Hydrogeochemical investigation of six geothermal sites in Honduras, Central America

Goff, Fraser; Truesdell, A.H.; Grigsby, Charles O.; Janik, C.J.; Shevenell, Lisa; Paredes, Jerónimo; Gutierrez, Jason; Trujillo,; Counce, D.

doi:10.2172/6268112

Cited by 16 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…(a) Solid black circles are for BVF gas samples, yellow circles are for spring water, and green squares are for travertine associated with the springs behind the volcanic front (BVF). Dashed lines connect BVF samples from the same springs, where 3 He/ 4 He and CO 2 / 3 He values were taken from the gas samples [ Goff et al , 1987; Kennedy et al , 1991]. (b) CO 2 / 3 He ratios less than 1 × 10 11 show mixing between a depleted upper‐mantle source and a recycled carbonate end‐member.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Low‐temperature isotopic fractionation of mantle carbon dissolved in shallow hydrothermal systems may account for the difference, since travertine deposits associated with BVF springs have consistently heavier carbon isotopic compositions than the dissolved carbon component, while the gas is consistently lighter. The δ 13 C values of the gas samples in Honduras [ Goff et al , 1987] have δ 13 C HCO3‐CO2 values of 2–3‰ and δ 13 C CaCO3‐CO2 values of −4 to −7‰. These values correspond to equilibrium temperatures between 55° and 90°C [ Bottinga , 1968], which, although somewhat lower than the actual sampling temperatures, suggest at least partial reequilibration in the shallow crust of an initially magmatic carbon signature.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… b References are as follows: 1, this study; 2, Goff and McMurtry [2000]; 3, Janik et al [1992]; 4, Kennedy et al [1991]; 5, Janik et al [1991]; 6, Goff et al [1987]. …”

Section: Sampling and Analytical Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Regional variations in volatile composition: Isotopic evidence for carbonate recycling in the Central American volcanic arc

Snyder

Poreda

Hunt

et al. 2001

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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[1] Abstract: Gas data were collected from geothermal production fields, fumaroles, and hot springs in Central America in order to investigate the relation between volatile output and spatial distribution of volcanic systems. The 3 He/ 4 He ratios are 6.5 ± 0.7 R a throughout the region, indicating that helium is predominantly of mantle origin and is largely independent of variations in the characteristics of the arc. Lower ratios produced by radiogenic production within the Chortis Block are restricted to the Berlín geothermal field and the region behind the volcanic front. Ratios of CO 2 / 3 He are inversely related to the distance between the volcanic system and the trench. In the southwestern portion of the arc, where the arc-trench gap is short and the subduction angle is shallow (Miravalles, Costa Rica), decarbonation is enhanced relative to the mantle helium flux resulting in higher CO 2 / 3 He. In the northwest, where the gap is greater and the subduction angle steeper (Ahuachapán, El Salvador), decarbonation decreases relative to the helium flux. While variations in the carbon isotopic signature have traditionally been linked to the composition of the subducted sediments, the Central American data provide evidence that other factors within the convergent plate boundary such as arc-trench gap, crustal thickness, and subduction angle play an important role in controlling the flux of CO 2 from the subducting slab. The Central American Volcanic Arc gases show no apparent contribution of carbon dioxide derived from subducted organic sediments. Shallow crustal processes, including partitioning and isotopic fractionation, account for the minor deviations from direct mixing of mantle and carbonate-derived end-members. Given that the Central American arc system is not unique in terms of the composition of the subducted sediments or the volcanic output, previous interpretations of global volcanic flux in terms of carbonate and sediment output should be reconsidered. Carbon-helium relationships in Central America require that only 0.3-3.3% of the subducted carbon is released in volcanic eruptions, while the rest is presumably reintroduced into the deeper mantle. This is generally an order of magnitude lower than global averages and is limited by the availability flux of mineral-bound water and the temperature of release. The d 13 C and CO 2 / 3 He ratios suggest that even though the amount of carbon that is released from the slab and subducted sediments is relatively low in Central America, it still makes up 86-98% of the total carbon released from arc volcanics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Regional variations in volatile composition: Isotopic evidence for carbonate recycling in the Central American volcanic arc

Snyder

Poreda

Hunt

et al. 2001

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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“…El único lugar donde se nota una contribución apreciable del 4 He, es en Berlín, donde las tasas son de 5,6 R aire (Snyder et al, 2001). Esto contrasta con los gases de las aguas termales detrás del frente volcánico en Honduras, donde la influencia de la corteza, aparentemente del bloque Chortis, resulta en tasas de helio de 0,55 a 3,08 R aire (Kennedy et al, 1991;Goff et al, 1987).…”

