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    Permeability-porosity relationships in seafloor vent deposits : dependence on pore evolution processes

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    2006JB004716.pdf (1.094Mb)
    Date
    2007-05-12
    Author
    Zhu, Wenlu  Concept link
    Tivey, Margaret K.  Concept link
    Gittings, Hilary  Concept link
    Craddock, Paul R.  Concept link
    Metadata
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    Citable URI
    https://hdl.handle.net/1912/3810
    As published
    https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JB004716
    DOI
    10.1029/2006JB004716
    Keyword
     Permeability-porosity; Seafloor vent deposit; Fluid flow 
    Abstract
    Systematic laboratory measurements of permeability and porosity were conducted on three large vent structures from the Mothra Hydrothermal vent field on the Endeavor segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Geometric means of permeability values obtained from a probe permeameter are 5.9 × 10−15 m2 for Phang, a tall sulfide-dominated spire that was not actively venting when sampled; 1.4 × 10−14 m2 for Roane, a lower-temperature spire with dense macrofaunal communities growing on its sides that was venting diffuse fluid of <300°C; and 1.6 × 10−14 m2 for Finn, an active black smoker with a well-defined inner conduit that was venting 302°C fluids prior to recovery. Twenty-three cylindrical cores were then taken from these vent structures. Permeability and porosity of the drill cores were determined on the basis of Darcy's law and Boyle's law, respectively. Permeability values range from ∼10−15 to 10−13 m2 for core samples from Phang, from ∼10−15 to 10−12 m2 for cores from Roane, and from ∼10−15 to 3 × 10−13 m2 for cores from Finn, in good agreement with the probe permeability measurements. Permeability and porosity relationships are best described by two different power law relationships with exponents of ∼9 (group I) and ∼3 (group II). Microstructural analyses reveal that the difference in the two permeability-porosity relationships reflects different mineral precipitation processes as pore space evolves within different parts of the vent structures, either with angular sulfide grains depositing as aggregates that block fluid paths very efficiently (group I), or by late stage amorphous silica that coats existing grains and reduces fluid paths more gradually (group II). The results suggest that quantification of permeability and porosity relationships leads to a better understanding of pore evolution processes. Correctly identifying permeability and porosity relationships is an important first step toward accurately estimating fluid distribution, flow rate, and environmental conditions within seafloor vent deposits, which has important consequences for chimney growth and biological communities that reside within and on vent structures.
    Description
    Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2007. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Geophysical Research 112 (2007): B05208, doi:10.1029/2006JB004716.
    Collections
    • Geology and Geophysics (G&G)
    • Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry (MC&G)
    Suggested Citation
    Journal of Geophysical Research 112 (2007): B05208
     

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