Mantle 3He and CO2 degassing in carbonic and geothermal springs of Colorado and implications for neotectonics of the Rocky Mountains

Research Article| April 01, 2013 Mantle 3He and CO2 degassing in carbonic and geothermal springs of Colorado and implications for neotectonics of the Rocky Mountains Karl E. Karlstrom; Karl E. Karlstrom * 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA *E-mail: kek1@unm.edu. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Laura J. Crossey; Laura J. Crossey 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David R. Hilton; David R. Hilton 2Geosciences Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 92093, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Peter H. Barry Peter H. Barry 2Geosciences Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 92093, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Karl E. Karlstrom * 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA Laura J. Crossey 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA David R. Hilton 2Geosciences Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 92093, USA Peter H. Barry 2Geosciences Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 92093, USA *E-mail: kek1@unm.edu. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 03 Sep 2012 Revision Received: 07 Nov 2012 Accepted: 12 Nov 2012 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2013 Geological Society of America Geology (2013) 41 (4): 495–498. https://doi.org/10.1130/G34007.1 Article history Received: 03 Sep 2012 Revision Received: 07 Nov 2012 Accepted: 12 Nov 2012 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Karl E. Karlstrom, Laura J. Crossey, David R. Hilton, Peter H. Barry; Mantle 3He and CO2 degassing in carbonic and geothermal springs of Colorado and implications for neotectonics of the Rocky Mountains. Geology 2013;; 41 (4): 495–498. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G34007.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Helium isotope (3He/4He) data from geothermal springs in the Colorado Rocky Mountains (western United States) provide unequivocal evidence for a remarkable mantle-to-groundwater connection, with contributions of up to 27% mantle-derived helium. Hydrochemical modeling of springs shows the mantle helium is associated with high pCO2 with 76 ± 20% of the CO2 also derived from endogenic (deep geologic) sources. These springs occur preferentially along faults, have highest 3He/4He values above domains of low mantle velocity, and demonstrate unexpectedly widespread neotectonic mantle degassing. Total CO2 flux through these springs is 3 × 108 mol/yr, a small but persistent contribution to the CO2 budget and an important baseline for carbon sequestration/leakage studies. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.