Abstract
NATURAL oxygen, which forms about 50 per cent of the earth's crust, contains one heavy atom (O18) in almost exactly 500 atoms of the light isotope (O16). There exists, however, an appreciable isotopic differentiation which may be as high as some 4 per cent of the natural ratio and which has been studied extensively by Dole1, Urey2 and many others3. Nevertheless, we know very little about the distribution of the oxygen isotopes in the lithosphere. Only a few of the more abundant rocks such as limestones and iron ores have been investigated; but nothing is known about silicate rocks, which form about 99 per cent of the outer shell of the earth. It is obvious that the study of the oxygen isotope abundances in silicate rocks may yield valuable geological information.
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
Bole, M., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 58, 693 (1936); ibid., 62, 471 (1940); Science, 109, 77 (1949).
Urey, H. C., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 56, 2601 (1934); Science, 108, 489 (1948).
Reviewed by M. D. Kamen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 87, 103 (1946).
Pettijohn, F. J., “Sedimentary Rocks” (Harper and Bros., 1949).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BAERTSCHI, P. Isotopic Composition of the Oxygen in Silicate Rocks. Nature 166, 112–113 (1950). https://doi.org/10.1038/166112a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/166112a0
This article is cited by
-
Silicate oxygen isotope geochemistry: History, principles, techniques, and application to petrological problems
Journal of the Geological Society of India (2014)
-
Relative Abundances of Oxygen and Carbon Isotopes in Carbonate Rocks
Nature (1951)
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.