Origins and pathways of deeply derived carbon and fluids observed in hot spring waters from non-active volcanic fields, western Kumamoto, Japan

Natural springs containing volcanic and magmatic components occur in association with these activities. However, features of deeply originated fluids and solutes were less documented from fields, where active volcanic and magmatic activities are not distributed. To characterize the presence of deep components and identify their major pathways 28 groundwater samples (similar to 1230 m deep) were collected from hot spring sites located at western coast of Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, where the typical subduction related magmatisms are absent. The samples were measured for dissolved ion concentrations and stable isotope ratios (delta H-2(H2O), delta O-18(H2O), delta C-13(DIC) and delta S-34(SO4)) that were compared with data of 33 water samples from vicinity surface systems. The groundwaters were classified into three types based on major hydrochemistry: high Cl- fluid, low concentration fluid, and high HCO3- fluid. Our data set suggests that the high Cl- fluid was formed by saline water mixing with aquifer waters of meteoric origin and subsequently evolved by reverse cation exchange. The low concentration fluid is identical to regional aquifer water of meteoric origin that was subjected to cation exchange. The high HCO3- fluid showed the highest HCO3- concentrations (similar to 3,888 mg/l) with the highest delta C-13(DIC) (up to - 1.9). Based on our carbon mixing model and observed delta H-2(H2O) and delta O-18(H2O) shifts, it is suggested that dissolved carbon of mantle origin and small fraction of fluids generated in deep crust were transported towards surface through structural weakness under open tectonic setting. These deeply derived components were then mixed with waters in the surface systems and diluted. Their impacts on surface hydrological systems were limited in space except few locations, where deeply connected pathways are anticipated along active structural deformations.

Automated summary

The study found that the high Cl- fluid was formed by saline water mixing with aquifer waters of meteoric origin, while the low concentration fluid is similar to regional aquifer water of meteoric origin. These deeply derived components were transported towards the surface through structural weakness and mixed with waters in the surface systems after being diluted.