Stable isotopic fingerprint of resins and ambers: validation of a novel paleoclimatic indicator

• Author / Creator

  González, Gabriela del Pilar

• Hydrous and anhydrous thermal maturation experiments were conducted to assess the extent to which diagenetic alteration overprints the primary stable δD and δ13C isotopic composition of resins. Modern resins recorded an average post-metabolic D exchange <1.9%, compared to only <0.5% for polymerized ambers, and no significant changes were observed in their δ13C. This study also evaluated the seasonal variability of modern resins, to better constrain the primary δD variability of resins. Accordingly, it was observed that in injury-induced resins, the seasonal δD variability could reach up to 80‰, recording short-term climate fluctuations (2–15 days). Moreover, the deuterium fractionation factor between resin and precipitation water (εresin-ppt) was found to be -228 ± 19‰. Overall, these results indicate that in resins, D isotopic exchange occurs prior to polymerization, thereby confirming that the stable isotopic composition of their fossilized counterparts constitute a potentially sensitive proxy for paleoenvironmental reconstructions.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Stable isotopic composition of ambers and resins
  • Deuterium seasonal variability of modern conifer resins
  • Amber a paleoclimatic indicator
  • Resin
  • Amber
  • Deuterium isotopic exchangeability of ambers

• Graduation date

  Spring 2014

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3N95R

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.