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REVIEWS

This volume, another in the highly successful Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry series, formed the basis of a short course on nontraditional stable isotopes that took place May 15–16, 2004, in Montreal. The book consists of 12 chapters assembled by a group of 17 scientists. The first four chapters are devoted to general concepts, isotopic anomalies in extraterrestrial materials, the theory of isotope fractionation, and analytical methods. The remaining chapters give the current understanding of the isotope geochemistry of Li, Mg, Cl, Ca, Se and Cr, Fe, Cu and Zn, and Mo. The authors are all active contributors to the field. As a consequence, the writing is up to date, including yet-to-be-published results in some sections.

The original exploratory studies for many of the nontraditional stable isotopes were carried out decades ago using thermal ionization or gas source mass spectrometry. For chlorine, these methods (updated) still set the analytical standard. However, for the other isotopes considered in the volume, analysis can now, or will shortly, be made by multicollector inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. This is a relatively new analytical technology that represents an important advance in both sensitivity and rapidity of analysis. Attention must be paid, however, to isobaric interferences, large instrumental mass biases, and matrix effects. Data from the new instruments, as well as data from improved thermal ionization methods, have revealed or confirmed that terrestrial materials show significant isotopic variations in Li, Mg, and several other heavier elements. Empirical, experimental, and theoretical studies are building the conceptual frameworks that will be required to interpret the variations.

Current applications of nontraditional stable isotopes are heavily concentrated on marine systems, paleoceanography, and biogeochemistry. Of particular interest are isotopic parameters that are potential paleo-redox indicators (Cr, Fe, Mo), or potential source or fate indicators in ground-water systems (Se, Cr). Much effort is being expended to determine the isotope fractionations associated with low-temperature reactions, many of which are biologically mediated. With regard to ore genesis, summaries of the few studies with direct relevance are scattered through several chapters. Most of these studies focused on hydrothermal fields at modern oceanic spreading ridges, although the isotopes of Cl, Cu, and Fe have also been investigated in other deposit types.

Taken as a whole, the book provides a comprehensive overview of a young and rapidly advancing research area. It is more polished than the prepublication notes one receives at an earlier stage at most short courses, although typographical errors still abound in some chapters (errata sheets are available for two chapters). Geochemistry of Non-Traditional Stable Isotopes offers few scientific findings that will be of direct use to economic geologists. On the other hand, the book is of considerable value for the groundwork it would lay for conversations on new economic geology research opportunities.

Craig A. Johnson

U.S. Geological Survey

Box 25046, MS 963

Denver, Colorado 80225

November 26, 2004

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