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Science 7 April 2000:
Vol. 288. no. 5463, pp. 126 - 128
DOI: 10.1126/science.288.5463.126
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Reports

Nonbiological Fractionation of Iron Isotopes

A. D. Anbar, 12* J. E. Roe, 2 J. Barling, 1 K. H. Nealson 3

Laboratory experiments demonstrate that iron isotopes can be chemically fractionated in the absence of biology. Isotopic variations comparable to those seen during microbially mediated reduction of ferrihydrite are observed. Fractionation may occur in aqueous solution during equilibration between inorganic iron complexes. These findings provide insight into the mechanisms of iron isotope fractionation and suggest that nonbiological processes may contribute to iron isotope variations observed in sediments.

1 Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences,
2 Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA.
3 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91106, USA.
*   To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: anbar{at}earth.rochester.edu

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