Structural control on shallow hydrogeochemical processes at Caviahue-Copahue Volcanic Complex (CCVC), Argentina

Abstract

The Caviahue-Copahue Volcanic Complex (CCVC) hosts one of Argentina's most important geothermal systems. To provide new insights into origin, circulation, and residence time of fluids, the chemical and isotopic composition (3He/4He, δ2H-δ18O in H2O; δ13C-δ18O in CO2; 87Sr/86Sr) of thermal waters was measured together with the 3H and 14C activities. Water samples were collected from hot springs (LM, TC, LMM, CB and AF) representing the five major thermal zones of the CCVC and assumed to be steam-heated meteoric waters, and a well condensate (COP-2). The LMM, CB, and AF chemical composition and 87Sr/86Sr ratios show that water chemistry is acquired locally from exchange with volcanic rocks (Sr, SiO2, among others) and from steam (H2S). Two surface geothermal manifestations (LM and TC), along with the well condensate, COP-2, contain a higher contribution of deep-originating fluids, with 87Sr/86Sr indicating possible contribution from deep-seated granitoids or sediments from the underlying basement. Radiocarbon-based residence times indicate ages ranging between 13,540 and 17,520 yrs. BP, representing the minimum age for the geothermal reservoir waters. Tritium is mainly absent in hot spring waters except for LMM and CB where the activity is close to the detection limit. This indicates a minimum age older than 70 yrs. for the water circulating in the shallow circuit. This result suggests that shallow meteoric water have a more complex and/or deeper circuit, resulting in older residence times. Helium isotopes in the CCVC span a wide range, from a pure mantle-derived value, of 8.35Ra, to a more crustal radiogenic signature, of 4.6Ra. The spatial variation is explained by associating the geochemical data with the geological context, which includes the distribution of fault-fracture meshes and different sources of magmatic volatiles underlying the Copahue volcano. The first order control on helium isotope signatures observed in this study seems to be dominated by the degree of crustal assimilation of the magmatic sources, which is in turn controlled by the local arrays of faults.