Noble gas and carbon isotopes in Mariana Trough basalt glasses

Noble gas elemental and isotopic compositions have been measured as well as the abundance of C and its isotopic ratios in 11 glasses from submarine pillow basalts collected from the Mariana Trough. The ³He/⁴He ratios of 8.22 and 8.51 R_atm of samples dredged from the central Mariana Trough (∼18°N) agree well with that of the Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB) glasses (8.4±0.3 R_atm), whereas a mean ratio of 8.06±0.35 R_atm in samples from the northern Mariana Trough (∼20°N) is slightly lower than those of MORB. One sample shows apparent excess of ²⁰Ne and ²¹Ne relative to atmospheric Ne, suggesting incorporation of solar-type Ne in the magma source. There is a positive correlation between ³He/⁴He and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios, which may be explained by mixing between MORB-type and atmospheric noble gases. Excess ¹²⁹Xe is observed in the sample which also shows ²⁰Ne and ²¹Ne excesses. Observed δ¹³C values of ∼20°N samples vary from −3.76‰ to −2.80‰, and appear higher than those of MORB, and the corresponding CO₂/³He ratios are higher than those of MARA samples at ∼18°N, suggesting C contribution from the subducted slab.     

He,Ne and Ar composition in a neutron activated sea-floor basalt glass

We have measured the composition of He, Ne and Ar in the glassy rim of a fresh oceanic basalt from the East Pacific Rise. Three splits of the sample were subjected to neutron irradiation prior to analysis to investigate the noble gas release as a function of different neutron doses. The shapes of the observed ³⁹Ar-⁴⁰Ar degassing profiles depend critically on the irradiation dose due to a severe redistribution of excess ⁴⁰Ar. This shows that the application of the ³⁹Ar-⁴⁰Ar method for dating of glassy samples requires the utmost care.Including the He and Ne results from the irradiated specimens, it was possible to determine the concentrations of Li and Mg and to estimate upper limits for Na and F in addition to the concentrations of K, Ca and Cl which are measured routinely as a byproduct of the ³⁹Ar-⁴⁰Ar dating method. This provides a useful extension of the ³⁹Ar-⁴⁰Ar technique since it may help to identify the outgassing sites during stepwise heating experiments. Furthermore it allows one to study the diffusion behavior of He and Ne isotopes artificially produced during irradiation. In our samples the activation energies of ³He and ²¹Ne tend to increase with growing neutron doses.     

Noble gas tracing of groundwater/coalbed methane interaction in the San Juan Basin, USA

The San Juan Basin natural gas field, located in northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado in the USA, is a case-type coalbed methane system. Groundwater is thought to play a key role in both biogenic methane generation and the CO₂ sequestration potential of coalbed systems. We show here how noble gases can be used to construct a physical model that describes the interaction between the groundwater system and the produced gas. We collected 28 gas samples from producing wells in the artesian overpressured high production region of the basin together with 8 gas samples from the underpressured low production zone as a control. Stable isotope and major species determination clearly characterize the gas in the high production region as dominantly biogenic in origin, and the underpressured low producing region as having a significant admix of thermogenic coal gas. ³He/⁴He ratios increase from 0.0836R_a at the basin margin to 0.318R_a towards the center, indicating a clear but small mantle He signature in all gases. Coherent fractionation of water-derived ²⁰Ne/³⁶Ar and crustal ⁴He/⁴⁰Ar* are explained by a simple Rayleigh fractionation model of open system groundwater degassing. Low ²⁰Ne concentrations compared to the model predicted values are accounted for by dilution of the groundwater-associated gas by desorbed coalbed methane. This Rayleigh fractionation and dilution model together with the gas production history allows us to quantify the amount of water involved in gas production at each well. The quantified water volumes in both underpressured and overpressured zones range from 1.7 × 10³ m³ to 4.2 × 10⁵ m³, with no clear distinction between over- and underpressured production zones. These results conclusively show that the volume of groundwater seen by coal does not play a role in determining the volume of methane produced by secondary biodegradation of these coalbeds. There is no requirement of continuous groundwater flow for renewing the microbes or nutrient components. We furthermore observe strong mass related isotopic fractionation of ²⁰Ne/²²Ne and ³⁸Ar/³⁶Ar isotopic ratios. This can be explained by a noble gas concentration gradient in the groundwater during gas production, which causes diffusive partial re-equilibration of the noble gas isotopes. It is important for the study of other systems in which extensive groundwater degassing may have occurred to recognize that severe isotopic fractionation of air-derived noble gases can occur when such concentration gradients are established during gas production. Excess air-derived Xe and Kr in our samples are shown to be related to the diluting coalbed methane and can only be accounted for if Xe and Kr are preferentially and volumetrically trapped within the coal matrix and released during biodegradation to form CH₄.     

