TY  - JOUR
A1  - German, Laura
A1  - Mikucki, Jill A.
A1  - Welch, Susan A.
A1  - Welch, Kathleen A.
A1  - Lutton, Anthony
A1  - Dachwald, Bernd
A1  - Kowalski, Julia
A1  - Heinen, Dirk
A1  - Feldmann, Marco
A1  - Francke, Gero
A1  - Espe, Clemens
A1  - Lyons, W. Berry
T1  - Validation of sampling antarctic subglacial hypersaline waters with an electrothermal ice melting probe (IceMole) for environmental analytical geochemistry
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry
N2  - Geochemical characterisation of hypersaline waters is difficult as high concentrations of salts hinder the analysis of constituents at low concentrations, such as trace metals, and the collection of samples for trace metal analysis in natural waters can be easily contaminated. This is particularly the case if samples are collected by non-conventional techniques such as those required for aquatic subglacial environments. In this paper we present the first analysis of a subglacial brine from Taylor Valley, (~ 78°S), Antarctica for the trace metals: Ba, Co, Mo, Rb, Sr, V, and U. Samples were collected englacially using an electrothermal melting probe called the IceMole. This probe uses differential heating of a copper head as well as the probe’s sidewalls and an ice screw at the melting head to move through glacier ice. Detailed blanks, meltwater, and subglacial brine samples were collected to evaluate the impact of the IceMole and the borehole pump, the melting and collection process, filtration, and storage on the geochemistry of the samples collected by this device. Comparisons between melt water profiles through the glacier ice and blank analysis, with published studies on ice geochemistry, suggest the potential for minor contributions of some species Rb, As, Co, Mn, Ni, NH4+, and NO2−+NO3− from the IceMole. The ability to conduct detailed chemical analyses of subglacial fluids collected with melting probes is critical for the future exploration of the hundreds of deep subglacial lakes in Antarctica.
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03067319.2019.1704750
SN  - 0306-7319
VL  - 101
IS  - 15
SP  - 2654
EP  - 2667
PB  - Taylor & Francis
CY  - London
ER  -