The thermal springs of bockfjord, svalbard: occurrence and major ion hydrochemistry

Abstract

The Troll and Jotun thermal springs of northern Svalbard, with temperatures of up to 25.6°C, are derived from a major fault forming the junction between Devonian sandstones and Proterozoic marbles, mica schists and gneisses. The Troll waters are dominated by Na–HCO 3 compositions and the Jotun waters by Na–Cl compositions. The pristine thermal water source has a sub-neutral pH and is highly reducing. Taken at face value, common geothermometers suggest temperatures at depth of 130–180°C for the Troll springs (corresponding to a depth of 1.6–2.3 km), with 10–30% thermal water diluted by 70–90% cold water. Such geothermometers may, however, be inappropriate to the cool, high CO 2 waters of Bockfjord, and real temperatures at depth and dilution factors are probably considerably lower. The salinity of the thermal water appears to be only partially derived from water–rock interaction; Br\\Cl ratios suggest that seawater or possibly evaporites may be a source of chloride salinity.