Stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon and their application to sedimentologic and paleoenvironmental problems.

An introduction to the theory of stable isotope abundances and fractionation and to the basic elements of measurement and notation. The emphasis is on stable isotopes as tracers of the hydrologic cycle, the geochemical cycling of carbon and sulfur, and the application of oxygen isotopes in paleotemperature estimates. The fractionation of carbon and sulfur isotopes as well as patterns of carbon isotopic ratios in different components of the carbon cycle and sulfur in the sulfur cycle are discussed. These points lead to consideration of the meaning of secular variations in delta¹³C and delta³⁴S in marine carbonates and evaporites. Patterns of oxygen isotopic fractionation between mineral phase and fluid during inorganic and biologic precipitation of carbonate minerals are also treated as a prelude to paleotemperature analysis. -after Editor