This three-year, $408,968 National Science Foundation project grant funds research at the University of Chicago to improve estimates of ancient ocean pH and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations through analysis of boron isotope ratios in halite evaporites. The researchers will investigate boron behavior in halite formations to determine boron hosting phases like fluid inclusions or trace minerals. Experimentally precipitated halites, natural salt cores, and a 36 million year old marine halite sample from Spain will be studied. Stable isotope analysis of boron by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry will be established at the University. In addition to providing an independent constraint on ocean pH and the carbonate system, this research aims to determine boron distribution coefficients in gypsum and resolve the long-term evolution of the boron geochemical cycle. This award supports the National Science Foundation's Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) and its goal to expand fundamental Earth system knowledge through basic research in atmospheric, earth, and ocean sciences.
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