Barium isotope geochemistry

Abstract

Because Ba is highly incompatible during mantle melting , it is strongly enriched in the crust relative to the mantle. Moreover, as a fluid-mobile element, substantial Ba will enter the fluid during subduction, likely resulting in Ba isotope heterogeneity in the mantle wedge.Ba isotopes can potentially be used to trace the subducted materials recirculation and crust-mantle interaction. Ba isotopes can also applied to constrain the processes in the surface environment.