He,Ne and Ar in chondritic NiFe as irradiation hardness sensors

Noble gas analyses of the Ni-Fe of 9 L, 5 H and 2 LL chondrites quantitatively support previous suggestions of radiogenic ⁴He recoil and ³He deficits. Furthermore, noble gases in the Ni-Fe show evidence for in situ produced radiogenic ⁴He and in some cases for recoil loss of ³⁸Ar and gain of ²¹Ne.The ratio of spallogenic ²¹Ne and ³⁸Ar in the metal phase is found to correlate strongly with ³He/²¹Ne and ²²Ne/²¹Ne in bulk samples of these chondrites. This is proof of the dependence of these ratios on the irradiation hardness experienced by the meteoroid in space. ‘Hardness indices’ n = 1.9–2.2 are found, indicating that on the average the stone meteoroids from which the samples came were smaller in mass than iron meteoroids. The spallogenic ²¹Ne/³⁸Ar ratio in metallic Ni-Fe can be used with the semi-empirical production model deduced from the Grant iron meteorite to calibrate spallogenic ³He/²¹Ne and ⁴Ne/²¹Ne in bulk samples of L, LL and H chondrites for meteoroid size and sample location allowing the estimation of minimal meteoroid masses. ³He and ²¹Ne production rates calculated from previously determined ³⁶Ar/³⁸Ar exposure ages for four L chondrites indicate that they are probably not single-valued functions of the ³He/²¹Ne ratio. The ratio of ³He in bulk samples to ³⁸Ar in metal samples of the same meteorite is constant (= 20 ± 3) whereas the ratio of ²¹Ne in the bulk to ³⁸Ar in the metal varies by as much as a factor of two in correlation with ³He/²¹Ne.     

Regional groundwater focusing of nitrogen and noble gases into the Hugoton-Panhandle giant gas field, USA

The Hugoton-Panhandle giant gas field, located across SW Kansas and the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles in the USA, is the case type example of high nitrogen concentrations in a natural gas being linked with high helium concentrations. We collected 31 samples from producing wells in a north-south traverse of the 350-km-long field. The samples reflect the previously observed north-south change in ⁴He/N₂, with values changing from 0.020 to 0.049 respectively. ³He/⁴He, ²¹Ne/²²Ne, and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar vary between 0.14-0.25 Ra, 0.0373-0.0508, and 818-1156 respectively, and are caused by quantifiable contributions from mantle, crustal, and atmosphere-derived sources. The atmosphere-derived ²⁰Ne/³⁶Ar ratios are indistinguishable from groundwater values. The crustal ⁴He/²¹Ne* and ⁴He/⁴⁰Ar* ratios show a 60% excess of ⁴He compared to predicted production ratios in the crust and are typical of noble gases released from the shallow crust. The mantle ³He/N₂ and groundwater-recharge ³⁶Ar/N₂ ratios enable us to rule out significant magmatic or atmosphere contributions to the gas field N₂, which is dominantly crustal in origin.Correlated ²⁰Ne/N₂ and ⁴He/N₂ shows mixing between two distinct crustal N₂ components. One N₂ component (N₂*) is associated with the crustal ⁴He and groundwater-derived ²⁰Ne, and the other with no resolvable noble gas contribution. Measured δ¹⁵N_N2 values vary from +2.7‰ to +9.4‰. The N₂* and non-He-associated N₂ endmembers are inferred to have δ¹⁵N_N2 = −3‰ and +13‰ and contribute from between 25-60% and 75-40% of the nitrogen respectively. The non-He-associated nitrogen is probably derived from relatively mature organic matter in the sedimentary column. The δ¹⁵N_N2* value is not compatible with a crystalline or high-grade metamorphic source and, similar to the ⁴He, is inferred to be from a shallow or low metamorphic-grade source rock. ⁴He mass balance requires a regional crustal source, its association with significant magmatic ³He pointing to a tectonically active source to the west of the Hugoton system. The volume of groundwater required to source the ²⁰Ne in the gas field demonstrates the viability of the groundwater system in providing the collection, transport, and focusing mechanism for the ⁴He and N₂*. The N₂*/²⁰Ne ratio shows that the N₂* transport must be in the aqueous phase, and that the degassing mechanism is probably contact between the regional groundwater system and the preexisting reservoir hydrocarbon gas phase.     

