Abstract
The Reykjanes geothermal system is the most interesting of the Icelandic geothermal areas for chemical comparison with submarine geothermal systems. The geothermal water at Reykjanes is seawater. Base temperatures in the Reykjanes geothermal system is considerably lower than the estimated temperatures of the submarine systems. In the Krafla geothermal system the base temperatures are almost as high as in the submarine geothermal systems but the geothermal water is of meteoric origin with low content of dissolved solids. Magmatic activity has strongly influenced the chemistry of the Krafla geothermal system.
In the Icelandic geothermal systems Mg and K are enriched at upper levels. Silica, Na, Ca, Fe and many of the trace elements have been mobilized, but a significant trend of depletion or increase has not been demonstrated. Mass fluxes by the rock alteration in the Reykjanes and Krafla area appear to be generally less than in hydrothermally altered metabasalts from the oceanic crust. This may partly be due to different sampling methods. The main reason for the difference is believed to be that all rock samples from the Icelandic areas are from the upflow zones in the geothermal system. A Mg enrichment and Ca depletion of the same magnitude as that demonstrated in submarine greenstones would rather be expected in the deep inflow zones of the Icelandic geothermal systems.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Armannsson, H., G. Gislason and T. Hauksson, 1982. Magmatic gases in well fluids aid the mapping of the flow pattern in a geothermal system. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 46: 167-177.
Arnason, B., 1976. Groundwater Systems in Iceland traced by deuterium. Soc. Sci. Islandica, Publ. 42: 236 p.
Arnôrsson, S., 1969. A geochemical study of selected elements in thermal waters of Iceland. Ph.D. Thesis, University of London, 353 p.
Arnôrsson, S., 1978. Major element chemistry of the geothermal seawater at Reykjanes and Svartsengi, Iceland. Miner. Mag. 42: 209-220.
Björnsson, S., S. Arnôrsson and J. Tômasson, 1970. Exploration of the Reykjanes thermal Brine field. Geothermics, Spes. iss. 2: 1640-1650.
Björnsson, S., S. Arnôrsson and J. Tômasson, 1972. Economic evaluation of Reykjanes thermal brine area, Iceland. Amer. Ass. Petrol Geol. Bull. 56: 2380-2391.
Björnsson, A., G. Johnsen, S. Sigurdsson, G. Thorbergsson and E. Tryggvason, 1979. Rifting of the Plate Boundary in North Iceland 1975-1978. J. Geophys. Res. 84: 3029-3038.
Böhlke, J.K., J. Honnorez, B.M. Honnorez - Guerstein, K. Muehlenbachs and N. Petersen, 1981. Heterogeneous alteration of the upper oceanic crust: Correlation of rock chemistry, magnetic properties and O isotope ratios with alteration patterns in basalts from site 396B, DSDP. J. Geophys. Research. 86: 7935-7950.
Corliss, J.G., J. Dymond, L.I. Gordon, J.M. Edmond, R.P. von Herzen, R.D. Ballard, K. Green, D. Williams, A. Bainbridge, K. Crane and Tj.H van Andel, 1979. Submarine thermal springs on the Galapagos rift. Science. 203: 1073-1083.
Craig, H., J.A. Welham, K. Kim, R. Poreda and J.E. Lupton, 1980. Geochemical studies of the 21°N EPR hydrothermal fluids (abst.). EOS. 61: 992.
Edmond, J.R., 1980. The chemistry of the 350°C hot springs at 21°N on the East Pacific Rise (abst.). EOS. 61: 992.
Ellis, A.J. and W.A.J. Mahon, 1977. Chemistry and Geothermal Systems. Academic Press, N.Y. 392 p.
Grönvold, K., 1976. Variation and origin of magma types in the Némafjall area, North Iceland. Bull. Soc. Géol. France. 18: 869-870.
Gudmundsson, J.S., T. Hauksson and J. Tomasson, 1981. The Reykjanes geothermal field in Iceland: Subsurface exploration and well discharge characteristics. Proc. 7. Workshop Geothermal Res. Eng. Stanford: 61 - 69.
Gunnlaugsson, E., 1977. The origin and distribution of sulfur in fresh and geothermally altered rocks in Iceland. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Leeds, 192 p.
Hattori, K. and K. Muehlenbachs, 1982. Oxygen isotope ratios of the Icelandic crust. J. Geophys. Res. (in press).
Hauksson, T., 1981. Reykjanes. Contents of dissolved solids in the geothermal brine. Internal report (mimeographed) at NEA, Iceland. 53 p.
