The S 3 – Ion Is Stable in Geological Fluids at Elevated Temperatures and Pressures

2011/02/24 by Gleb S. Pokrovski, Leonid S. Dubrovinsky, Leonid Dubrovinsky · 202 citations
Chemistry · Computer Science · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Engineering · #Analytical Chemistry (journal) #Aqueous solution #Chemistry #Environmental chemistry #Fractionation #Geochemistry #Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping #Geological and Geochemical Analysis #Geology #Ion #Isotope fractionation #Isotopes of sulfur #Metal Extraction and Bioleaching #Metamorphic rock #Mineralogy #Physical chemistry #Raman spectroscopy #Stable isotope ratio #Sulfate #Sulfide #Sulfur

paper · doi:10.1126/science.1199911

published in Science 331(6020), 1052-1054 (American Association for the Advancement of Science)

openalex publication_date 2011/02/24 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

The chemical speciation of sulfur in geological fluids is a controlling factor in a number of processes on Earth. The two major chemical forms of sulfur in crustal fluids over a wide range of temperature and pressure are believed to be sulfate and sulfide; however, we use in situ Raman spectroscopy to show that the dominant stable form of sulfur in aqueous solution above 250°C and 0.5 gigapascal is the trisulfur ion S(3)(-). The large stability range of S(3)(-) enables efficient transport and concentration of sulfur and gold by geological fluids in deep metamorphic and subduction-zone settings. Furthermore, the formation of S(3)(-) requires a revision of sulfur isotope-fractionation models between sulfides and sulfates in natural fluids.

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