The Theistareykir Geothermal Field, NE Iceland. Isotopic Characteristics and Origin of Circulating Fluids

AbstractThe Theistareykir high temperature field in NE Iceland seems to be complex in terms of both inflow and structure, as reflected in the division of the area into several subfields. Oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in water and steam condensate from wells are reported. Some differences can be seen between the Theistareykir well fields, but the recharge is in all cases non-local in origin. The isotopic composition of some of the thermal waters is anomalously depleted in 2H, by about 35‰, compared to precipitation anywhere in Iceland today. The isotopes therefore suggest that the thermal water contains a component of past precipitation under a colder climate. The oxygen shift due to water-rock interaction is up to 6.5 ‰. The isotopic signature of the Theistareykir thermal water is compared to that from nearby low temperature fields within the westernmost part of the Northern Neovolcanic Zone

Unexpected large eruptions from buoyant magma bodies within viscoelastic crust

Large volume effusive eruptions with relatively minor observed precursory signals are at odds with widely used models to interpret volcano deformation. Here we propose a new modelling framework that resolves this discrepancy by accounting for magma buoyancy, viscoelastic crustal properties, and sustained magma channels. At low magma accumulation rates, the stability of deep magma bodies is governed by the magma-host rock density contrast and the magma body thickness. During eruptions, inelastic processes including magma mush erosion and thermal effects, can form a sustained channel that supports magma flow, driven by the pressure difference between the magma body and surface vents. At failure onset, it may be difficult to forecast the final eruption volume; pressure in a magma body may drop well below the lithostatic load, create under-pressure and initiate a caldera collapse, despite only modest precursors

The evolution and storage of primitive melts in the Eastern Volcanic Zone of Iceland: the 10 ka Grímsvötn tephra series (i.e. the Saksunarvatn ash)

Major, trace and volatile elements were measured in a suite of primitive macrocrysts and melt inclusions from the thickest layer of the 10 ka Grímsvötn tephra series (i.e. Saksunarvatn ash) at Lake Hvítárvatn in central Iceland. In the absence of primitive tholeiitic eruptions (MgO > 7 wt.%) within the Eastern Volcanic Zone (EVZ) of Iceland, these crystal and inclusion compositions provide an important insight into magmatic processes in this volcanically productive region. Matrix glass compositions show strong similarities with glass compositions from the AD 1783–84 Laki eruption, confirming the affinity of the tephra series with the Grímsvötn volcanic system. Macrocrysts can be divided into a primitive assemblage of zoned macrocryst cores (An_78–An_92, Mg#_cpx = 82–87, Fo_79.5–Fo_87) and an evolved assemblage consisting of unzoned macrocrysts and the rims of zoned macrocrysts (An_60–An_68, Mg#_cpx = 71–78, Fo_70–Fo_76). Although the evolved assemblage is close to being in equilibrium with the matrix glass, trace element disequilibrium between primitive and evolved assemblages indicates that they were derived from different distributions of mantle melt compositions. Juxtaposition of disequilibrium assemblages probably occurred during disaggregation of incompatible trace element-depleted mushes (mean La/Yb_melt = 2.1) into aphyric and incompatible trace element-enriched liquids (La/Yb_melt = 3.6) shortly before the growth of the evolved macrocryst assemblage. Post-entrapment modification of plagioclase-hosted melt inclusions has been minimal and high-Mg# inclusions record differentiation and mixing of compositionally variable mantle melts that are amongst the most primitive liquids known from the EVZ. Coupled high field strength element (HFSE) depletion and incompatible trace element enrichment in a subset of primitive plagioclase-hosted melt inclusions can be accounted for by inclusion formation following plagioclase dissolution driven by interaction with plagioclase-undersaturated melts. Thermobarometric calculations indicate that final crystal-melt equilibration within the evolved assemblage occurred at ~1140°C and 0.0–1.5 kbar. Considering the large volume of the erupted tephra and textural evidence for rapid crystallisation of the evolved assemblage, 0.0–1.5 kbar is considered unlikely to represent a pressure of long-term magma accumulation and storage. Multiple thermometers indicate that the primitive assemblage crystallised at high temperatures of 1240–1300°C. Different barometers, however, return markedly different crystallisation depth estimates. Raw clinopyroxene-melt pressures of 5.5–7.5 kbar conflict with apparent melt inclusion entrapment pressures of 1.4 kbar. After applying a correction derived from published experimental data, clinopyroxene-melt equilibria return mid-crustal pressures of 4±1.5 kbar, which are consistent with pressures estimated from the major element content of primitive melt inclusions. Long-term storage of primitive magmas in the mid-crust implies that low CO_2 concentrations measured in primitive plagioclase-hosted inclusions (262–800 ppm) result from post-entrapment CO_2 loss during transport through the shallow crust. In order to reconstruct basaltic plumbing system geometries from petrological data with greater confidence, mineral-melt equilibrium models require refinement at pressures of magma storage in Iceland. Further basalt phase equilibria experiments are thus needed within the crucial 1–7 kbar range.D.A.N. was supported by a Natural Environment Research Council studentship (NE/1528277/1) at the start of this project. SIMS analyses were supported by Natural Environment Research Council Ion Microprobe Facility award (IMF508/1013).This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00410-015-1170-

