| Popis: |
The isotopic composition of neon was measured for seventeen samples of submarine basalt glass from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 54° and 73°N. They include the Reykjanes, Kolbeinsey, and Mohns Ridge segments. Neon isotopic anomalies, relative to the atmospheric ratios, exist in both20Ne/22Ne and21Ne/22Ne. A maximum excess20Ne of 7% was measured in two samples from the Reykjanes Ridge. Samples with lower20Ne excesses (six samples with δ20Ne between 2 and 4%) from all three ridge segments, appear to result from mixing of a mantle component with a δ20Ne of 7% and atmospheric neon.21Ne/22Ne ratios are up to 8% above the atmospheric value, with no apparent correlation with the20Ne excesses. The anomalies in20Ne/22Ne are difficult to explain by mass fractionation of an atmospheric reservoir since several of the samples have δ20Ne values greater than could be produced by single-stage fractionation. Most likely, the excess21Ne results from nuclear reactions in the mantle source, although there is no definite correlation between the δ21Ne or the excess21Ne (cm3 STP/g) and the uranium concentration. Large variations in the observed4He/20Ne ratio (40–12,000) remain unexplained at this time. |