Age structure and recharge conditions of a coastal aquifer (northern Germany) investigated with 39Ar, 14C, 3H, He isotopes and Ne

A tide-influenced two-layer aquifer system in northern Germany was investigated using environmental dating tracers (³H, ³⁹Ar, ¹⁴C), the noble gas isotopes ³He, ⁴He and Ne. The study area is a marshland at the River Ems estuary, exposed to regular flooding until?AD 1000. The construction of dykes, artificial land drainage and groundwater abstraction define the hydraulic gradient. The aquifer depicts a pronounced age stratification with depth. Tritium concentrations above 0.03 TU are found only in the top 30?m. Two tritium-free samples between 20 and 30?m depth show ³⁹Ar ages of 130 and 250?years. Below a clay layer?Cabout 50?m below surface level (mbsl)?Call analysed samples are ³⁹Ar free and, thus, older than 900?years. The initial ¹⁴C activities were about 70 pmC. Resulting ¹⁴C ages increase with depth and increase up to 9,000?years, in agreement with minimal ³⁹Ar ages. Concentrations of radiogenic ⁴He correlate with ¹⁴C ages. Samples in a mid-depth range (20?C70 mbsl) show significant gas loss. The gas loss is assigned to recharge in a methane producing environment. Deduced ⁴He ages were used to assign this water to a infiltration period of about AD 1000.     

Noble gas study of HIMU and EM ocean island basalts in the Polynesian region

Noble gas isotopes of HIMU and EM ocean island basalts from the Cook-Austral and Society Islands were investigated to constrain their origins. Separated olivine and clinopyroxene (cpx) phenocrysts were used for noble gas analyses. Since samples are relatively old, obtained from the oceanic area and showing chemical zoning in cpx phenocrysts, several tests on sample preparation and gas extraction methods were performed. First, by comparing heating and crushing methods, it has been confirmed that the crushing method is suitable to obtain inherent magmatic noble gases without radiogenic and cosmogenic components which were yielded after eruption, especially for He and Ne analyses. Second, noble gas compositions in the core and the rim of cpx phenocrysts were measured to evaluate the zoning effect on noble gases. The result has been that noble gas concentrations and He and Ne isotope ratios are different between them. The enrichment of noble gases in the rim compared to the core is probably due to fractional crystallization. Difference of He and Ne isotope ratios is explained by cosmogenic effect, and isotope ratios of the trapped component seem to be similar between the rim and the core. Third, leaching test reveals no systematic differences in noble gas compositions between leached and unleached samples.³He/⁴He ratios of HIMU samples in the Cook-Austral Islands are uniform irrespective of phenocryst type (olivine and cpx) and age of samples (10–18 Ma), and lower (average 6.8 R_A) than those of the Pacific MORB. On the other hand, ³He/⁴He of EM samples in the Cook-Austral Islands are similar to MORB values. EM samples in the Society Islands show rather higher ³He/⁴He than MORB. Ne, Kr and Xe isotope ratios are almost atmospheric within analytical uncertainties. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar are not so high as those of MORB. Anomalous noble gas abundance pattern such as He and Ne depletion and Kr and Xe enrichment relative to atmospheric abundances was observed. Furthermore, Ne/Ar and Kr/Ar show correlation with some trace elemental ratios like La/Yb.Lower ³He/⁴He of HIMU than MORB values requires relatively high time-integrated (U + Th)/³He for the HIMU source, which suggests that the HIMU source was produced from recycled materials which had been once located near the Earth’s surface. Moreover, extreme noble gas abundance pattern and strong correlation of Ne/Ar and Kr/Ar with La/Yb indicate that the HIMU endmember is highly depleted in light noble gases and enriched in heavy noble gases. Such feature is not common to mantle materials and is rather similar to the noble gas abundance patterns of the old oceanic crust and sediment, which supports the model that the HIMU source originates from subducted oceanic crust and/or sediment.If the HIMU source corresponds to the oceanic crust which subducted at 1–2 Ga as suggested by Pb isotope studies, however, the characteristic ³He/⁴He of HIMU (6.8 R_A) would be too high because radiogenic ⁴He produced by U and Th decay should dramatically decrease ³He/⁴He. To overcome this problem, the He open system model is introduced which includes the effects of ⁴He production and diffusion between the HIMU source material and the surrounding mantle. This model favors that the HIMU source resides in the upper mantle, rather than in the lower mantle. Furthermore, this model predicts the thickness of the HIMU source to be in the order of 1 km.In contrast to low and uniform ³He/⁴He character of HIMU, ³He/⁴He of EM are rather variable. Entrainment of upper mantle material and/or a less-degassed component are required to explain the observed ³He/⁴He of EM in the Polynesian area. Participation of the less-degassed component would be related to the “superplume” below the Polynesian region.     

