Meteoric-derived Water Research Articles

Fluid-chemical evidence for one billion years of fluid flow through Mesoproterozoic deep-water carbonate mounds (Nanisivik zinc district, Nunavut)

Ancient carbonate rocks commonly contain numerous post-depositional phases (carbonate minerals; quartz) recording successive diagenetic events that can be deciphered and tied to known or inferred geological events using a multi-pronged in situ analytical protocol. The framework voids of large, deep-water microbial carbonate seep-mounds in Arctic Canada (Mesoproterozoic Ikpiarjuk Formation) contain multiple generations of synsedimentary and late cement. An in situ analytical study of the post-seafloor cements used optical and cathodoluminescence petrography, SEM-EDS analysis, fluid inclusion (FI) microthermometry and evaporate mound analysis, LA-ICP-MS analysis, and SIMS δ18O to decipher the mounds’ long-term diagenetic history. The six void-filling late cements include, in paragenetic order: inclusion-rich euhedral dolomite (ED), finely crystalline clear dolomite (FCD), hematite-bearing dolomite (HD), coarsely crystalline clear dolomite (CCD), quartz (Q), replacive calcite (RC) and late calcite (LC). Based on the combined analytical results, the following fluid-flow history is defined: (1) ED precipitation by autocementation during shallow burial (fluid 1; Mesoproterozoic); (2) progressive mixing of Ca-rich hydrothermal fluid with the connate fluid, resulting in precipitation of FCD followed by HD (fluid 2; also Mesoproterozoic); (3) precipitation of hydrothermal dolomite (CCD) from high-Ca and K-rich fluids (fluid 3; possibly Mesoproterozoic, but timing unclear); (4) hydrothermal Q precipitation (fluid 4; timing unclear), and (5) RC and LC precipitation from a meteoric-derived water (fluid 5) in or since the Mesozoic. Fluids associated with FCD, HD, and CCD may have been mobilised during deposition of the upper Bylot Supergroup; this time interval was the most tectonically active episode in the region’s Mesoproterozoic to Recent history. The entire history of intermittent fluid migration and cement precipitation recorded in seemingly unimportant void-filling mineral phases spans over 1 billion years, and was decipherable only because of the in situ protocol used. The multiple-method in situ analytical protocol employed in this study substantially augments the knowledge of an area’s geological history, parts of which cannot be discerned by means other than meticulous study of diagenetic phases, and should become routine in similar studies.

Controls on gold deposits in Hoggar, Tuareg Shield (Southern Algeria)

The Hoggar shield belongs to the 3000 km-long Pan-African Trans-Saharan belt that was formed in the Neoproterozoic, between 750 and 500 Ma by continental collision between the converging West African craton, Congo craton and Saharan Metacraton. More than 600 gold occurrences have been identified by ORGM, which are confined along North-South Pan-African megashear zones stretching some hundreds of kilometres long. Until now, no global classification and mineral paragenesis characterisation have been proposed for the Hoggar's gold mineralization. In this paper, we briefly review the main gold mineralization, in order to classify them and to highlight their characteristics and controls. According to field work, spectral, microscopic and microthermometric studies, these mineralization can be globally classified asorogenic type shear zone, which can subdivided into three main sub-types according to the degree of their relationships with the major Pan-African shear zones: (i) Ultramylonite-mylonite hosted including Tirek and Amesmessa, world class deposits; (ii) Granite hosted, including Tekouyat occurrence (iii) Volcano-sediment hosted including Tiririne and In Abbegui deposits.All the deposits are coeval and were formed at the end of the post-collisional stage (530–520 Ma). InHoggar, gold mineralization depend on a double control, first order giant sub-meridian shear zone control and the gold districts disposed in N40°–50°E corridors that may be interpreted as extensional. Indeed, the Hoggar gold province appears to have been controlled at all scales by the late transtensive reactivation of the Pan-African mega-shear zones, and by the correlative heat flux associated with the linear lithospheric delamination processes accompanying this reactivation; which are also responsible for the very lateHoggar magmatic events. At Amesmessa, gold deposition was promoted by the mixing of metamorphic fluids issued from the In Ouzzal Archean-Proterozoic basement with magmatic, basinal and meteoric-derived water. These deposits and occurrences contains variable minerals and trace elements in order of decreasing importance: Pb, Zn, Cu, Ag, Bi, W, Te,Co, Cr, Mo, Ni, Nb, Ta, U, Hf, REE, PGE.

