Publication Date:
2020-12-07
Description:
The Principal Cordillera of Central Chile is characterized by two belts of different ages and lithologies: (i) an eastern Mesozoic belt, consisting of limestone- and gypsum-rich sedimentary rocks at the border between Central Chile and Argentina, where the active volcanic arc occurs; and (ii) a western belt of Cenozoic age containing
basaltic to andesitic volcanic and volcanoclastic sequences. This distinctive geological setting controls water chemistry of cold and thermal springs in the region, which are fed by meteoric water that circulates through deep regional structures. In the western sector of Principal Cordillera, water–rock interaction processes produce lowTDS, slightly alkaline HCO3
− dominatedwaters, although dissolution of underlyingMesozoic evaporitic rocks
occasionally causes SO4 2− and Cl− enrichments. In this area, few Na+–HCO3
− and Na+–SO4 2− waters occurred, being likely produced by a Ca2+–Na+ exchange during water–rock interactions. Differently, the chemical features of Ca2+–Cl−waterswas likely related to an albitization–chloritization process affecting basaltic to andesitic rocks outcropping in this area. Addition of Na+–Cl− brines uprising from the eastern sector through the westverging
thrust faults cannot be excluded, as suggested by the occurrence of mantle He (~19%) in dissolved gases. In contrast, in the eastern sector of the study region, mainly characterized by the occurrence of evaporitic sequences and relatively high heat flow,mature Na+–Cl− waters were recognized, the latter being likely related
to promising geothermal reservoirs, as supported by the chemical composition of the associated bubbling and fumarolic
gases. Their relatively low3He/4He ratios (up to 3.9 Ra)measured in the fumaroles on this area evidenced a significant crustal contamination by radiogenic 4He. The latter was likely due to (i) degassing from 4He-rich
magma batches residing in the crust, and/or (ii) addition of fluids interacting with sedimentary rocks. This interpretation
is consistent with the measured δ13C-CO2 values (from−13.2 to−5.72‰vs. V-PDB) and the CO2/3He ratios (up to 14.6 × 1010), which suggest that CO2 mostly originates from the limestone-rich basement and recycling of subducted sediments,with an important addition of sedimentary (organic-derived) carbon,whereas mantle degassing contributes at a minor extent. According to geothermometric estimations based on the Na+,
K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ contents, the mature Na+–Cl− rich waters approached a chemical equilibrium with calcite, dolomite, anhydrite, fluorite, albite, K-feldspar and Ca- andMg-saponites at a broad range of temperatures (up to ~300 °C) In the associated gas phase, equilibria of chemical reactions characterized by slowkinetics (e.g. sabatier reaction) suggested significant contributions from hot and oxidizing magmatic gases. This hypothesis is consistent with the δ13C-CO2, Rc/Ra, CO2/3He values of the fumarolic gases. Accordingly, the isotopic signatures of the fumarolic steam is similar to that of fluids discharged from the summit craters of the two active volcanoes in the study area (Tupungatito and Planchón–Peteroa). These results encourage the development of further geochemical and geophysical surveys aimed to provide an exhaustive evaluation of the geothermal potential of these volcanic–hydrothermal systems.
Description:
Published
Description:
97-113
Description:
1V. Storia e struttura dei sistemi vulcanici
Description:
JCR Journal
Description:
restricted
Keywords:
Fluid geochemistry
;
Central Chile
;
Water–gas–rock interaction
;
Hydrothermal reservoir
;
Geothermal resource
;
Volcanoes
;
03. Hydrosphere::03.02. Hydrology::03.02.03. Groundwater processes
;
03. Hydrosphere::03.04. Chemical and biological::03.04.03. Chemistry of waters
;
03. Hydrosphere::03.04. Chemical and biological::03.04.05. Gases
;
03. Hydrosphere::03.04. Chemical and biological::03.04.06. Hydrothermal systems
;
04. Solid Earth::04.04. Geology::04.04.12. Fluid Geochemistry
;
04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.01. Gases
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
article
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