Helgeson, H.C., 1969. Thermodynamics of hydrothermal systems at elevated temperature and pressure. Amer. J. Sci.: 729-804.
Humphris, S.E. and G. Thompson, 1978. Hydrothermal alteration of oceanic basalts by seawater. Geochim. Et Cosmochim. Acta. 42: 107-126.
Jakobsson, S.P., 1975. Chemistry and distribution pattern of recent basaltic rocks in Iceland. Lithos. 5: 365-386.
Kristmannsddttir, H., 1975. Hydrothermal alteration of basaltic rocks in Icelandic geothermal areas. Proceedings of the Second U.N. Symposium on Development and use of Geothermal Resources: 441 - 445.
Kristmannsdôttir, H., 1976. Types of clay minerals in hydro- thermally altered basaltic rocks, Reykjanes, Iceland. Jökull. 26: 30 - 39.
Kristmannsdôttir, H. and J. Svantesson, 1977. Scalings in drill-holes in Krafla. A mimeographed report (in Icelandic) from the National Energy Authority. 31 p.
Kristmannsdôttir, H., 1979. Alteration of basaltic rocks by hydrothermal activity at 100-300°C. In International Clay Conference 1978 (ed. Mortland M.M. and V.C. Farmer ). Elsevier Sci. Publ. Comp. Amsterdam: 359 - 367.
Kristmannsdôttir, H., 1981. Wollastonite from hydrothermally altered basaltic rocks in Iceland. Miner. Mag. 44: 95-99.
Kristmannsddttir, H., 1981 b. Clay-like minerals formed in a geothermal brine in the Reykjanes high-temperature geothermal system, Iceland. Abstracts from the 7th Int. Clay Conf. Bologna and Pavia: 161 - 162.
Mottl, M. and W.E. Seyfried, 1980. Sub - sea - floor hydrothermal systems: rock vs. seawater-dominated. In Seafloor Spreading Centers: Hydrothermal Systems. (Ed. by Rona, P.A. and R.P. Lowell) Dowden Hutchinson and Ross, Inc. Stroudsburg Pensylvania: 66 - 82.
Mottl, M., 1982. Metabasalts, Axial Hot Springs and the Structure of hydrothermal systems at Mid-Ocean Ridges. G.S.A. Bull. (in press).
Olafsson, J and J.P. Riley, 1978. Geochemical studies on the thermal brine from Reykjanes (Iceland). Chem. Geol. 21: 219-237.
Pâlmason, G., S. Arndrsson, I.B. Friöleifsson, H. Kristmannsdôttir, K. Sæmundsson, V. Stefânsson, B. Steingrimsson, J. T6masson and L. Kristjannsson, 1979. The Iceland Crust: Evidence from drillhole data on structure and processes, in Deep Drilling Results in Atlantic Ocean, Ocean Crust. (Ed. by Talvani, M., C.G. Harrison and D.E. Hayes) Maurice Ewing Series, 2, AGU, Washington, D.C.: 43 - 65.
Pearce, J.S. and J.R. Cann. 1973. Tectonic setting of basic volcanic rocks determined using trace element analysis. Earth Planet. Sci. Letters. 19: 290-300.
Sakai, H., E. Gunnlaugsson, J. Tdmasson and J.E. Rouse, 1980. Sulfur isotope systematics in Icelandic geothermal systems and influence of seawater circulation at Reykjanes. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. 44: 1223-1231.
Spooner, E.T.C. and W.S. Fyfe, 1973. Sub-sea floor metamorphism, heat and mass transfer. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 42: 287-304.
Smmundsson, K., 1979. Outline of the geology of Iceland. Jökull, 29: 7 - 29
Tómasson, J. and H. Kristmannsdôttir, 1972. High temperature alteration minerals and geothermal brine, Reykjanes, Iceland. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 36: 123-134.
Turekian, K.K., 1969. The Oceans, streams and athmosphere. Ch 10 in Handbook of Geochemistry. Vol 1, Wedepohl K.H. ed. Springer -Verlag, Berlin: 297 - 323.
Wolery, T.J. and N.S. Sleep, 1976. Hydrothermal circulation and geochemical flux at Mid-Ocean Ridges. J.Geology. 84: 249-275.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1983 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kristmannsdóttir, H. (1983). Chemical Evidence from Icelandic Geothermal Systems as Compared to Submarine Geothermal Systems. In: Rona, P.A., Boström, K., Laubier, L., Smith, K.L. (eds) Hydrothermal Processes at Seafloor Spreading Centers. NATO Conference Series, vol 12. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0402-7_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0402-7_13
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0404-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0402-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive