Strontium Isotope Geochemistry

Strontium (Sr) is an ever-present trace element within rocks, water, soil and plants. It has four naturally occurring isotopes, ⁸⁴Sr, ⁸⁶Sr, ⁸⁷Sr, and ⁸⁸Sr, where ⁸⁷Sr is a radiogenic product of ⁸⁷Rb through beta decay with a half-life of 48.8 billion years. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio is used widely and extensively in geochemical fingerprinting, contamination, migration/mobility studies and prediction, in geologic and environmental investigations. Recent studies also reveal significant stable Sr isotope fractionation during both low-T and high-T geological processes, making stable isotope geochemistry a novel research field.

With this Research Topic we aim to bring together outstanding research on the application, use and challenges of Sr stable and radiogenic isotopes within the geochemical field.

We welcome submission related, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Assessment of stable Sr Isotopic Compositions in major geological reservoirs;
• Stable Sr isotope geochemistry during major geological processes;
• Application of radiogenic Sr isotopes in studies of river water, provenance identification in hydrology and fluid source of mud volcanos;
• Weathering, carbonate precipitation and degree of water-rock interaction;
• Overview of Sr isotope application in various environmental fields; and
• Applications of strontium in biological, ecological and archaeological fields etc.

Keywords: strontium, isotope, geochemistry, radiogenic, trace-element

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.