Rare earth element systematics in boiled fluids from basalt-hosted geothermal systems

Hydrothermal processes that lead to REE fractionation and redistribution are important for understanding water-rock interactions in geothermal energy resources and mineral deposits, and for determining how submarine hydrothermal activity affects the composition of oceanic crust. Much previous work on REE transport and deposition has focused on submarine hydrothermal vents. We report REE concentrations in boiled fluids sampled from five subaerial, basalt-hosted geothermal fields, and explore controls on aqueous REE concentrations by ligand complexation and mineral supersaturation. Samples that boiled at pressures between 0.8 and 2.83 MPa were obtained from the Reykjanes, Svartsengi, Hellisheidi, and Nesjavellir geothermal systems in Iceland, and the Puna geothermal system in Hawaii. For comparison, we also report REE concentrations in hydrothermal fluids from the sediment hosted submarine Middle Valley hydrothermal system, which boiled at >250 MPa. The pH(25°C) values of the sampled subaerial geothermal fluids range from 3.94 to 6.77, and Cl concentrations range from near seawater (502 mmol/kg) to dilute (1.9 mmol/kg). La, Ce and Eu are the only REE present at levels above 5 picomole/kg (pmol/kg) in the boiled geothermal fluids; and there are notable CI chondrite normalized La and Eu anomalies in the saline fluids. REE concentrations in Middle Valley hydrothermal fluids fall within the typical range reported for submarine hydrothermal fluids and have around two orders of magnitude higher REE than the boiled subaerial geothermal fluids. Bulk samples of precipitates in pipes from the Reykjanes geothermal system have detectable REE, confirming that downhole fluids have lost REE during boiling and production of fluids for geothermal energy. Isenthalpic boiling models show that the proportions of La and Eu chloride complexes increase relative to other aqueous species as boiling progresses, attenuating the incorporation of La and Eu into precipitated well scale solids. Fluorapatite is calculated to precipitate on boiling of low pH and saline fluids and calcite is calculated to precipitate from dilute and near-neutral pH fluids, and these minerals likely sequester REE in boiled subaerial fluids. Submarine hydrothermal fluids are constrained to boiling at higher temperatures than subaerial geothermal fluids owing to pressure from overlying cold seawater, therefore secondary minerals and solids that incorporate REE are not extensively precipitated and REE concentrations in the fluids are higher

The Iceland Deep Drilling Project at Reykjanes: Drilling into the root zone of a black smoker analog

The aim of the Iceland Deep Drilling Project is to drill into supercritical geothermal systems and examine their economic potential. The exploratory well IDDP-2 was drilled in the Reykjanes geothermal field in SW Iceland, on the landward extension of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The Reykjanes geothermal field produces from a <300 °C reservoir at 1 to 2.5 km depth and is unusual because it is recharged by seawater. The well was cased to 3000 m depth, and then angled towards the main up-flow zone of the system, to a total slant depth of 4659 m (~4500 m vertical depth). Based on alteration mineral assemblages, joint inversion of wireline logging, and rate of heating measurements, the bottom hole temperature is estimated to be about 535 °C. The major problem encountered during drilling was the total loss of circulation below 3 km depth and continuing to the final depth. Drilling continued without recovering drill cuttings, consequently spot coring provided the only deep rock samples from the well. These cores are characteristic of a basaltic sheeted dike complex, with hydrothermal alteration mineral assemblages that range from greenschist to amphibolite facies, hornblende hornfels, and pyroxene hornfels, allowing the opportunity to investigate water-rock interaction in the active roots of an analog of a submarine hydrothermal system. As they have not yet been sampled, the composition of the deep fluids at Reykjanes is unknown at present. Cold water is currently being injected with the aim of enhancing permeability at depth, before allowing the well to heat up prior to flow tests planned for early 2019. The well has at least two fluid feed zones, a dominant one at 3.4 km depth and a second smaller one at 4.5 km. Extensive geophysical surveys of the Reykjanes Peninsula completed recently allow correlation of geophysical signals with rocks properties and in-situ conditions in the subsurface. Earthquake activity monitored with a local seismic network during drilling the IDDP-2 drilling detected abundant small earthquakes (ML ≤ 2) within the depth range of 3–5 km. A zone at 3–5 km depth below the producing geothermal field that was generally aseismic prior to drilling, but became seismically active during the drilling. The drilling of the IDDP-2 has achieved number of scientific and engineering firsts. It is the deepest and hottest drill hole so far sited on an active mid-ocean spreading center. It penetrated an active supercritical hydrothermal environment at depths analogous to those postulated as the high temperature reaction zones feeding black smoker systems