Use of Sr Isotopes to Constrain Sr (and Ca) Sources in a Mediterranean Soil Profile Near Muravera (SE Sardinia)

Sr isotopes have been applied to detect the sources of the element in a soil profile of south-eastern Sardinia. The data indicate that the uppermost of exchangeable Sr in the most surficial horizons of the soil is supplied by the precipitation and, ultimately, seawater. Moreover, as the Sr isotopic ratios of bulk-soil samples exhibit a tendency of increase through the profile with depth, it is evident that the total Sr present in the soil results from mixing of Sr supplied by the precipitation and silicate minerals of the bedrock. Lastly, as Sr is akin to Ca, most of the conclusions of this study may also apply to this latter. As a whole, it is outlined the potential of Sr isotopes for understanding the geochemical cycle of the element (and Ca) in pedogenic processes, and, more broadly, in the supergene environment.