(Table 3) Geochemistry of borehole fluids of ODP Hole 137-504B

DOI

Circulation of seawater through basaltic basement for several million years after crustal emplacement has been inferred from studies of surface heat flow, and may play a significant role in the exchange of elements between the oceanic crust and seawater. Without direct observation of the fluid chemistry, interpretations regarding the extent and timing of this exchange must be based on the integrated signal of alteration found in sampled basalts. Much interest has thus been expressed in obtaining and analyzing fluids directly from basaltic formations.It has been proposed that open oceanic boreholes can be used as oceanic groundwater wells to obtain fluids that are circulating within the formation. Water samples were collected from the open borehole in Hole 504B prior to drilling operations on Leg 137, with the original intention of collecting formation fluids from the surrounding basaltic rocks. Past results have yielded ambiguous conclusions as to the origin of the fluids recovered-specifically, whether or not the fluids were true formation fluids or merely the result of reaction of seawater in the borehole environment.The chemistry of eight borehole fluid samples collected during Leg 137 is discussed in this paper. Large changes in major, minor, and isotopic compositions relative to unaltered seawater were observed in the borehole fluids. Compositional changes increased with depth in the borehole. The samples exhibit the effect of simple mixing of seawater, throughout the borehole, with a single reacted fluid component. Analysis and interpretation of the results from Leg 137 in light of past results suggest that the chemical signals observed may originate predominantly from reaction with basaltic rubble residing at the bottom of the hole during the interim between drilling legs. Although this endeavor apparently did not recover formation waters, information on the nature of reaction between seawater and basalt at the prevalent temperatures in Hole 504B (>160°C) has been gained that can be related to reconstruction of the alteration history of the oceanic crust. Isotopic analyses allow calculation of element-specific water/rock mass ratios (Li and Sr) and are related to the extent of chemical exchange between the borehole fluids and basalt.

Supplement to: Magenheim, Andrew J; Spivack, Arthur J; Alt, Jeffrey C; Bayhurst, Gregory; Chan, Lui-Heung; Zuleger, Evelyn; Gieskes, Joris M (1995): Borehole fluid chemistry in Hole 504B, Leg 137: formation water or in-situ reaction? In: Erzinger, J; Becker, K; Dick, HJB; Stokking, LB (eds.), Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), 137, 141-152

Identifier
DOI https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.805957
Related Identifier https://doi.org/10.2973/odp.proc.sr.137140.024.1995
Metadata Access https://ws.pangaea.de/oai/provider?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=datacite4&identifier=oai:pangaea.de:doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.805957
Provenance
Creator Magenheim, Andrew J; Spivack, Arthur J; Alt, Jeffrey C; Bayhurst, Gregory; Chan, Lui-Heung; Zuleger, Evelyn; Gieskes, Joris M
Publisher PANGAEA
Publication Year 1995
Rights Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
OpenAccess true
Representation
Language English
Resource Type Supplementary Dataset; Dataset
Format text/tab-separated-values
Size 318 data points
Discipline Earth System Research
Spatial Coverage (-83.730 LON, 1.227 LAT); North Pacific Ocean
Temporal Coverage Begin 1991-04-07T13:10:00Z
Temporal Coverage End 1991-04-29T01:00:00Z