Extreme isotope fractionation of hydrothermal methane due to oxidation processes in hot springs of Central Greece

The Greek territory belongs to the geodynamically active Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt. As such, it shows intense seismic activity, active volcanic systems and areas of enhanced geothermal fluxes. One of these areas is the Sperchios basin and the northern part of Evia island in central Greece, which present widespread thermal manifestations [1]. Five of them with temperatures from 33 to 80°C present bubbling gases whose dominating species are either CO2 or N2. All gases contain from 27 to 4000 ppm of CH4. The isotopic composition of CH4 in these gases covers a wide range with δ13C values ranging from -21.7 to +16.9‰ and δ2H values ranging from -124 to +301‰. The hottest manifestation displ…