Chemical and isotopic signatures of waters associated with the carbonation of ultramafic mine tailings, Woodsreef Asbestos Mine, Australia

Extensive carbonate crusts have formed on the tailings of the Woodsreef Asbestos Mine, sequestering significant amounts of CO2 directly from the atmosphere. The physico-chemical (pH, T, conductivity), chemical (cations, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC)) and isotopic (δ2H, δ18O, δ13CDIC, F14C) signatures of waters interacting with the tailings and associated carbonate precipitates provide insight into the processes controlling carbonation. We observe two distinct evolutionary pathways for a set of stream and meteoric-derived water samples, respectively, with both groups generally being characterised as moderately alkaline, bicarbonate-dominated and Mg-rich waters. Stream water samples are supersaturated with CO2 and therefore prone to degassing, which, in combination with evaporation, drives carbonate supersaturation and precipitation. Isotopic signatures indicate soil CO2 as the main carbon source in the stream waters entering the tailings pile, whereas water emerging downstream of the tailings pile may also contain carbon from the dissolution of isotopically light bedrock magnesite in an open system with respect to soil CO2. The evolution of meteoric-derived waters on the other hand, partly occurs under CO2-limited conditions, which results from reduced CO2 ingress at depth and/or a temporal lag between fluid alkalisation and kinetically hindered uptake of CO2 into alkaline solution. A high pH, Mg-rich meteoric water absorbs atmospheric CO2 after discharging into a tunnel within the tailings pile, resulting in high DIC concentrations with atmospheric carbon isotope signature. Evaporation of the water at the discharge point in the tunnel drives precipitation of hydromagnesite (Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·4H2O), displaying a clear atmospheric isotope signature, broadly consistent with previous estimates of carbon and oxygen isotope fractionation during precipitation of hydrated Mg-carbonate.

Episyenite formation in the Toki granite, central Japan

Episyenite is a quartz-depleted vuggy rock resulting from hydrothermal alteration of granitic rocks. This is the first report of its existence in an island arc, which is identified in a deep drill core of the Toki Cretaceous granite distributed in central Japan. In order to understand the petrographical features of the episyenite, neutron porosity measurement, geochemical analysis, microscopic observation, and X-ray computed tomography scanning were carried out. The results show remarkably high porosity (35.4 %) due to interconnecting vugs and the removal of quartz, plagioclase, and biotite. The Rb–Sr isotopic results and the paragenetic sequence of secondary minerals in the vugs suggest that the hydrothermal alteration process can be divided into an episyenitization stage and a later hydrothermal stage. At the episyenitization stage (70.6 ± 3.1 Ma) ca. 6 million years after the emplacement of the unaltered granite (76.3 ± 1.5 Ma), dissolution of quartz, biotite, and plagioclase occurred and was followed by the precipitation of albite, vermicular chlorite, and platy calcite. The episyenitization is considered as a local alteration of the Toki granite in an isotopically closed system. At the later hydrothermal stage, illite and secondary quartz precipitated from circulating meteoric-derived water in the dissolution vugs. Superimposing alteration at the later hydrothermal stage is limited, which results in the preservation of the episyenite in an almost primitive condition.

Analysis of environmental isotopes in groundwater to understand the response of a vulnerable coastal aquifer to pumping: Western Port Basin, south-eastern Australia

The response of a multi-layered coastal aquifer in southeast Australia to decades of groundwater pumping, and the groundwater age, flow paths and salinization processes were examined using isotopic tracers. Groundwater radiocarbon and tritium contents decline with distance and depth away from basin margins; however, in the main zone of pumping, radiocarbon activities are generally homogeneous within a given depth horizon. A lack of tritium and low radiocarbon activities (<25 pMC) in groundwater in and around the pumping areas indicate that seasonal recovery of water levels is related to capture of old water with low radioisotope activities, rather than arrival of recently recharged water. Mechanisms facilitating seasonal recovery include release of water from low-permeability layers and horizontal transfer of water from undeveloped parts of the basin. Overall stability in seasonally recovered water levels and salinities for the past three decades indicate that the system has reached a dynamic equilibrium with respect to water balance and salinity, following a major change in flow paths and solute distributions after initial development. Groundwater δ18O, δ2H and chloride contents indicate mixing between fresh meteoric-derived groundwater and marine water at the coast, with the most saline groundwater approximating an 80:20 mixture of fresh to oceanic water.

