Helium isotopes in Icelandic geothermal systems: I. 3 He, gas chemistry, and 13 C relations

Other

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

7

Scientific paper

Gas samples from seventeen high-temperature and twenty-two low-temperature geothermal systems have been analyzed for chemistry and 3 He / 4 He ratios. Within the Neo-Volcanic Zone the 3 He / 4 He ratios show a consistent regional pattern: 14-19 times the atmospheric ratio ( R A ) in the southwest, 8-11 R A in the north, and 17-26 A in central Iceland. Outside of the rift zones a mantle helium component also dominates with the highest 3 He / 4 He ratios found in waters circulating through 9-Myold crust in Northwest Iceland (up to 29 R A ). The minimum Icelandic 3 He / 4 He ratio (excluding a methane seep east of the rift) is 8.5 R A at Kverkf joll, in central Iceland at the southern end of the narrow Northern Rift Zone; throughout the NRZ the ratios vary only from 8.5 to 10.7 R A . The Kverkf joll ratio is precisely the mean MORB ratio: (8 ± 1) R A . Thus, the mantle helium emerging at Iceland is a simple mixture of two components: MORB He (8 R A ) and deep-mantle plume He with R / R A : 29. High-temperature systems have CO 2 / 3 He ratios of 10 9 to 10 10 that encompass the range found in MORB (1-3 × 10 9 ). However, the CO 2 / 3 He values have been subjected to postmagmatic effects that alter and obscure the original magmatic CO 2 / 3 He ratios. ( 13 C) in the fluid-phase CO 2 is well defined at -3.8%. in the high-CO 2 fluids (up to 1 mol/kg fluid), very similar to MORB values. CH 4 / 3 He ratios vary widely, from 3 × 10 4 to 10 8 . Most high-temperature systems from southwestern and northern Iceland have CH 4 / 3 He ratios less than 10 6 , while those from central Iceland have consistently higher ratios of the order of 10 7 . Local conditions and possible proximity to an organic source of methane can have a strong effect on this ratio.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Helium isotopes in Icelandic geothermal systems: I. 3 He, gas chemistry, and 13 C relations does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Helium isotopes in Icelandic geothermal systems: I. 3 He, gas chemistry, and 13 C relations, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Helium isotopes in Icelandic geothermal systems: I. 3 He, gas chemistry, and 13 C relations will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1114674

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.