Phase separation in seafloor geothermal systems: An experimental study of the effects on metal transport

American Journal of Science
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Abstract

Experimental investigations were carried out by reacting natural and evolved sea-water with crystalline basalt from the Juan de Fuca Ridge in order to study the effects of vapour-liquid phase separation on metal mobilization in sea-floor geothermal systems in which phase separation occurs between the top of a magma chamber (300-500 bar) and the sea-floor (230-250 bar). The geochemical processes produced by a combination of closed-system phase separation and adiabatic expansion under the conditions characterizing the sea-floor geothermal systems resulted in a significant increase in the acidity and concentration of heavy metals in the liquid phase and strikingly high concentrations of metals in the vapour.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Phase separation in seafloor geothermal systems: An experimental study of the effects on metal transport
Series title American Journal of Science
DOI 10.2475/ajs.287.10.953
Volume 287
Issue 10
Year Published 1987
Language English
Publisher American Journal of Science
Description 26 p.
First page 953
Last page 978
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