strontium84

Strontium-84 is a stable isotope of the element strontium (Sr) with a mass number of 84. It contains 38 protons, corresponding to the element strontium, and 46 neutrons. As a member of the four stable isotopes of strontium, it coexists with 86Sr, 87Sr, and 88Sr in nature.

Natural abundance and properties are characteristic features of Sr-84. It accounts for a small but detectable fraction of natural strontium, with an approximate abundance of about 0.56%. Unlike the radiogenic isotope 87Sr, which is produced by the decay of 87Rb and used in geochronology, Sr-84 is not radioactive and does not decay over time. The chemical behavior of strontium is largely the same across its isotopes, with small mass-dependent isotopic effects relevant mainly to precise isotope ratio measurements.

Occurrence and production in nature are tied to the overall elemental distribution of strontium. Strontium isotopes, including 84Sr, are found in minerals such as celestite and strontianite, as well as in rocks, soils, and seawater. The various isotopes reflect a combination of nucleosynthetic origins from stellar processes and subsequent geochemical fractionation, rather than any ongoing radioactive decay of Sr-84.

Applications and significance: Strontium-84 is analyzed in isotope ratio studies alongside the other stable strontium isotopes using mass spectrometry. While 87Sr/86Sr ratios are central to radiometric dating and tracing geological processes, Sr-84 contributes to the overall isotopic composition measured in samples. Its stability makes it suitable for tracer studies and calibration in isotopic analyses, contributing to reconstructions of geological, archaeological, and environmental histories.