Updated compilation of the global continental and marine lithogenic neodymium isotopic measurements

5 May 2021

The work proposed by Robinson and co-workers (2021, see reference below) was more than expected! Using an up- to-date compilation of published terrestrial and marine sedimentary Nd isotopic measurements, they constructed a high resolution, gridded, global maps that characterise the Nd-isotopic signature (ε_Nd) of the continental margins and seafloor sediment. This a considerable improvement of Nd-source identification compared to the seminal work of Jeandel et al. (2007, see reference below). Among others, Robinson’s study provides a refined map of the seafloor sediment ε_Nd, based on measurements from pore waters and deep seafloor detrital samples. Such better characterisation of global ε_Nd distributions at the entire sediment-ocean interface, together with a refined description of the ε_Ndsignature of the fields surrounding the northern North Atlantic Ocean, is a rich resource for further modelling.

Figure: These maps display the location and εNd of the samples assembled in the updated compilation of over 5000 published terrestrial and marine sedimentary Nd isotopic measurements presented here, (a). From this database, we construct high resolution, gridded, global maps that characterise the Nd-isotopic signature of all continental margins and seafloor sediment, e.g. (b). These maps are especially designed for investigating marine Nd cycling, particularly to aid in constraining the magnitude and εNd from sediment-water interaction and how this influences the distribution of marine εNd. Thus, the new compilation and gridded datasets offer a concrete way forward to improve the application of Nd isotopes as a useful tracer of ocean circulation.

References:

Robinson, S., Ivanovic, R., van de Flierdt, T., Blanchet, C. L., Tachikawa, K., Martin, E. E., Cook, C. P., Williams, T., Gregoire, L., Plancherel, Y., Jeandel, C., Arsouze, T. (2021). Global continental and marine detrital εNd: An updated compilation for use in understanding marine Nd cycling. Chemical Geology, 567, 120119. Access the paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CHEMGEO.2021.120119

Jeandel C., Arsouze T., Lacan F., Téchiné P. and Dutay J.-C. (2007). Isotopic Nd compositions and concentrations of the lithogenic inputs into the ocean: a compilation, with an emphasis on the margins. Chemical Geology, 239, 156-164. Access the paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2006.11.013

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