Examination of hydrothermal influences on oceanic beryllium using fluids, plume particles and sediments from the TAG hydrothermal field

Abstract

We have carried out a comprehensive study of the distributions of 9Be and the cosmogenic radionuclide 10Be in fluids, nearfield sediments, and neutrally buoyant plume particles associated with the TAG hydrothermal field. These results, coupled with previously published uranium decay series radionuclide distributions [1,2], suggest that the level of MnO 2 in iron oxide rich sediments and particles may play a role in Be scavenging. In addition, the data are used to quantify the net effects of nearfield coprecipitation with FeS and of scavenging by iron oxyhydroxide plume particles on the oceanic balance of the Be isotopes. These calculations suggest that hydrothermal input of 9Be is nearly balanced by nearfield and plume removal processes, and that hydrothermally induced scavenging has a negligible effect on the oceanic 10Be budget.