Insight Into Hartousov Mofette, Czech Republic: Tales by the Fluids

The Cheb Basin (Czech Republic) is characterized by emanations of magma-derived gases and repeated occurrences of mid-crustal earthquake swarms with small to intermediate magnitudes (M-L < 4.5). Associated intense mantle degassing occurs at the Hartousov Mofette, a representative site for the Cheb Basin. Here, we performed 14 sampling campaigns between June 2019 and March 2020. Gas samples of fluids ascending in two boreholes (F1, similar to 28 m depth and F2, similar to 108 m depth) and from a nearby natural mofette were analyzed for their chemical (CO2, N-2, O-2, Ar, He, CH4, and H-2) and isotope compositions (noble gases and CO2). CO2 concentrations were above 99.1% in most samples, while O-2 and N-2 were below 0.6%. He ranged from 19 to 34 mu mol/mol and CH4 was mostly below 12 mu mol/mol. Isotope compositions of helium and carbon in CO2 ranged from 5.39 to 5.86 R-A and from -2.4 to -1.3 parts per thousand versus VPDB, respectively. Solubility differences of the investigated gases resulted in fluctuations of their chemical compositions. These differences were accompanied by observed changes of gas fluxes in the field and at the monitoring station for F1. Variations in solubilities and fluxes also impacted the chemical concentration of the gases and the delta C-13 values that were also likely influenced by Fischer-Tropsch type reactions. The combination of (a) the Bernard ratio, (b) CH4/He-3 distributions, (c) P-T conditions, (d) heat flow, and (e) the sedimentary regime led to the hypothesis that CH4 may be of mixed biogenic and volcanic/geothermal origin with a noticeable atmospheric contribution. The drilling of a third borehole (F3) with a depth of similar to 238 m in August 2019 has been crucial for providing insights into the complex system of Hartousov Mofette.

Automated summary

The Cheb Basin in the Czech Republic is characterized by magma-derived gas emanations and mid-crustal earthquake swarms. Gas samples from the Hartousov Mofette in the basin showed variations in chemical and isotope compositions, including high CO2 concentrations and fluctuations in other gases such as helium and methane. The drilling of a third borehole in August 2019 provided crucial insights into the complex system of the Hartousov Mofette.