Intercomparison of tritium and noble gases analyses, 3H/3He ages and derived parameters excess air and recharge temperature

Groundwater age dating with the tritium–helium (³H/³He) method has become a powerful tool for hydrogeologists. The uncertainty of the apparent ³H/³He age depends on the analytical precision of the ³H measurement and the uncertainty of the tritiogenic ³He component. The goal of this study, as part of the groundwater age-dating interlaboratory comparison exercise, was to quantify the analytical uncertainty of the ³H and noble gas measurements and to assess whether they meet the requirements for ³H/³He dating and noble gas paleotemperature reconstruction.Samples for the groundwater dating intercomparison exercise were collected on 1 February, 2012, from three previously studied wells in the Paris Basin (France). Fourteen laboratories participated in the intercomparison for tritium analyses and ten laboratories participated in the noble gas intercomparison. Not all laboratories analyzed samples from every borehole.The reproducibility of the tritium measurements was 13.5%. The reproducibility of the ³He/⁴He ratio and ⁴He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe concentrations was 1.4%, 1.8%, 1.5%, 2.2%, 2.9%, and 2.4% respectively.The uncertainty of the tritium and noble gas measurements results in a typical ³H/³He age precision of better than 2.5 years in this case. However, the measurement uncertainties for the noble gas concentrations are insufficient to distinguish the appropriate excess air model if the measured helium concentration is not included. While the analytical uncertainty introduces an unavoidable source of uncertainty in the ³H/³He apparent age estimate, other sources of uncertainty are often much greater and less well defined than the analytical uncertainty.     

Apparent decoupling of the He and Ne isotope systematics of the Icelandic mantle: The role of He depletion, melt mixing, degassing fractionation and air interaction

We present new He-Ne data for geothermal fluids and He-Ne-Ar data for basalts from throughout the Icelandic neovolcanic zones and older parts of the Icelandic crust. Geothermal fluids, subglacial glasses, and mafic phenocrysts are characterized by a wide range in helium isotope ratios (³He/⁴He) encompassing typical MORB-like ratios through values as high as 36.8 R_A (where R_A = air ³He/⁴He). Although neon in geothermal fluids is dominated by an atmospheric component, samples from the northwest peninsula show a small excess of nucleogenic ²¹Ne, likely produced in-situ and released to circulating fluids. In contrast, geothermal fluids from the neovolcanic zones show evidence of a contribution of mantle-derived neon, as indicated by ²⁰Ne enrichments up to 3% compared to air. The neon isotope composition of subglacial glasses reveals that mantle neon is derived from both depleted MORB-mantle and a primordial, ‘solar’ mantle component. However, binary mixing between these two endmembers can account for the He-Ne isotope characteristics of the basalts only if the ³He/²²Ne ratio of the primordial mantle endmember is lower than in the MORB component. Indeed, the helium to neon elemental ratios (⁴He/²¹Ne∗ and ³He/²²Ne_s where ²¹Ne∗ = nucleogenic ²¹Ne and ²²Ne_s = ‘solar’-derived ²²Ne) of the majority of Icelandic subglacial glasses are lower than theoretical values for Earth’s mantle, as observed previously for other OIB samples. Helium may be depleted relative to neon in high-³He/⁴He ratio parental melts due to either more compatible behavior during low-degree partial melting or more extensive diffusive loss relative to the heavier noble gases. However, Icelandic glasses show higher ⁴He/⁴⁰Ar∗ (⁴⁰Ar∗ = radiogenic Ar) values for a given ⁴He/²¹Ne∗ value compared to the majority of other OIB samples: this observation is consistent with extensive open-system equilibrium degassing, likely promoted by lower confining pressures during subglacial eruptions of Icelandic lavas. Taken together, the He-Ne-Ar systematics of Icelandic subglacial glasses are imprinted with the overlapping effects of helium depletion in the high-³He/⁴He ratio parental melt, binary mixing of two distinct mantle components, degassing fractionation and interaction with atmospheric noble gases. However, it is still possible to discern differences in the noble gas characteristics of the Icelandic mantle source beneath the neovolcanic zones, with MORB-like He-Ne isotope features prevalent in the Northern Rift Zone and a sharp transition to more primitive ‘solar-like’ characteristics in central and southern Iceland.     

