0000000000182439

AUTHOR

Elise Fourré

Understanding volcanoes in the Vanuatu arc

We report the first helium isotope survey of volcanic gases, hot springs and some olivine phenocrysts along the Vanuatu island arc, from Tanna in the south to Vanua Lava in the north. Low CO2 content and low He-3/He-4 ratios in thermal fluids of Epi (4.0 +/- 0.1 R-a), Efate (4.5 +/- 0.1 R-a) and Pentecost (5.3 +/- 0.5 R-a) islands coherently indicate reduced mantle gas leakage and crustal contamination by radiogenic helium on these extinct volcanic systems of the former (Pliocene) arc. Instead, presently active Vanuatu volcanoes display He-3/He-4 and C/He-3 ratios typical of subduction-related volcanic arcs: He-3/He-4 ratios range from 6.4 +/- 0.5 Ra in southernmost Tanna and 7.23 +/- 0.09 …

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Helium isotope systematics of volcanic gases and thermal waters of Guadeloupe Island, Lesser Antilles

Abstract The island of Guadeloupe is located in the middle of the 850 km long Lesser Antilles island arc. Present-day volcanic and geothermal activity is concentrated in two systems both located in the southwestern part of the island (Basse Terre): the La Soufriere volcanic complex and the Bouillante hydrothermal system, some 20 km to the northwest of the volcano. We report here the largest isotopic data set for helium isotopes in hydrothermal gases and waters from both systems, acquired between 1980 and 2012. 3 He/ 4 He ratios in the fumarolic gases of La Soufriere volcano have been quite homogeneous and stable over the last thirty years. The average ratio of 8.2 ± 0.2 R a confirms that th…

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Regional variations in the chemical and helium–carbon isotope composition of geothermal fluids across Tunisia

Abstract Tunisia has numerous thermo-mineral springs. Previous studies have shown that their chemical composition and occurrence are strongly influenced by the regional geology. However little work has been done so far to study the isotopic composition of volatiles associated with these geothermal manifestations. Here, we report on the results of an extensive survey of both natural hot springs and production wells across Tunisia, aimed at investigating the spatial distribution of thermal fluids' geochemical characteristics and He–C isotopic composition. The chemistry of the analyzed samples highlights the heterogeneity of the water mineralization processes in Tunisia, as a consequence of th…

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