Ge/Si and 87Sr/86Sr tracers of weathering reactions and hydrologic pathways in a tropical granitoid system

Ge/Si and 87Sr/86Sr data from primary and secondary minerals, soil waters, and stream waters in a tropical granitoid catchment quantitatively reflect mineral alteration reactions that occur at different levels within the bedrock–saprolite–soil zone. Near the bedrock–saprolite interface, plagioclase to kaolinite reaction yields low Ge/Si and 87Sr/86Sr. Higher in the regolith column, biotite weathering and kaolinite dissolution drive Ge/Si and 87Sr/86Sr to high values. Data from streams at base flow sample the bedrock–saprolite interface zone, while at high discharge solutes are derived from upper saprolite–soil zone. Coupled Ge/Si and 87Sr/86Sr can be effective tools for quantifying the importance of specific weathering reactions, and for geochemical hydrograph separation.