Sr isotopic ratios of hydrothermal fluids from the Okinawa Trough and the implications of variation in fluid–sediment interactions

Abstract

Sr isotope ratios of hydrothermal fluids were observed at five sediment-associated sites in the Okinawa Trough to investigate the diversity of subseafloor fluid–rock–sediment interactions. The estimated 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the hydrothermal endmember fluids at the five sites were all higher than those at the sediment-starved sites. The endmember Sr isotopic ratios of hydrothermal fluids were diverse within the Okinawa Trough, ranging from 0.7077 at the Iheya North Knoll site to 0.712 at the Yonaguni Knoll IV site. To our knowledge, 0.712 is the highest value reported to date for seafloor hydrothermal fluids. This variation is likely attributable to the relative contributions of multiple subseafloor Sr reservoirs, which are 87Sr-poor volcanic rock and 87Sr-rich hemipelagic sediments containing clay minerals of terrestrial origin. These data support a model based on the carbon isotope ratio of CH4, which indicates whether volcanic rocks or terrestrial sediments are distributed in the high-temperature reaction zone of the hydrothermal system. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].