (1993)
Dauphas, N., Marty, B. & Reisberg, L. Molybdenum evidence for inherited planetary scale isotope heterogeneity of the protosolar nebula. Astrophys. J. 565, 640–644 (2002)
Trinquier, A. et al. Origin of nucleosynthetic isotope heterogeneity in the solar protoplanetary disk. Science 324, 374–376 (2009)
Barrat, J. A. et al. The Stannern trend eucrites: contamination of main group eucritic magmas by crustal partial melts. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 71, 4108–4124 (2007)
Morgak, J. W. & Lovering, J. F. Uranium and thorium in achondrites. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 37, 1697–1707 (1973)
Manhès, G., Allègre, C. J. & Provost, A. U-Th-Pb systematics of the eucrite “Juvinas”: precise age determination and evidence for exotic lead. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 48, 2247–2264 (1984)
Zindler, A. & Hart, S. Chemical geodynamics. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 14, 493–571 (1986)
Hart, S. R., Hauri, E. H., Oschmann, L. A. & Whitehead, J. A. Mantle plumes and entrainment: isotopic evidence. Science 256, 517–520 (1992)
Farley, K. A. & Neroda, E. Noble gases in the Earth's mantle. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 26, 189–218 (1998)
Sims, K. W. W. et al. Chemical and isotopic constraints on the generation and transport of magma beneath the East Pacific Rise. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 66, 3481–3504 (2002)
Waters, C. L. et al. Recent volcanic accretion at 9° N–10° N East Pacific Rise as resolved by combined geochemical and geological observations. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 14, 2547–2574 (2013)
Regelous, M. et al. Variations in the geochemistry of magmatism on the East Pacific Rise at 10 30′ N since 800 ka. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 168, 45–63 (1999)
Regelous, M., Niu, Y., Abouchami, W. & Castillo, P. R. Shallow origin for South Atlantic Dupal Anomaly from lower continental crust: geochemical evidence from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 26 S. Lithos 112, 57–72 (2009)
Robinson, C. J., White, R. S., Bickle, M. J. & Minshull, T. A. Restricted melting under the very slow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge. Geol. Soc. Lond. Spec. Publ. 118, 131–141 (1996)
Avanzinelli, R. et al. Combined 238U/230Th and 235U/231Pa constraints on the transport of slab-derived material beneath the Mariana Islands. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 92, 308–328 (2012)
Alt, J. C. & Teagle, D. A. Hydrothermal alteration of upper oceanic crust formed at a fast-spreading ridge: mineral, chemical, and isotopic evidence from ODP Site 801. Chem. Geol. 201, 191–211 (2003)
Romaniello, S. J., Herrmann, A. D. & Anbar, A. D. Uranium concentrations and 238U/235U isotope ratios in modern carbonates from the Bahamas: assessing a novel paleoredox proxy. Chem. Geol. 362, 305–316 (2013)
Alt, J. C. et al. Subsurface structure of a submarine hydrothermal system in ocean crust formed at the East Pacific Rise, ODP/IODP Site 1256. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 11, 2010GC003144 (2010)
Staudigel, H. Hydrothermal alteration processes in the oceanic crust. Treatise Geochem. 3, 511–535 (2003)
Chen, J., Wasserburg, G., Von Damm, K. & Edmond, J. The U-Th-Pb systematics in hot springs on the East Pacific Rise at 21 N and Guaymas Basin. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 50, 2467–2479 (1986)
Mottl, M. et al. Warm springs discovered on 3.5 Ma oceanic crust, eastern flank of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Geology 26, 51–54 (1998)
Plank, T. et al. Proc. Ocean Drilling Program, Initial Reports Vol. 185 (Ocean Drilling Program, 2000)
Staudigel, H., Plank, T., White, B. & Schmincke, H.-U. Geochemical fluxes during seafloor alteration of the basaltic upper oceanic crust: DSDP Sites 417 and 418. Geophys. Monogr. Ser. 96, 19–38 (1996)
Shiel, A. E. et al. No measurable changes in 238U/235U due to desorption–adsorption of U(VI) from groundwater at the Rifle, Colorado, integrated field research challenge site. Environ. Sci. Technol. 47, 2535–2541 (2013)
Bigeleisen, J. Nuclear size and shape effects in chemical reactions. Isotope chemistry of heavy elements. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 118, 3676–3680 (1996)
Fujii, Y., Higuchi, N., Haruno, Y., Nomura, M. & Suzuki, T. Temperature dependence of isotope effects in uranium chemical exchange reactions. J. Nucl. Sci. Technol. 43, 400–406 (2006)
Murphy, M. J., Stirling, C. H., Kaltenbach, A., Turner, S. P. & Schaefer, B. F. Fractionation of 238U/235U by reduction during low temperature uranium mineralisation processes. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 388, 306–317 (2014)
Brennecka, G. A., Borg, L. E., Hutcheon, I. D., Sharp, M. A. & Anbar, A. D. Natural variations in uranium isotope ratios of uranium ore concentrates: understanding the 238U/235U fractionation mechanism. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 291, 228–233 (2010)
