Publication Date:
2017-04-03
Description:
Field observations coupled with experimental results show that CO2 can be produced by
mechanical energy applied to carbonate rocks becoming an unexpected additional gas source besides that
degassed from the mantle or produced by thermometamorphism. The evidence that a large amount of carbon
dioxide associated with radiogenic-type helium (R/Ra as low as 0.01–0.08) is released through continental areas,
denotes the absence of a contribution from the mantle or from mantle-derived fluids. Data collected during the
seismic crisis which struck the Central Apennines in 1997–98 have shown an enhanced CO2 flux not associated
with the presence of mantle or thermometamorphic-derived fluids. On the other hand, new experimental results
highlight the possibility of producing CO2 by mechanical energy that acts on the calcite crystalline lattice. While
the CO2 released over the geothermal areas (e.g., Larderello Geothermal Field) is obviously derived by mantlederived
activities, this is not the case of the huge amount of CO2 released over the seismically active areas where
the presence mantle-derived products is ruled out. We propose that mechanical energy, e.g., released during
seismic events, microseismicity or creeping processes is a possible additional energy source able to produce CO2
and thus could explain the presence of CO2 degassing over tectonic areas where the influence of the mantle is
low.
1. Introduction
Apart from the water va
Description:
Published
Description:
75–94
Description:
3.2. Tettonica attiva
Description:
JCR Journal
Description:
reserved
Keywords:
Isotope
;
Geochemistry
;
seismicity
;
CO2 production
;
05. General::05.02. Data dissemination::05.02.01. Geochemical data
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
article
Permalink
