锂的两个稳定同位素(^6Li和^7Li)相对质量差较大,因此易产生明显的同位素分馏。业已查明,自然界中δ^2Li值的变化在-40‰和+50‰之间。其中较小的δ^7Li值见于海相生物碳酸盐样品,较大的δ^7Li值见于某些盐湖卤水以及有孔虫的样品。由于明显的同位素分馏和不同地质体中截然不同的δ^7Li值,锂同位素应用十分广泛,且在壳-幔演化、陆壳风化、卤水和污染水体示踪等研究领域取得显著成效。
Relatively great mass difference between two stable isotopes of lithium results in distinct isotope fractionation. Due to the improvement of analytical technology, rapid progress has been made in the study of lithium isotope geochemistry. The δ^7Li values of natural samples vary from -40‰ to + 50‰. Saline water and foraminifer are enriched in ^7Li, and marine biogenetic carbonates are depleted in ^7Li. Larger isotope fractionation and different lithium isotopic values in geological reservoirs make Li fred extensive applications in environmental geochemistry, such as upper continental crust weathering, brine and polluted water tracing, etc.