He-CO2-N2 isotope and relative abundance characterization of geothermal fluids from the Ethiopian Rift

S. A. Halldorsson; P. Scarsi; T. Abebe; T. Evans; Justin T. Kulongoski; P. R. Castillo; P. H. Barry

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USGS · 70240818

He-CO2-N2 isotope and relative abundance characterization of geothermal fluids from the Ethiopian Rift

S. A. Halldorsson·P. Scarsi·T. Abebe·T. Evans·Justin T. Kulongoski·P. R. Castillo·P. H. Barry

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Abstract

We report He-CO 2 -N 2 isotopic and relative abundances in free gases and dissolved gas phase of geothermal fluids from the Ethiopian Rift. Fluid samples were collected from ~30 geothermal localities from three key regions throughout rifted and non-rifted areas of Ethiopia. The majority of samples, including off-rift samples, indicate a strong contribution of mantle-derived He-C-N to the fluid samples. Helium ( 3 He/ 4 He) and δ15N-(N 2 ) isotope anomalies are highest (> 15.9RA and > +5.0‰, respectively) at a single locality in south Afar (Sodere), but the maximum δ13C-(CO 2 ) (-0.78‰) is found east of Lake Shalla in the Lake District of the Main Ethiopian Rift. High 3 He/ 4 He values, consistent with mantle plume contributions, are also evident in fluids from the Lake District, where fluids from the Lake Shalla site extend up to 15.5RA. CO 2 / 3 He values span over four orders of magnitude while δ13C-(CO 2 ) values cluster mostly between mantle-like values of -4 and -7‰; only samples east of Lake Shalla display more positive values. Atmospheric-derived nitrogen has likely influenced a number of measured δ15N-(N 2 ) values but following a correction for atmospheric-contamination, the majority of samples reveal positive values (up to 6.5‰) which appear to be coupled to high 3 He/ 4 He values. In regions affected by upwelling mantle plumes, such high values have been interpreted to reflect deep mantle inputs of recycled nitrogen.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 6° to 10° latitude; 36° to 42° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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S. A. Halldorsson, P. Scarsi, T. Abebe, T. Evans, Justin T. Kulongoski, P. R. Castillo, P. H. Barry. 2020. He-CO2-N2 isotope and relative abundance characterization of geothermal fluids from the Ethiopian Rift. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70240818

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