Petrology and isotopic geochemistry of dawsonite-bearing sandstones in Hailaer basin, northeastern China

Abstract The CO2 gas reservoir sandstones in the Hailaer Basin contain abundant dawsonite and provide an ideal laboratory to study whether any genetic relationship exists between dawsonite and the modern gas phase of CO2. The origins of dawsonite and CO2 in these sandstones were studied by petrographic and isotopic analysis. According to the paragenetic sequence of the sandstones, dawsonite grew later than CO2 charging at 110–85 Ma. The dawsonite δ18O value is 7.4‰ (SMOW), and the calculated δ18O values of the water present during dawsonite growth are from −11.4‰ to −9.2‰ (SMOW). This, combined with the NaHCO3-dominated water linked to dawsonite growth, suggests meteoric water being responsible for dawsonite growth. The δ13C values of gas phase CO2 and the ratios of 3He/4He of the associated He suggest a mantle magmatic origin of CO2-rich natural gas in Hailaer basin. Dawsonite δ13C values are −5.3‰ to −1.5‰ (average −3.4‰), and the calculated δ13C values of CO2 gas in isotopic equilibrium with dawsonite are −11.4‰ to −7.3‰. These C isotopic values are ambiguous for the dawsonite C source. From the geological context, the timing of events, together with formation water conditions for dawsonite growth, dawsonite possibly grew in meteoric-derived water, atmospherically-derived CO2 maybe, or at least the dominant, C source for dawsonite. It seems that there are few relationships between dawsonite and the modern gas phase of CO2 in the Hailaer basin.

Fluid–rock interaction during subsolidus microtextural development of alkali granite as exemplified by the Saertielieke pluton, Ulungur of the northern Xinjiang, China

Three lithological Groups I (medium-grained, with magmatogenic arfvedsonite), II (medium-grained, with secondary arfvedsonite) and III (fine-grained, with magmatogenic arfvedsonite) are identified in the Saertielieke alkali granite pluton, Ulungur of the northern Xinjiang, China. A weak negative correlation between the δ 18O values of alkali feldspar and quartz separates from each group, and the distinctly lower δ 18O values of alkali feldspar separates from Groups I and II than those from Group III are interpreted in terms of superimposed closed-system and open-system isotope exchange. A small amount of locally exsolved magmatic fluid is involved in the development of the perthitic texture in alkali feldspar at ∼400 °C that results in a volume increase and, hence, causes quartz deformation. The microtextural changes promote the closed-system oxygen isotope exchange between quartz and alkali feldspar that causes a dispersion in the quartz δ 18O values. However, the distinctly lower δ 18O values of alkali feldspar and secondary arfvedsonite coupled with their microtextural characteristics indicate that meteoric-derived water plays an important role in the further development of alkali feldspar exsolution texture at T<400 °C and directly causes secondary arfvedsonite formation. The estimated relative exchange rates k Quartz/ k Feldspar/ k Arfvedsonite of ∼10/100/1 for Groups I and III, and ∼10/100/100 for Group II suggest that alkali feldspar, quartz, and secondary arfvedsonite have exchanged with meteoric-derived water mainly via dissolution–reprecipitation, whereas magmatogenic arfvedsonite has exchanged via diffusion.

Textural and Isotopic Variations in Diagenetic Kaolinite from the Magnus Oilfield Sandstones

AbstractIn Upper Jurassic sandstones of the Magnus Sandstone Member from the Magnus Oilfield in the North Sea, diagenetic kaolinite morphology and isotopic composition vary away from the Late Cimmerian unconformity. Near the unconformity, coarse-grained (15-30 μm) vermiform kaolinite morphology is most common, whereas downdip, 3 km away, fine-grained (∼10 μm) blocky morphology is prevalent. Kaolinite abundances increase downdip, away from the unconformity, and kaolinite near the unconformity has low δ18O (12·5-14·9%o smow) compared to that downdip (15·9−17·5%o). This reflects replacement of marine depositional pore-waters by meteoric water near the erosion surface. However, isotopic temperature estimates suggest that the majority of kaolinite formed at elevated burial temperatures of ~80°C, and not during subaerial exposure of the sandstone. The δD of kaolinite close to the unconformity is also lower than that downdip. Kaolinite morphology and isotopic composition record meteoric water ingress during Late Cimmerian subaerial erosion and retention of meteoric-derived water in the crest of the Magnus structure during burial diagenesis. Kaolinite formation during subaerial exposure is not of significance to the sandstone reservoir quality.

Geochemistry and isotope chemistry of Michigan Basin brines: Devonian formations

Detailed chemical and isotope analysis of 87 formation waters collected from six Devonian-aged units in the Michigan Basin are presented and discussed in terms of the origin of the dissolved components and the water. Total dissolved solids in these waters range from 200,000 to >400,000mg/1. Upper Devonian formations produce dominantly Na Ca Cl brine, while deeper formations produce Ca Na Cl water. Ratios of Cl/Br and Na/Br along with divalent cation content (MCl 2), indicate that these brines are derived from evapo-concentrated seawater. Other ion concentrations appear to be extensively modified from seawater values by water-rock reactions. The most important reactions are dolomitization, which explains the Ca content of the brines, and reactions involving aluminosilicate minerals. Stable isotope (δ 18O and δD) compositions indicate that water molecules in the deeper formations are derived from primary concentrated seawater. Isotope enrichment by exchange with carbonates and perhaps gypsum cannot be discounted. Isotope values indicate water in the Upper Devonian formations is a mixture of seawater brine diluted with meteoric-derived water. Dilution has predominantly occurred in basin margins. Two scenarios are presented for the origin of the brines in the Devonian formations: (1) they originated when the Devonian sediments and evaporites were first deposited; or (2) they are residual brine liberated from the deeper Devonian and possibly Silurian salt deposits.

