A vent-field-scale model of the east pacific rise 9°50'N magma-hydrothermal system

Abstract

This paper describes a two-limb single-pass modeling approach constrained by vent temperature, heat flow, vent geochemistry, active-source seismology, and seismically inferred circulation geometry to provide first-order constraints on crustal permeability, conductive boundary layer thickness, fluid residence times, and magma replenishment rates for the magma-hydrothermal system at the East Pacific Rise (EPR) near 9°50'N. Geochemical data from black smokers and nearby diffuse-flow patches, as well as an estimate of heat flow partitioning, suggest that nearly 90% of the heat output stems from heat supplied by the subaxial magma chamber, even though almost 90% of that output appears as diffuse flow at the seafloor. Estimates of magma replenishment rates are consistent with the evolution of lava chemistry over the eruption cycle between 1991-1992 and 2005-2006. If the recharge surface area is 10 5 m 2, a one-dimensional model of hydrothermal recharge using EPR 9°50'N parameters gives rise to rapid sealing as a result of anhydrite precipitation; however, if the area of recharge widens at depth to ~ 10 6 m 2, sealing by anhydrite precipitation may not significantly affect hydrothermal circulation. © 2012 by The Oceanography Society.