The noble gas geochemistry of natural CO2 gas reservoirs from the Colorado Plateau and Rocky Mountain provinces, USA

Identification of the source of CO₂ in natural reservoirs and development of physical models to account for the migration and interaction of this CO₂ with the groundwater is essential for developing a quantitative understanding of the long term storage potential of CO₂ in the subsurface. We present the results of 57 noble gas determinations in CO₂ rich fields (>82%) from three natural reservoirs to the east of the Colorado Plateau uplift province, USA (Bravo Dome, NM., Sheep Mountain, CO. and McCallum Dome, CO.), and from two reservoirs from within the uplift area (St. John’s Dome, AZ., and McElmo Dome, CO.). We demonstrate that all fields have CO₂/³He ratios consistent with a dominantly magmatic source. The most recent volcanics in the province date from 8 to 10 ka and are associated with the Bravo Dome field. The oldest magmatic activity dates from 42 to 70 Ma and is associated with the McElmo Dome field, located in the tectonically stable centre of the Colorado Plateau: CO₂ can be stored within the subsurface on a millennia timescale.The manner and extent of contact of the CO₂ phase with the groundwater system is a critical parameter in using these systems as natural analogues for geological storage of anthropogenic CO₂. We show that coherent fractionation of groundwater ²⁰Ne/³⁶Ar with crustal radiogenic noble gases (⁴He, ²¹Ne, ⁴⁰Ar) is explained by a two stage re-dissolution model: Stage 1: Magmatic CO₂ injection into the groundwater system strips dissolved air-derived noble gases (ASW) and accumulated crustal/radiogenic noble gas by CO₂/water phase partitioning. The CO₂ containing the groundwater stripped gases provides the first reservoir fluid charge. Subsequent charges of CO₂ provide no more ASW or crustal noble gases, and serve only to dilute the original ASW and crustal noble gas rich CO₂. Reservoir scale preservation of concentration gradients in ASW-derived noble gases thus provide CO₂ filling direction. This is seen in the Bravo Dome and St. John’s Dome fields. Stage 2: The noble gases re-dissolve into any available gas stripped groundwater. This is modeled as a Rayleigh distillation process and enables us to quantify for each sample: (1) the volume of groundwater originally ‘stripped’ on reservoir filling; and (2) the volume of groundwater involved in subsequent interaction. The original water volume that is gas stripped varies from as low as 0.0005 cm³ groundwater/cm³ gas (STP) in one Bravo Dome sample, to 2.56 cm³ groundwater/cm³ gas (STP) in a St. John’s Dome sample. Subsequent gas/groundwater equilibration varies within all fields, each showing a similar range, from zero to ∼100 cm³ water/cm³ gas (at reservoir pressure and temperature).     

On the calculation of cosmic-ray exposure ages of stone meteorites

Abundances of cosmic ray-produced noble gases and ²⁶Al, including some new measurements, have been compiled for some 23 stone meteorites with exposure ages of < 3 × 10⁶ yr. Concentrations of cosmogenic He, Ne, and Ar in these meteorites have been corrected for differences in target element abundances by normalization to L-chondrite chemistry. Combined noble gas measurements in depth samples of the Keyes and St. Séverin chondrites are utilized to derive equations for normalizing the production rates of cosmogenic ³He, ²¹Ne, and ³⁸Ar in chondrites to an adopted ‘average’ shielding: ${}^{22}\text{Ne}{}^{21}\text{Ne}\text{= 1.114.}$ The measured unsaturated ²⁶Al concentrations and the calculated equilibrium ²⁶Al for these meteorites are combined to estimate exposure ages. These exposure ages are statistically compared with chemistry- and shielding-corrected concentrations of cosmogenic He, Ne, and Ar to derive absolute production rates for these nuclides. For L-chondrites, at ‘average’ shielding, these production rates (in 10^?8 cm³/g 10⁶ yr) are: ³He = 2.45,²¹Ne = 0.47, and ³⁸Ar = 0.069, which are ~ 25% higher than production rates used in the past. From these production rates and relative chemical correction factors, production rates for other classes of stone meteorites are derived.     

Solubility controlled noble gas fractionation during magmatic degassing: Implications for noble gas compositions of primary melts of OIB and MORB

Noble gas abundances in basaltic glasses from ocean islands (OIBs) are generally lower than those of mid-oceanic ridge basalts (MORBs), contrary to most geodynamic models which usually require that the source of OIBs is less degassed (resulting in higher primordial noble gas abundances) and more trace element enriched (resulting in higher radiogenic noble gas abundances) than the MORB source. Therefore, noble gas abundances in OIBs are often thought to have been reduced by extensive gas loss from the magma before eruption.The extent of magmatic degassing can be tested as it will cause characteristic changes in the composition of the volatiles; notably the ⁴He/⁴⁰Ar* ratio (where ⁴⁰Ar* is ⁴⁰Ar corrected for atmospheric contamination) will increase in residual volatiles due to the higher solubility of He relative to Ar. The degree of He-Ar fractionation for a given fraction of gas loss depends on the ratio of the solubilities, S_He/S_Ar, which is sensitive to (among other things) the CO₂ and H₂O content of the basalt at the time of degassing.From a global database of OIB and MORB glasses, we show that ⁴He/⁴⁰Ar* ratios of MORB glasses are broadly consistent with degassing of a magma with an initial ⁴⁰Ar of ≈1.5 × 10⁻⁵ ccSTP/g, i.e., similar to that of the “popping rock.” However, OIB glasses generally have lower ⁴⁰Ar* concentration for a given ⁴He/⁴⁰Ar*. While this would appear to require lower ⁴⁰Ar* abundances in the undegassed OIB magmas, the higher volatile contents of OIBs will reduce S_He/S_Ar (relative to MORBs) during degassing. By modeling S_He/S_Ar in OIBs, it is possible to show that extensive degassing of OIBs can occur without dramatically increasing the ⁴He/⁴⁰Ar* ratio. We show that undegassed ⁴⁰Ar concentrations of OIB magmas were probably similar to those of MORBs.     

