Showing papers by "Giovanni Chiodini published in 1996"

Diffuse emission of CO 2 from the Fossa crater, Vulcano Island (Italy)

Abstract: Numerous measurements of CO2 degassing from the soil, carried out with the accumulation chamber method, indicate that in the period April–July 1995 the upper part of the Fossa cone released a total output of 200 t d–1 of CO2, which corresponds to approximately 1000 t d–1 of steam. These large amounts of fluids are of the same order of magnitude as those released by the high temperature fumarolic field located inside the crater. The spatial distribution of soil gas fluxes shows that the main structures releasing CO2 are the inner slopes of the crater and a NW–SE line, located NE of the crater rim, which correspond to the main direction of Vulcano Island active faults. The comparison of the φCO2 maps with the soil temperature distribution, derived from both direct measurements and airborne infrared images, indicates the occurrence of extensive condensation of fumarolic steam within the upper part of the Fossa cone, whose total amount is comparable to the rainfall budget. Part of the condensate which originates from this process contributes to the recharge of the phreatic aquifer of Porto Plain, modifying the chemical and isotopic composition of the groundwater.

Fluid geochemistry of Montserrat Island, West Indies

Abstract: Two geochemical surveys carried out in March 1991 and September 1992 revealed the existence of a hydrothermal system in the southern portion of Montserrat Island, below Soufriere Hills Volcano. This conclusion is supported by the presence of: (a) the thermal springs of Plymouth which are fed by deep Na–Cl waters (Cl concentration ∼25 000 mg/kg, temperature ca. 250 °C) mixed with shallow steam-heated waters; (b) the four fumarolic fields of Galway's Soufriere, Gages Upper Soufriere, Gages Lower Soufriere, and Tar River Soufriere, where acid to neutral, steam-heated waters are present together with several fumarolic vents, discharging vapors formed through boiling of hydrothermal aqueous solutions. Involvement of magmatic fluids in the recharge of the hydrothermal aquifers is suggested by: (a) the high 3He/4He ratios of fumarolic fluids, i.e., 8.2 RA at Galway's Soufriere and 5.9 RA at Gages Lower Soufriere; (b) the δD and δ18O values of Na–Cl thermal springs and steam condensates, indicating the involvement of arc-type magmatic water in the formation of deep geothermal liquids; and (c) the CH4/CO2 ratios of fumarolic fluids, which are lower than expected for equilibrium with the FeO–FeO1.5 hydrothermal rock buffer, but being shifted towards the SO2–H2S magmatic gas buffer.

Geochemistry of gases and waters discharged by the mud volcanoes at Paternò, Mt. Etna (Italy)

Abstract: Approximately 20 km south of Mt. Etna craters, at the contact between volcanic and sedimentary formations, three mud volcanoes discharge CO2-rich gases and Na–Cl brines. The compositions of gas and liquid phases indicate that they are fed by a hydrothermal system for which temperatures of 100–150 °C were estimated by means of both gas and solute geothermometry. The hydrothermal system may be associated with CO2-rich groundwaters over a large area extending from the central part of Etna to the mud volcanoes. Numerous data on the He, CH4, CO2 composition of the gases of the three manifestations, sampled over the past 5 years, indicate clearly that variations are due to separation processes of a CO2-rich gas phase from the liquid. The effects of these processes have to be taken into account in the interpretation of the monitoring data collected for the geochemical surveillance of Etna volcano.