Lithium isotope fractionation during low temperature leaching of basaltic glass: an experimental study

Chemical erosion of silicates and in particular basalts has a major impact on the CO2 cycle and needs to be quantified in order to understand its role on past, present and future climate (e.g. [1]). For this, lithium isotopes are powerful tracers as several field studies highlighted significant differences of isotopic compositions between drained rocks and river waters (e.g. [2]). However, the link between weathering mechanisms (diffusion, dissolution, secondary phase formation) and Li isotope signature of waters remain poorly understood.