Content and Isotope Ratios of Noble Gases in Congelation Ice of Lake Vostok

Abstract

Isotope ratios of noble gases (He, Ne, Ar) were studied in samples collected by degassing of cores of water frozen over a glacier of Lake Vostok. The gases were collected into glass retorts during three days of degassing of cores, which have just been extracted from the borehole. Within the error, the isotope 3He/4He ratios of 0.28 ± 0.08 RA (RA = 1.38 × 10–6 is the ratio for air) correspond to those from [1]. The 4He/20Ne and 40Ar/36Ar ratios (12.4 ± 4.6 RA and 1.0074 ± 0.0023 RA, respectively) exceed their contents in air (4He/20NeA = 0.29; 40Ar/36ArA = 298.6) and may indicate some contribution of terrigenous gas to the gaseous balance of the lake, as well as the high content of ancient ground waters in the lake. The 3He/4He ratio of 0.28 RA means low mantle 3He flux typical of continental platforms far from active rift zones.