The rare alkalies in hydrothermal alteration at Wairakei and Broadlands,geothermal fields,N.Z. |
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| Authors: | Reiner Goguel |
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| Institution: | Chemistry Division, DSIR, Lower Hutt, New Zealand |
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| Abstract: | Drillcores and waters from Wairakei and Broadlands geothermal areas New Zealand have been analyzed for Li, Rb, Cs, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Al, Ti, Mn, and Be. The drillcores were altered to various degrees at temperatures below 300°C in slightly alkaline chloride water, probably derived from rock-water interaction in untapped horizons at higher temperature. It changes its composition as it leaches Ca and Na from the rock and adds K, Rb, Cs and Li. Evaluation of these changes in relation to the dimensions of the altered zone under observation suggests that a high mass ratio of water to rock (e.g., 100) and a period of up to 1 million years are responsible for the present stage of alteration.Increase of K and Rb in the altered rocks is a result of the formation of abundant adularia in addition to illite. The ratio of the rock decreases during alteration but remains higher than that of the fluid. Only clay materials and zeolites that preferentially absorb Rb give slightly lower ratios than the fluid.The mineral phases responsible for the uptake of lithium during alteration are chlorite (300 ppm Li) and quartz (up to 430 ppm Li). Li uptake in quartz is considered to be the mechanism by which Al-rich quartz crystallises from alumino-silicates. atomic ratios of 0.3–0.57 and Al concentrations up to 3000 ppm have been observed.Relatively small concentrations of Cs are found in potassic minerals (e.g. 10 ppm Cs in adularia, 44 ppm Cs in illite). However, 240 ppm Cs are found in wairakite from Wairakei equilibrated at 235°C. Lower equilibration temperatures may lead to higher cesium concentrations. This effect, in conjunction with a more concentrated hydrothermal fluid, could explain a content of 4500 ppm Cs in wairakite extracted from a drillcore taken in the El-Tatio geothermal field in Chile. |
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