Sulfur and Base Metal Transport in the Salton Sea Geothermal System
- Key words
- Exploration; USA; California; Imperial; Salton Sea; Chemical Analysis; Chemistry; Chloride; Geochemistry; Mineralization; Salinity; Sulfur; Water Rock Reaction; Ore Minerals; Geology; Temperature; High Temperature; Hydrothermal; H2S; Sulfate; Isotopes
- Location
- Salton Sea, California; Imperial Valley
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 1988
- Session
- Exploration; Geochemical surveys; Isotopes; Sulfur
- Language
- English
Abstract
Sulfur isotope data demonstrate that H2S in the SSGS brines is generated by partial hydrothermal reduction of SO4/2- derived from dissolution of lacrustrine sulfate minerals in the host sediments. No magmatic input of sulfur is indicated. SO4/2- reduction is promoted by interaction of the sediments with an upwelling diapir of Fe2+ rich hypersaline brine. Base metals are carried in the brines as the chloride complexes PbCl3-, ZnCl2/0, CdCl2/0, CuCl3/2- and MnCl2/0. Fe is probably carried as both FeCl3- and FeCl4- complexes. Vein sulfide precipitation within the reservoir occurs during brine dilution and oxidation at an interface between the hypersaline brines and overlying more oxidized lower salinity fluids.
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