Mixed carbonate-siliceous hydrothermal chimneys ahead of the Asal propagating rift (SE Afar Rift, Republic of Djibouti)

Type Article
Date 2023-01
Language English
Author(s) Moussa Nima1, Bayon Germain2, Dekov V.ORCID3, Yamanaka T.ORCID3, Shinjo R.4, 5, Toki T.5, 6, Le Gall Bernard7, Grassineau N.ORCID8, Langlade Jessica9, Awaleh M.O.1, Pelleter EwanORCID2
Affiliation(s) 1 : Institut des Sciences de la Terre, Centre d’Etudes et de Recherches de Djibouti, B.P. 486, Djibouti
2 : Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, Geo-Ocean, F-29280, Plouzané, France
3 : Department of Ocean Sciences, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan
4 : Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan
5 : Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, 457-4 Motoyama, Kamigamo, Kita-ku, Kyoto, 603-8047, Japan
6 : Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan
7 : UMR/CNRS 6538 Géosciences Océan, UBO-IUEM, Place Nicolas Copernic, 29280, Plouzané, France
8 : Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, EGHAM Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK
9 : CNRS, IUEM, UMS 3113, F-29280, Plouzané, France
Source Journal Of African Earth Sciences (1464-343X) (Elsevier BV), 2023-01 , Vol. 197 , P. 104765 (13p.)
DOI 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2022.104765
WOS© Times Cited 1
Keyword(s) SE Afar Rift, Hydrothermal chimneys, Isotopic analyses, Allols sites, Djibouti
Abstract

Numerous active and fossil hydrothermal carbonate chimneys have been reported at Lake Asal and Lake Abhe, in the southeastern part of the Afar Rift (Republic of Djibouti): a tectonically and volcanically active region for the last 30 million years. In this study, we report on a detailed mineralogical and geochemical investigation of unusual hydrothermal mixed carbonate-siliceous chimneys recently discovered in the Allols area (Harralol, Haralé Awda and Sakallol), northwest of the Asal Rift. These inactive chimneys, up to 20 m high, consist of tall spires partly stained by Fe-oxides. They are located along major faults and were formed sub-aqueously when the area was occupied by a lake. Hydrothermal carbonate structures were also found in the same area. The oxygen (δ18O) and carbon (δ13C) isotopic compositions of the chimneys range from −4.5 to 25.3‰ and from −9.44 to 8.92‰, respectively, indicating mixing between magmatic and surficial waters. Their radiogenic Sr isotopic compositions (87Sr/86Sr = 0.7049–0.7056) show values typical of altered basaltic rocks. Chimneys also exhibit negative Ce anomaly suggestive of a genetic link with basalt alteration. Overall, this study suggests that lake water chemistry in the Allols area experienced major changes in the past, reflecting various contributions of mixing fluids (lake water and hydrothermal fluids), leading alternatively to deposition of carbonate chimneys and precipitation of (and/or replacement with) silica.

Full Text
File Pages Size Access
Author's final draft 47 5 MB Open access
13 11 MB Access on demand
Top of the page

How to cite 

Moussa Nima, Bayon Germain, Dekov V., Yamanaka T., Shinjo R., Toki T., Le Gall Bernard, Grassineau N., Langlade Jessica, Awaleh M.O., Pelleter Ewan (2023). Mixed carbonate-siliceous hydrothermal chimneys ahead of the Asal propagating rift (SE Afar Rift, Republic of Djibouti). Journal Of African Earth Sciences, 197, 104765 (13p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2022.104765 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00799/91132/