Section: El Helio Y El Argón En Los Sistemas Geotérmicosunclassified

Los campos geotérmicos de Centroamérica: influencia del proceso de subducción sobre su composición volátil

Snyder

Poreda

Fehn

et al. 2011

Rev. Geol. Amér. Central

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ABSTRACT:Gases from geothermal production wells in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and El Salvador were collected and analyzed for major and noble gas composition in order to determine the sources of volatiles in active Central American volcanic systems. Ratios of 3 He/ 4 He indicate that the upper mantle is the principal source of helium, with minor amounts derived from the crust in the Berlín field of El Salvador. The Miravalles field of Costa Rica is characterized by high CO 2 / 3 He ratios which are likely a product of increased devolatilization in the southwestern portion of the Cocos plate. The Momotombo field of Nicaragua shows high nitrogen and methane concentrations, both of which are likely the product of local contributions within the Nicaraguan Depression. The Central American arc is, in general, characterized by high N 2 / 3 He ratios and high 3 He/ 4 He ratios, a combination which is unusual for island arc systems. The results demonstrate that understanding the gas systematics in geothermal systems, both during initiation and during commercial production, is essential in the planning and maintenance of this important resource.Keywords: Central America, geothermal fields, volatiles, noble gases, upper mantle, geothermal production. RESUMEN:Se recolectaron gases de pozos de producción geotérmica en Costa Rica, Nicaragua y El Salvador, y se analizó su contenido de gases mayores y gases nobles, con el fin de determinar las fuentes de los volátiles dentro de los sistemas volcánicos activos de América Central. Las razones de 3 He/ 4 He indican que el manto superior es la fuente principal de helio, con cantidades menores provenientes de la corteza en el campo de Berlín en El Salvador. El campo de Miravalles en Costa Rica se caracteriza por altas relaciones de CO 2 / 3 He, las cuales probablemente son producto del aumento de devolatilización en la parte suroeste de la placa del Coco. El campo de Momotombo en Nicaragua demuestra un alto contenido de nitrógeno y metano, ambos probablemente el producto de contribuciones locales dentro de la depresión de Nicaragua. El arco volcánico de Amé-rica Central se caracteriza, por lo general, por altas razones de N 2 / 3 He y 3 He/ 4 He, una combinación poco usual para los sistemas de arco de islas. Los resultados demuestran que un buen entendimiento de la sistemática de los gases en los sistemas geotérmicos, durante su inicio y su producción comercial, es esencial para la planificación y mantenimiento de este importante recurso.

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“…En esta región, particularmente se da el afloramiento de manantiales termales. Estudios realizados en otras zonas del país describen los manantiales termales como manantiales que afloran a través de un sistema de convección hidrotermal, donde el agua meteórica se infiltra y es calentada en profundidad (Goff et al, 1987). Este estudio se concentra en la parte media de la cuenca del río Tulián (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Propiedades Hidrogeoquímicas e isotópicas del agua subterránea en la parte media de la cuenca del río Tulián, Puerto Cortés, Honduras

Contreras

Vargas

Badilla

2011

Rev. Geol. Amér. Central

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abstract:The present study identifies the hydrochemical and isotopic properties of 11 springs, including one thermal spring, in Tulian watershed, located in the city of Puerto Cortés, Cortés, Honduras. The relation between the concentrations of the environmental stable isotopes deuterium ( 2 H) and oxygen -18 ( 18 O) in the water is similar to the relation in global meteoric water, indicating that the water has a meteoric origin. Evaluation of the geochemical characteristics of the water reveals that these springs belong to the same hydrogeological system, which comprises a fractured schist and gneiss of the Esquistos Cacaguapa formation. The water of the evaluated springs is mainly Na -Ca -HCO 3 . The δ 2 H (‰) and δ 2 H contents indicate that there is no variation in the ‰ value.

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Hydrogeochemical investigation of six geothermal sites in Honduras, Central America

Cited by 16 publications

References 7 publications

Regional variations in volatile composition: Isotopic evidence for carbonate recycling in the Central American volcanic arc

Regional variations in volatile composition: Isotopic evidence for carbonate recycling in the Central American volcanic arc

Los campos geotérmicos de Centroamérica: influencia del proceso de subducción sobre su composición volátil

Propiedades Hidrogeoquímicas e isotópicas del agua subterránea en la parte media de la cuenca del río Tulián, Puerto Cortés, Honduras

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