The tritium-helium-3 method and its application to groundwater dating by the example of the Kirovsk mine region,Murmansk oblast

The measurement of ³H, ³He, ⁴He, and ²⁰Ne concentrations in waters at the Tsentralny pumping station (southern Khibiny massif, Kola Peninsula) showed that they are a mixture of young (>90%) and old (<10%) waters. The excess noble gas component from the young water is caused by the dissolution of air bubbles trapped during recharge in the unsaturated zone. The ³H-³He(³H) age of the young water is 21 ± 1.5 yr. The U-Th-4He age of the old water is about 50 ka. The high concentrations of helium and some toxic elements (e.g., aluminum) in this old water are caused by dissolution of the alkaline rocks of the Khibiny massif as a result of water-rock interaction.     

Noble gases,nitrogen and cosmic ray exposure age of the Sulagiri chondrite

The Sulagiri meteorite fell in India on 12 September 2008,LL6 chondrite class is the largest among all the Indian meteorites.Isotopic compositions of noble gases(He,Ne,Ar,Kr and Xe) and nitrogen in the Sulagiri meteorite and cosmic ray exposure history are discussed.Low cosmogenic(~(22)Ne/~(21)Ne)_c ratio is consistent with irradiation in a large body.Cosmogenic noble gases indicate that Sulagiri has a 4πcosmic-ray exposure(CRE) age of 27.9 ± 3.4 Ma and is a member of the peak of CRE age distribution of IX chondrites.Radiogenic ~4He and ~(40)Ar concentrations in Sulagiri yields the radiogenic ages as 2.29 and4.56 Ca,indicating the loss of He from the meteorite.Xenon and krypton are mixture of Q and spallogenic components.     

Sources, degassing, and contamination of CO2, H2O, He, Ne, and Ar in basaltic glasses from Kolbeinsey Ridge, North Atlantic

New volatile data (CO₂, H₂O, He, Ne, and Ar) are presented for 24 submarine basaltic glasses from the Kolbeinsey Ridge, Tjörnes Fracture Zone and Mohns Ridge, North Atlantic. Low CO₂ and He contents indicate that magmas were strongly outgassed with the extent of degassing increasing toward the south, as expected from shallower ridge depths. Ne and Ar are significantly more abundant in the southernmost glasses than predicted for degassed melt. The strong atmospheric isotopic signal associated with this excess Ne and Ar suggests syn- or posteruptive contamination by air. Degassing, by itself, cannot generate the large variations in δ¹³C values of dissolved CO₂ or coupled CO₂-Ar variations. This suggests that δ¹³C values were also affected by some other processes, most probably melt-crust interaction. Modelling indicates that degassing had a negligible influence on water owing to its higher solubility in basaltic melt than the other volatiles. Low H₂O contents in the glasses reflect melting of a mantle source that is not water-rich relative to the source of N-MORB.Before eruption, Kolbeinsey Ridge melts contained ∼400 ppm CO₂ with δ¹³C of −6‰, 0.1 to 0.35 wt.% H₂O, ³He/⁴He ∼11 R_A, and CO₂/³He of ∼2 × 10⁹. We model restored volatile characteristics and find homogeneous compositions in the source of Kolbeinsey Ridge magmas. Relative to the MORB-source, He and Ne are mildly fractionated while the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar may be low. The ³He/⁴He ratios in Tjörnes Fracture Zone glasses are slightly higher (13.6 R_A) than on Kolbeinsey Ridge, suggesting a greater contribution of Icelandic mantle from the south, but the lack of ³He/⁴He variation along the Kolbeinsey Ridge is inconsistent with active dispersal of Icelandic mantle beyond the Tjörnes Fracture Zone.     

Noble-gas evidence for geothermal activity in a karstic terrain: Rocky Mountains,Canada.

