ABSTRACT

The isotopic composition of Ce in seawater has been measured for the first time, together with that of Nd. In spite of rather great uncertainties of measurement, we can say that the extent of ¹³⁸Ce/¹⁴²Ce variation appears considerably large, and that the ratio can be used as a geochemical indicator characteristic of water mass. According to our data, ¹³⁸Ce/¹⁴²Ce ratio appears to be related with Ce content or Ce anomaly, reflecting sample locality. ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratio also decreases with Nd content, but their relationship is less localized than that observed for ¹³⁸Ce/¹⁴²Ce ratio.