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The evolution of saline and thermal groundwaters in the Carnmenellis granite

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

W. M. Edmunds ,
J. N. Andrews ,
W. G. Burgess ,
R. L. F. Kay  and
D. J. Lee
W. M. Edmunds
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Hydrogeology Unit, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8BB
J. N. Andrews
Affiliation:
School of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY
W. G. Burgess
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Hydrogeology Unit, Wallingford, Oxon
R. L. F. Kay
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Hydrogeology Unit, Wallingford, Oxon
D. J. Lee
Affiliation:
Atomic Energy Establishment, Winfrith, Dorset
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Abstract

The Carnmenellis granite and its aureole contain the only recorded thermal groundwaters (up to 52 °C) in British granites. They occur as springs in tin mines at depths between 200 and 700 m and most are saline (maximum mineralization 19 310 mg 1−1). Mining activity has disturbed the groundwater circulation pattern developed over a geological time-scale and levels of bomb-produced tritium (> 4 TU) indicate that a significant component (up to 65 %) of the most saline waters are of recent origin. All components of all the mine waters are of meteoric origin. Radiogenic 4He contents, 40Ar/36Ar ratios, and uranium series geochemistry suggest that the thermal component has a likely residence time of at least 5 × 104 years and probably of order 106 years.

The thermal waters have molar Na+/Cl− ratios considerably less than 1 but they are enriched relative to sea water in all major cations except Mg. The groundwater is also particularly enriched in Li with contents ranging up to 125 mg 1−1. The groundwater salinity, which may reach a maximum of 30 000 mg 1−1, is shown to result from weathering reactions of biotite (probably through a chloritization step) and plagioclase feldspar, to kaolinite. On volumetric considerations, fluid inclusions cannot contribute significantly to the groundwater salinity, and stable isotope ratios rule out any contribution from sea water.

Groundwater silica contents and molar Na+/K+ ratios suggest that the likely equilibration temperature is 54°C, which would imply a depth of circulation of about 1.2 km.

Type
Research Article
Information
Mineralogical Magazine , Volume 48 , Issue 348 , September 1984 , pp. 407 - 424
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1984

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