Natural CF4 and SF6 on Earth
Abstract
The occurrence of CF4 and SF6 in natural fluorites (CaF2) is reported. Contents are found to be typically 200-2000 ppt-mass for CF4 and 50-100 ppt-mass for SF6. CF4 and SF6 were also detected in granites where fluorite is an accessory mineral. CF4 and SF6 thus possess a large reservoir in the continental crust that by degassing can sustain natural atmospheric background levels of 40 ppt-mole and up to 0.01 ppt-mole, respectively. The article also discusses how natural SF6 may cause interference in hydrological tracer studies.
- Publication:
-
Geophysical Research Letters
- Pub Date:
- July 1998
- DOI:
- 10.1029/98GL01779
- Bibcode:
- 1998GeoRL..25.2401H
- Keywords:
-
- Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Evolution of the atmosphere;
- Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Geochemical cycles;
- Hydrology: General or miscellaneous;
- Mineral Physics