Formation of Mud-Volcanic Fluids in Taman (Russia) and Kakhetia (Georgia): Evidence from Boron Isotopes

Temperatures of the formation of mud-volcanic waters are determined based on concentrations of some temperature-dependent components (Na–Li, Mg–Li). Estimates obtained for the Taman and Kakhetia regions are similar and range from 45 to 170°, which correspond to depths of 1–4.5 km. The calculated temperatures correlate with the chemical (Li, Rb, Cs, Sr, Ba, B, I, and HCO₃) composition of water and ¹³ (₂) and ¹³ (CH₄) values in spontaneous gases. The isotope values indicate that mechanisms of the formation of ¹³-rich gases, i.e., gases with high ¹³ values (up to +16.0 in ₂ and –23.4 in CH₄) in mud-volcanic systems of Taman and Kakhetia are governed by fluid-generation temperatures rather than the supply of abyssal gases. The ¹¹ value was determined for the first time in mud-volcanic products of the Caucasus region. This value ranges from +22.5 to +39.4 in the volcanic water of Georgia, from –1.2 to +7.4 in the clayey pulp of Georgia, and from –7.6 to +13.2 in the clayey pulp of Taman. It is shown that the ¹¹ value in clay correlates with the fluid-generation temperature and ¹¹ correlates with ¹³ in carbon-bearing gases. These correlations probably testify to the formation of different phases of mud-volcanic emanations in a single geochemical system and suggest the crucial role of temperature in the development of isotope-geochemical features.