Bopp, C. J. et al. Uranium 238U/235U isotope ratios as indicators of reduction: results from an in situ biostimulation experiment at Rifle, Colorado, USA. Environ. Sci. Technol. 44, 5927–5933 (2010)
Romaniello, S. J., Brennecka, G. A., Anbar, A. D. & Colman, A. S. Natural isotopic fractionation of 238U/235U in the water column of the Black Sea. Eos Trans. AGU. 90, 52, V54C–06 (2009)
Partin, C. A. et al. Large-scale fluctuations in Precambrian atmospheric and oceanic oxygen levels from the record of U in shales. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 369-370, 284–293 (2013)
Noordmann, J. et al. Fractionation of 238U/235U during weathering and hydrothermal alteration. Mineral. Mag. 76, A1548 (2012)
Class, C. & Goldstein, S. L. Plume-lithosphere interactions in the ocean basins: constraints from the source mineralogy. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 150, 245–260 (1997)
Lundstrom, C., Hoernle, K. & Gill, J. U-series disequilibria in volcanic rocks from the Canary Islands: plume versus lithospheric melting. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 67, 4153–4177 (2003)
Elliott, T., Blichert-Toft, J., Heumann, A., Koetsier, G. & Forjaz, V. The origin of enriched mantle beneath Sao Miguel, Azores. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 71, 219–240 (2007)
Turner, S., Hawkesworth, C., Rogers, N. & King, P. U-Th isotope disequilibria and ocean island basalt generation in the Azores. Chem. Geol. 139, 145–164 (1997)
Graham, D., Lupton, J., Albarède, F. & Condomines, M. Extreme temporal homogeneity of helium-isotopes at Piton-De-La-Fournaise, Réunion Island. Nature 347, 545–548 (1990)
Willbold, M. & Stracke, A. Trace element composition of mantle endmembers: implications for recycling of oceanic and upper and lower continental crust. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 7, 2005GC001005 (2006)
Patterson, C. C. Age of meteorites and the Earth. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 10, 230–237 (1956)
Chauvel, C., Lewin, E., Carpentier, M., Arndt, N. T. & Marini, J.-C. Role of recycled oceanic basalt and sediment in generating the Hf–Nd mantle array. Nature Geosci. 1, 64–67 (2008)
Miller, D. M., Goldstein, S. L. & Langmuir, C. H. Cerium/lead and lead isotope ratios in arc magmas and the enrichment of lead in the continents. Nature 368, 514–520 (1994)
Elliott, T. Fractionation of U and Th during mantle melting: a reprise. Chem. Geol. 139, 165–183 (1997)
Hauri, E. H., Shimizu, N., Dieu, J. J. & Hart, S. R. Evidence for hotspot-related carbonatite metasomatism in the oceanic upper mantle. Nature 365, 221–227 (1993)
Wright, E. & White, W. M. The origin of Samoa: new evidence from Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopes. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 81, 151–162 (1987)
McLennan, S. M. & Taylor, S. R. Th and U in sedimentary rocks: crustal evolution and sedimentary recycling. Nature 285, 621–624 (1980)
Jackson, M. G. et al. The return of subduction continental crust in Samoan lavas. Nature 448, 684–687 (2007)
Staudigel, H. & Hart, S. R. Alteration of basaltic glass: mechanisms and significance for the oceanic crust-seawater budget. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 47, 337–350 (1983)
Chauvel, C., Hofmann, A. W. & Vidal, P. HIMU-EM: the French Polynesian connection. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 110, 99–119 (1992)
Pietruszka, A. J. & Garcia, M. O. The size and shape of Kilauea Volcano's summit magma storage reservoir: a geochemical probe. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 167, 311–320 (1999)
Sims, K. W. W. et al. Mechanisms of magma generation beneath Hawaii and mid-ocean ridges: uranium/thorium and samarium/neodymium isotopic evidence. Science 267, 508–512 (1995)
Sims, K. W. W. et al. Porosity of the melting zone and variations in the solid mantle upwelling rate beneath Hawaii: inferences from 238U- 230Th-226Ra and 235U-231Pa disequilibria. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 63, 4119–4138 (1999)
Kokfelt, T. F. et al. Combined trace element and Pb-Nd–Sr-O isotope evidence for recycled oceanic crust (upper and lower) in the Iceland mantle plume. J. Petrol. 47, 1705–1749 (2006)
Kokfelt, T. F., Hoernle, K. & Hauff, F. Upwelling and melting of the Iceland plume from radial variation of 238U-230Th disequilibria in postglacial volcanic rocks. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 214, 167–186 (2003)
Prytulak, J. & Elliott, T. Determining melt productivity of mantle sources from 238U-230Th and 235U–231Pa disequilibria; an example from Pico Island, Azores. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 73, 2103–2122 (2009)
Prytulak, J. et al. Melting versus contamination effects on 238U-230Th-226Ra and 235U-231Pa disequilibria in lavas from Sao Miguel, Azores. Chem. Geol. 381, 94–109 (2014)
Elliott, T. Element Fractionation in the Petrogenesis of Ocean Island Basalts 29–92. PhD thesis, Open Univ. (1991)
