The effect of temperature on metal mobility in subseafloor hydrothermal systems: constraints from basalt alteration experiments

Jeffrey S. Seewald, William E. Seyfried

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217 Scopus citations

Abstract

Crystalline basalt was reacted with a NaCaKCl fluid of seawater chlorinity at 400, 350 and 300°C, 400 bar and a fluid/rock mass ratio of 1, to assess the effect of temperature on metal mobility in ridge-crest hydrothermal systems. Basalt alteration at 400°C yielded a fluid chemistry characterized by high Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, SiO2, H2S and H2 concentrations. Lowering temperature to 350 and then to 300°C, caused dissolved metal concentrations to decrease drastically. "Black smoker" vent fluids generally have measured temperatures ≤ 355°C. The dissolved concentrations of Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn observed in these fluids, however, could only be achieved or exceeded during the 400°C phase of the experiment indicating that hot-spring fluids have lost heat and possibly dissolved Fe and base metals on ascent to the seafloor from a high-temperature reaction zone. The relative rates at which Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn achieve new steady-state concentrations in response to temperature reduction during basalt alteration are Cu > Fe > Zn > Mn. Thus, dissolved Zn and especially Mn concentrations are more likely to record accurately temperatures characterizing subseafloor reaction zones, while Fe and Cu, which respond rapidly to changes in temperature, are likely to precipitate along fluid flow paths, especially in near-seafloor locations. This trend is confirmed by the relative abundance of dissolved metals in hot-spring fluids variably influenced by heat loss processes. Calculations suggest that hot-spring fluids may lose heat by conduction through sulfide mounds and chimney walls at flow rates observed for many vent systems. Since heat loss processes influence the chemistry, especially dissolved metals, as well as measured temperatures of axial hot-springs fluids, these effects must be taken into account to model accurately phase relations and fluid-mineral equilibria in deeply seated subseafloor reaction zones.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)388-403
Number of pages16
JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters
Volume101
Issue number2-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1990

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We wish to thank Dr. Michael Mottl and an anonymousr eviewerf or commentst hat greatly improved this manuscriptD. r. Michael Berndt, Dr. Pat Shanksa nd Peter Saccociap rovidedu se-ful suggestionasn d assistedg reatlyw ith numerous aspectso f the study. Funds for this project were providedb y NSF grantsO CE-8400676a nd OCE-8700762a, nd a Doctoral DissertationF ellowship to J.S.S. from the University of Minnesota GraduateS chool.

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