9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
[SRD39-01] Earth Engineering Technology Learnt from Low Temperature Serpentinization
★Invited papers
Keywords:Serpentinization, Hydrogen, Methane, Carbon dioxide storage, Hyperalkaline
Serpentinization has unambiguously been recognized as important geophysical and geochemical processes in mantle wedge and oceanic lithosphere. Serpentinized peridotite generally forms at reaction temperatures of 100–500°C as indicated by chemical, mineralogical and isotopic data. On the other hand, temperatures of present-day serpentinization observed at ophiolites and Lost City vents are considerably lower (40–75°C). This is in strong contrast to other known serpentinization systems. Thus, the temperature variability expressed by vent fluids from ultramafic-hosted hydrothermal systems on or slightly removed from mid-ocean ridge, is not altogether surprising. The low temperature hydrothermal field is characterized by a combination of extreme conditions never before seen in the marine environment. These conditions include venting of hyperalkaline and metal-poor hydrothermal fluids with high concentrations of dissolved H2, CH4. Huge amount of CO2 gas is fixed into carbonate minerals observed in chimneys at the hyperalkaline vents and fissure filling of ultramafic rocks at the ophiolites.
In this context, the previous studies on low temperature present-day serpentinization will be reviewed from the engineering points of view (hazardous anion migration, CO2 geological storage, hydrogen and methane generation, abiogenic hydrocarbon production) in this presentation with introduction of our studies (lessons) at Oman ophiolite.