Experimental quantification of the fractionation of Fe isotopes during metal segregation from a silicate melt

Fractionation of Fe isotopes between a silicate melt and metallic alloys has been quantified experimentally at 1500 degrees C. The effects of oxygen fugacity and run duration have been investigated to distinguish between kinetic and equilibrium fractionations. A new experimental, setup is presented, in which metallic Fe is produced by reduction of oxidized iron from a silicate melt due to a change of redox conditions. This metallic Fe is physically removed from the silicate and sequestered as a (Pt,Fe) alloy. Bulk analyses of the silicate and metallic fractions using multi-collector ICP-MS methods are coupled with in situ analyses using an ion microprobe.