Geothermally heated fluids are identified as a component in warm (up to 54°C) springs in the southern Canadian Rocky Mountains. High concentrations of radiogenic He (10^?3 ccSTP/cc gas) and atmospheric Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe in the gases that vigorously bubble at the Fairmont Hot Spring, assign the latter to be a “drowned” fumarole, fed by geothermal steam. Up to 75% depletions in the atmospheric noble gases in several warm springs indicate contributions of residual geothermal water. On the other hand, in a few cases noble gases were found in excess (W) over the expected concentrations in airequilibrated recharge water. The observed “reversed” pattern of w_nc >W_Ar >W_kr >W_xe is interpreted as excess air, incorporated during recharge through karstic conduits. The mixing ratios of geothermal and karstic waters can be deduced.     

Noble gas evidence for two fluids in the Baca (Valles Caldera) geothermal reservoir

Noble gas elemental and isotopic abundances were measured in steam from four wells in the Baca geothermal reservoir located in the Valles Caldera, New Mexico. The ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{36}\text{Ar}$ ratio and noble gas elemental abundances relative to ³⁶Ar are all strongly correlated with 1/³⁶Ar, the inverse of the argon content. Ratios of (α,n)-produced ²¹Ne1 and radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar1 to total ⁴He (dominantly radiogenic) are nearly constant at 2.1 × 10?8 and 0.20, respectively. The ${}^3\text{He}{}^4\text{He}$ ratio covers a restricted range of 3.9 to 4.8 times atmospheric. The high ³He content of the gas indicates the presence of a helium component ultimately derived from the mantle. Kr and Xe isotopic compositions are close to atmospheric; excess ¹²⁹Xe1 is <0.25% of the total ¹²⁹Xe.The high degree of linear correlation among the various noble gas results strongly suggests that the Baca reservoir contains two distinct fluids that are produced in varying proportions from individual wells. The noble gases in fluid A (~2900 mg/1 C1) are air-like, but with lighter gases and isotopes preferentially enriched. The fluid A ³⁶Ar content is low, only 13% that of 10°C air-saturated water (ASW). The second fluid, B (~ 1700 mg/1 C1), is the dominant carrier of the radiogenic and mantle-derived gases. The heavier non-radiogenic gases are preferentially enriched in fluid B, and its ³⁶Ar content is very low, only 5–7% ASW. The source of the noble gases in fluid A is tentatively ascribed to leaching of the relatively young (<1.4 m.y.) volcanic Bandelier Tuff. The radiogenic gases and mantle-derived helium in fluid B suggest a deeper source, possibly including gases escaping from a magma.     

Solubilities of noble gases in magnetite: implications for planetary gases in meteorites

Solubilities of noble gases in magnetite were determined by growing magnetite in a noble-gas atmosphere between 450 and 700°K. Henry's law is obeyed at pressures up to 10^?2 atm for He, Ne, Ar and up to 10^?5 atm for Kr, Xe, with the following distribution coefficients at 500° (cc STP g^?1 atm^?5): He 0.042, Ne 0.016, Ar 3.6, Kr 1.3, Xe 0.88, some 10²–10⁵ times higher than previous determinations on silicate and fluoride melts. Apparent heats of solution in kcal/mole are: He ?2.42 ±0.12, Ne ?2.20 ±0.10, Ar ?15.25 ±0.25, Kr ?13.0 ±0.3, Xe ?12-5 ± 0.5. These values, too, stand in sharp contrast with earlier determinations on melts which were small and positive, but are comparable to the values for clathrates. Presumably the gases are held in anion vacancies.Extrapolation of the magnetite data to the formation temperature of C1 chondrites, 360°K, shows that the Ar_p³⁶ content of Orgueil magnetite could be acquired by equilibrium solubility at a total nebular pressure of 4 × 10^?6 atm. In the absence of data for silicates (the principal host phase of planetary gas), an attempt is made to estimate the solubilities required to account for planetary gases in meteorites. These values do not appear grossly unreasonable in the light of the magnetite data, when structural differences between the two minerals are taken into account. It seems that equilibrium solubility may be able to account for four features of planetary gas: elemental ratios, amounts, correlations with other volatiles and retentive siting. It cannot account for the isotopic fractionation of planetary gas, however.     