Marcantonio, F., Zindler, A., Elliott, T. & Staudigel, H. Os isotope systematics of La Palma, Canary Islands: evidence for recycled crust in the mantle source of HIMU ocean islands. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 133, 397–410 (1995)
Hémond, C., Devey, C. W. & Chauvel, C. Source compositions and melting processes in the Society and Austral plumes (South Pacific Ocean): element and isotope (Sr, Nd, Pb, Th) geochemistry. Chem. Geol. 115, 7–45 (1994)
Sims, K. W. W. & Hart, S. R. Comparison of Th, Sr, Nd and Pb isotopes in oceanic basalts: implications for mantle heterogeneity and magma genesis. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 245, 743–761 (2006)
Bosch, D. et al. Pb, Hf and Nd isotope compositions of the two Réunion volcanoes (Indian Ocean): a tale of two small-scale mantle “blobs”? Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 265, 748–765 (2008)
Sigmarsson, O., Condomines, M. & Bachèlery, P. Magma residence time beneath the Piton de la Fournaise Volcano, Reunion Island, from U-series disequilibria. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 234, 223–234 (2005)
Acknowledgements
Financial support for this research was provided by NERC grant NE/H023933/1. We thank the Natural History Museum, London, and M. Anand for providing meteorite samples. H. Staudigel and T. Plank were instrumental in producing and curating AOC composite samples. We are grateful to C. Taylor for careful picking of MORB glasses, E. Melekhova for preparing the quenched glass, D. Vance for comments and C. Coath for maintenance of the mass spectrometers.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Analytical set-up was done by M.B.A. Sample preparation and analyses were carried out by M.B.A. and H.F. MORB samples and AOC composites were provided by K.W.W.S., Y.N. and K.A.K. All authors contributed with discussions. T.E. carried out the Pb modelling. T.E. and M.B.A. prepared the manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
Additional information
Data can be found in the EarthChem portal (http://www.iedadata.org). The nine-digit IGNS numbers for the sample set starts with ‘IEMBA’.
Extended data figures and tables
Extended Data Figure 1 δ238U reproducibility of standards.
Repeated δ238U measurements of a range of standards with different matrixes (CZ-1 uraninite, BHVO-2/LP 45 E basalts, seawater) are shown. All have external reproducibility (2 s.d., grey shaded area) better than ±0.30‰, a similar range to the internal measurement uncertainty (2 s.e.) for individual samples (Methods). The different symbols refer to the different measurement set-ups (Supplementary Table 4).
Extended Data Figure 2 U–Th geochemistry of analysed meteorites.
a, δ238U versus U concentration for ordinary chondrites (black diamonds, ‘finds’; red diamonds, ‘falls’). b, δ238U versus (234U/238U) for ordinary chondrites (symbols as in a) and eucrites (blue circles). c, δ238U versus Th/U for the same samples as in a and b. d, A ‘Caltech plot’ of the δ238U of individual meteorite samples and averages based on (1) the only two meteorites with (234U/238U) within error of secular equilibrium (‘Mean (Z+J)’) and (2) all of the analysed meteorites (‘Mean all’). Error bars denote 2 s.e.m.
Extended Data Figure 3 U–Th isotope systematics in the OIB used for Pb age modelling.
Symbol colours are as in Fig. 3: (1) Hawaii, (2) Iceland, (3) Azores I, (4) La Palma, (5) French Polynesia, (6) Samoa, (7) Azores II, (8) Réunion. References can be found in Extended Data Table 1. Note that the y axis shows activity ratio whereas the x axis shows a weight ratio. The dashed line represents secular equilibrium of (230Th/238U).
Supplementary information
Supplementary Table 1
U isotopic compositions and supplementary data for samples. (XLSX 20 kb)
Supplementary Table 2
Reductive MORB cleaning: U to refractory element ratios and percentages of leached U, Th and Pb. (XLSX 16 kb)
Supplementary Table 3
IRMM-3636 spike calibration using repeat. (XLSX 10 kb)
Supplementary Table 4
Standard reproducibility (normalised to CRM145). (XLSX 23 kb)
Source data
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Andersen, M., Elliott, T., Freymuth, H. et al. The terrestrial uranium isotope cycle. Nature 517, 356–359 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature14062
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature14062
This article is cited by
-
The prediction of structural, electronic, optical and vibrational behavior of ThS2 for nuclear fuel applications: a DFT study
Optical and Quantum Electronics (2021)
-
Subduction erosion and arc volcanism
Nature Reviews Earth & Environment (2020)
-
Geochemical behavior of uranium and thorium in sand and sandy soil samples from a natural high background radiation area of the Odisha coast, India
Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2020)
-
Tracing the formation and differentiation of the Earth by non-traditional stable isotopes
Science China Earth Sciences (2019)
-
Marine Carbonates in the Mantle Source of Oceanic Basalts: Pb Isotopic Constraints
Scientific Reports (2018)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.