Predictions of hydrothermal alteration within near-ridge oceanic crust from coordinated geochemical and fluid flow models

Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research
By: , and 

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Abstract

Coordinated geochemical and hydrological calculations guide our understanding of the composition, fluid flow patterns, and thermal structure of near-ridge oceanic crust. The case study presented here illustrates geochemical and thermal changes taking place as oceanic crust ages from 0.2 to 1.0 Myr. Using a finite element code, we model fluid flow and heat transport through the upper few hundred meters of an abyssal hill created at an intermediate spreading rate. We use a reaction path model with a customized database to calculate equilibrium fluid compositions and mineral assemblages of basalt and seawater at 500 bars and temperatures ranging from 150 to 400??C. In one scenario, reaction path calculations suggest that volume increases on the order of 10% may occur within portions of the basaltic basement. If this change in volume occurred, it would be sufficient to fill all primary porosity in some locations, effectively sealing off portions of the oceanic crust. Thermal profiles resulting from fluid flow simulations indicate that volume changes along this possible reaction path occur primarily within the first 0.4 Myr of crustal aging. ?? 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Predictions of hydrothermal alteration within near-ridge oceanic crust from coordinated geochemical and fluid flow models
Series title Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research
DOI 10.1016/S0377-0273(01)00215-3
Volume 110
Issue 3-4
Year Published 2001
Language English
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research
First page 319
Last page 342
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