Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 10 July 1981:
Vol. 213. no. 4504, pp. 205 - 207
DOI: 10.1126/science.213.4504.205
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

The Marine Geochemistry of Germanium: Ekasilicon

PHILIP N. FROELICH JR. 1 and MEINRAT O. ANDREAE 1

1 Department of Oceanography, Florida State University, Tallahassee 32306

The geochemical behavior of dissolved germanium in rivers, estuaries, and the oceans is similar to that of silicon. It is chemically weathered from continental rocks and transported by rivers to the oceans, where it is taken up by siliceous organisms and deposited in biogenic opal. The ratio of germanium to silicon buried in siliceous oozes must reflect the oceanic input ratios from rivers (crustal weathering) and sea-floor vents (mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal weathering). The opal germanium/silicon ratio may thus monitor relative variations in these weathering processes and provide information about the geochemical history of seawater.

Submitted on February 2, 1981
Revised on April 6, 1981


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Paleozoic and Mesozoic silica-rich seawater: Evidence from hematitic chert (jasper) deposits.
T. Grenne and J. F. Slack (2003)
Geology 31, 319-322
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Using Ge/Si ratios to decouple iron and silica fluxes in Precambrian banded iron formations.
T. Hamade, K. O. Konhauser, R. Raiswell, S. Goldsmith, and R. C. Morris (2003)
Geology 31, 35-38
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Biological Testing of Germanium.
A. Furst (1987)
Toxicology and Industrial Health 3, 167-204
   PDF »
Hydrothermal Germanium Over the Southern East Pacific Rise.
R. A. Mortlock, R. A. MORTLOCK, and P. N. FROELICH (1986)
Science 231, 43-45
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)