Thermodynamic forward modeling of retrogressive hydration reactions induced by geofluid infiltration

Abstract

We have developed a new methodology for forward analysis of retrogressive hydration (rehydration) reactions by an improved thermodynamic forward modeling technique based on a differential thermodynamic approach (Gibbs' method). Based on natural observations and theoretical considerations, the progress of a rehydration reaction is modeled by incorporating a change in the effective bulk composition on account of the breakdown of the non-equilibrated phase and the amount of water infiltration into the system. Forward analyses of rehydration reactions under greenschist-facies conditions show that (1) the reaction progress of rehydration is proportional to the external water supply, and (2) the mineral compositions of equilibrated minerals are mainly controlled by P-T conditions and are similar to those in the global equilibrium model. Calculated results are in accordance with natural observations of rehydration reactions in greenschist-facies rocks, which supports the validity of the proposed model. The proposed model can be used as a basic forward model for various inversion analyses and numerical simulations and thus to understand the distribution and behavior of geofluids.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]