Applications of the 190Pt-186Os isotope system to geochemistry and cosmochemistry

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
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Abstract

Platinum is fractionated from osmium primarily as a consequence of processes involving sulfide and metal crystallization. Consequently, the 190Pt186Os isotope system (190Pt → 186Os + α) shows promise for dating some types of magmatic sulfide ores and evolved iron meteorites. The first 190Pt 186Os isochrons are presented here for ores from the ca. 251 Ma Noril'sk, Siberia plume, and for group IIAB magmatic iron meteorites. Given the known age of the Noril'sk system, a decay constant for 190Pt is determined to be 1.542 × 10−12a−1, with ±1% uncertainty. The isochron generated for the IIAB irons is consistent with this decay constant and the known age of the group. The 186Os/188Os ratios of presumably young, mantle-derived osmiridiums and also the carbonaceous chondrite Allende were measured to high-precision to constrain the composition of the modern upper mantle. These compositions overlap, indicating that the upper mantle is chondritic within the level of resolution now available. Our best estimate for this 186Os/188Os ratio is 0.119834 ± 2 (2σM). The 190Pt/186Os ratios determined for six enstatite chondrites average 0.001659 ± 75, which is very similar to published values for carbonaceous chondrites. Using this ratio and the presumed composition of the modern upper mantle and chondrites, a solar system initial 186Os/188Os ratio of 0.119820 is calculated. In comparison to the modern upper mantle composition, the 186Os/188Os ratio of the Noril'sk plume was approximately 0.012% enriched in 186Os. Possible reasons for this heterogeneity include the recycling of Pt-rich crust into the mantle source of the plume and derivation of the osmium from the outer core. Derivation of the osmium from the outer core is our favored model.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Applications of the 190Pt-186Os isotope system to geochemistry and cosmochemistry
Series title Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
DOI 10.1016/S0016-7037(97)00270-6
Volume 61
Issue 22
Year Published 1997
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Description 9 p.
First page 4799
Last page 4807
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