Distribution, Chemistry, Isotopic Composition and Origin of Diagenetic Carbonates: Magnus Sandstone, North Sea

ABSTRACT Diagenetic ferroan carbonates grew in the Upper Jurassic reservoir sandstones of the Magnus oilfield in porewaters which differed in composition across the field. These porewaters remained compositionally different and stratified for at least 35 M.y. Variations in carbonate chemistry across the field are attributable to these porewater variations, which resulted from displacement of marine depositional water from the crest of the field by meteoric water during late Cimmerian subaerial exposure. Original depositional facies and detrital mineralogy strongly influenced diagenetic carbonate distribution. Rare diagenetic calcite occurs as discrete rhombic crystals. Diagenetically late magnesian siderites have developed throughout the reservoir sandstone and are commonly intimately associated with altered detrital biotite grains. Poikilotopic ankerite cement postdates calcite and siderite and occurs only adjacent to mudstones and in thin sandstones within mudstones. Three compositional growth zones in siderite crystals are observed across the field from crest to flank. In all three wells studied, a similar trend of compositional evolution through time is observed in both two and three zoned rhombs. First-formed siderite is relatively magnesian, intermediate zones are more ferroan, and outer zones are at least as magnesian as the first stage. These individual grain variations overprint a fieldwide variation where siderite is more ferroan in the crestal samples (up to 87 mol % Fe + Mn) and more magnesian downdip (up to 58 mol % Mg). This reflects the greater influence of relatively Fe-rich meteoric-derived water in the crest and the greater influence of marine-derived Mg-rich porewater downdip. Ankerite shows a similar variation in Fe and Mg abunda ces across the field (crest and flank maximum 25 and 17 mol % Fe + Mn respectively, 27 and 43 tool % Mg) and developed due to release of Mg, Fe, Ca and HCO3- ions from mudstones into adjacent sandstones following dissolution of detrital minerals and organic decarboxylation reactions. Both siderite and ankerite have lower 18O at the crest of the oilfield than downdip (respectively siderite 16.0 and 17.6 SMOW; ankerite 17.7 and 21.4). These differences in 18O reflect the retention during burial diagenesis of a larger component of meteoric water in the crest of the field below the unconformity, whereas downdip porefluid contained a larger marine-derived component. Strong organic influence on 13C (-8.0 to -14.6 PDB for magnesian siderite; -7.7 to -13.6 for ankerite), closed system 34S values (up to 15.7 for late cubic pyrite), and stratified 18O from crest to flank of the field argue against large scale porewater movements. Diagenetic porewater stratification is strongly supported by the parallel, but distinct, geochemical fingerprints of siderite and ankerite cements from the crest to the flank of the field.

Carbonate Diagenesis in a Quartzarenite: Dolomitic Keefer Sandstone of West Virginia: ABSTRACT

After deposition as a coastal marine deposit, the Silurian Keefer Sandstone underwent an elaborate diagenetic sequence. In general, the processes were: quartz cementation, calcite cementation, dolomitization, and finally dedolomitization. Diagenesis in this formation, as interpreted from petrographic study, was complex because the composition of pore fluids changed throughout its postdepositional history. Quartz overgrowths precipitated early, most likely from marine connate brines. The second generation of cement, poikilotopic calcite, precipitated when meteoric-derived phreatic water percolated through the sand during a major regression of the sea. Clay minerals in the matrix favored dolomitization of calcite cement, fossils, and calcite mud by serving as sites of nucle tion or catalysts and perhaps by providing magnesium. Later, at a moderate burial depth, saline subsurface brines dedolomitized isolated dolomite crystals. Primary porosity in the Keefer (Big Six) of southwestern West Virginia was virtually occluded by these early cements. Most microscopically visible porosity is secondary and attributed to the volume reduction of carbonate material with dolomitization of local calcite. Several Silurian-Devonian sandstones are petrographically similar to the Keefer, and its postdepositional history, as interpreted here, may serve as an example of diagenesis in other dolomitic and calcareous quartzarenites of the Appalachian basin. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1289------------