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G-Cubed: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems

 

Keywords

  • chlorine
  • flux
  • geothermal
  • noble gas

Index Terms

  • Geochemistry: Reactions and phase equilibria (3612, 8412)
  • Geochemistry: Stable isotope geochemistry (0454, 4870)
  • Hydrology: Energy budgets
Abstract
Cited By (0)
 

Abstract

GEOCHEMISTRY GEOPHYSICS GEOSYSTEMS, VOL. 13, Q01017, 20 PP., 2012
doi:10.1029/2011GC003835

Generation and evolution of hydrothermal fluids at Yellowstone: Insights from the Heart Lake Geyser Basin

Key Points
  • Combines heat and mass flux data to reveal origins of thermal fluid
  • Uses chemical and isotopic data to model boiling and mixing processes
  • Helps understand broader impact for Yellowstone hydrothermal system

J. B. Lowenstern

Volcano Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Mail Stop 910, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA

D. Bergfeld

Volcano Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Mail Stop 910, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA

W. C. Evans

National Research Program, U.S. Geological Survey, Mail Stop 439, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA

S. Hurwitz

National Research Program, U.S. Geological Survey, Mail Stop 439, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA

We sampled fumaroles and hot springs from the Heart Lake Geyser Basin (HLGB), measured water and gas discharge, and estimated heat and mass flux from this geothermal area in 2009. The combined data set reveals that diverse fluids share an origin by mixing of deep solute-rich parent water with dilute heated meteoric water, accompanied by subsequent boiling. A variety of chemical and isotopic geothermometers are consistent with a parent water that equilibrates with rocks at 205°C ± 10°C and then undergoes 21% ± 2% adiabatic boiling. Measured diffuse CO2 flux and fumarole compositions are consistent with an initial dissolved CO2 concentration of 21 ± 7 mmol upon arrival at the caldera boundary and prior to southeast flow, boiling, and discharge along the Witch Creek drainage. The calculated advective flow from the basin is 78 ± 16 L s−1 of parent thermal water, corresponding to 68 ± 14 MW, or ∼1% of the estimated thermal flux from Yellowstone. Helium and carbon isotopes reveal minor addition of locally derived crustal, biogenic, and meteoric gases as this fluid boils and degasses, reducing the He isotope ratio (Rc/Ra) from 2.91 to 1.09. The HLGB is one of the few thermal areas at Yellowstone that approaches a closed system, where a series of progressively boiled waters can be sampled along with related steam and noncondensable gas. At other Yellowstone locations, steam and gas are found without associated neutral Cl waters (e.g., Hot Spring Basin) or Cl-rich waters emerge without significant associated steam and gas (Upper Geyser Basin).

Received 15 August 2011; accepted 20 December 2011; published 28 January 2012.

Citation: Lowenstern, J. B., D. Bergfeld, W. C. Evans, and S. Hurwitz (2012), Generation and evolution of hydrothermal fluids at Yellowstone: Insights from the Heart Lake Geyser Basin, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 13, Q01017, doi:10.1029/2011GC003835.

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