Intensive sampling of noble gases in fluids at Yellowstone: I. Early overview of the data; regional patterns

The Roving Automated Rare Gas Analysis (RARGA) lab of Berkeley's Physics Department was deployed in Yellowstone National Park for a 19 week period commencing in June, 1983. During this time 66 gas and water samples representing 19 different regions of hydrothermal activity within and around the Yellowstone caldera were analyzed on site. Routinely, the abundances of five stable noble gases and the isotopic compositions of He, Ne, and Ar were determined for each sample. In a few cases the isotopes of Kr and Xe were also determined and found to be of normal atmospheric constitution.Correlated variations in the isotopic compositions of He and Ar can be explained within the precision of the measurements by mixing of only three distinct components. The first component is of magmatic origin and is enriched in the primordial isotope ³He with ${}^3\text{He}{}^4\text{He}\text{≥ 16}$ times the air value. This component also contains radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar and possible ³⁶Ar with ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{36}\text{Ar}\text{≥ 500}$, resulting in a ${}^3\text{He}{}^{36}\text{Ar}$ ratio ≥ 41,000 times the air value. The second component is assumed to be purely radiogenic ⁴He and ⁴⁰Ar (${}^{41}\text{He}{}^{401}\text{Ar}\text{= 4.08 ± .33}$). This component is the probable carrier of observed excesses of ²¹¹Ne, attributed to the α,n reaction on ¹⁸O. Its radiogenic character implies a crustal origin in U. Th, and Krich aquifer rocks. The third component, except for possible mass fractionation, is isotopically indistinguishable from the noble gases in the atmosphere. This component originates largely from infiltrating run-off water saturated with atmospheric gases.In addition to exhibiting nucleogenic ²¹¹Ne, Ne data show anomalies in the ratio ${}^{20}\text{Ne}{}^{20}\text{Ne}$, which correlate roughly with the ${}^{21}\text{Ne}{}^{22}\text{Ne}$ anomalies for the most part, but not as would occur from simple mass fractionation. Some exaggerated instances of the ${}^{20}\text{Ne}{}^{22}\text{Ne}$ anomaly occur which could be explained by combined mass fractionation of Ne and Ar isotopes to a severe degree coupled with remixing with normally isotopic gases. Otherwise exotic processes have to be invoked to explain the ²⁰Ne data.Relative abundances of the non-radiogenic and non-nucleogenic noble gases (²²Ne, ³⁶Ar, ⁸⁴Kr, and ¹³²Xe) are highly variable but strongly correlated. High Xe/Ar ratios are always accompanied by low Ne/ Ar ratios and vice versa. Except for water from the few cold (T < 20°C) springs analyzed, none of the samples have relative abundances consistent with air saturated water and the observed variations are not readily explained by the distillation of air saturated water.In characterizing each area of hydrothermal activity by the highest ${}^3\text{He}{}^4\text{He}$ ratio found for that area, we find that within the caldera this parameter is somewhat uniform at ~7 ± 1 times the air value. There are exceptions, most notably at Mud Volcano, an area located along a crest of recent and rapid uplift. Here the maximum ${}^3\text{He}{}^4\text{He}$ ratio is ~ 16 times the air value. Also noteworthy is Gibbon Basin which is in the vicinity of the most recent rhyolitic volcanism and exhibits a ${}^3\text{He}{}^4\text{He}$ ratio ~ 13 times the air value. Immediately outside the caldera the maximum $\text{sol}{}^3\text{He}{}^4\text{He}$ ratio decreases rapidly to values < ~3 times the air value.     

Dynamic changes in hydrogeochemical conditions caused by tunnel excavation at the Aspo Hard Rock Laboratory (HRL), Sweden

Hydraulic changes caused by tunneling at the Aspo Hard Rock Laboratory (HRL) in Sweden have been investigated over a period of 2a using different hydrochemical approaches, i.e. noble gas content, isotopic measurements and major ion concentrations. The dissolved noble gases (⁴He and Ne contents, and the ratio of ³He/⁴He, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar), stable isotopes, chemical concentrations of major ions, and ³⁶Cl/Cl ratios, were determined in groundwater samples collected in the tunnel from borehole sections isolated by inflated packers. Groundwater was categorized into 3 groups based on ⁴He and Cl⁻ contents: undisturbed groundwater (i.e. prior to tunnel construction) with high ⁴He and Cl⁻ contents, groundwater that has been gradually changed by mixing with Baltic seawater and whose ⁴He and Cl⁻ contents have gradually increased with increasing depth, and groundwater that has been totally changed due to a rapid mixing of Baltic seawater and/or shallow groundwater and whose ⁴He and Cl⁻ contents are extremely low compared with other samples collected at the same surrounding depth. The oldest groundwater with a high salinity of more than 14,000 mg l⁻¹ of Cl⁻ is estimated to be more than 1.8 Ma old. The groundwater residence time ranges from 0.9 to 900 Ka in the mixing-zone. Groundwater in the disturbed zone where rapid mixing has occurred is hard to date reliably and its primary hydrochemical character has already been lost.