Abstract
Hydrothermal H2S is an important energy source for hydrothermal ecosystems. However, it is difficult to obtain accurate hydrogen sulfide concentrations in high-temperature hydrothermal fluids because they are highly susceptible to oxidation and compositional variability with mixing. In this study, a new in situ approach for measuring H2S, HS− and pH in hydrothermal fluids was developed and applied to the detections of Okinawa Trough hydrothermal activities. The in situ total H2S concentrations in the Jade and Biwako fluids were determined to be 31.4 and 76.7 mmol/kg, respectively. The in situ measured pH of the Jade fluids was determined to be 6.3, which has exceeded that of a neutral fluid at a specific temperature and pressure, indicating that the pH of Jade fluids is weakly alkaline. The pH transition of hydrothermal fluids from alkaline to acidic may be attributed to the thermal decomposition of organic matter and sulfide precipitation.
Key Points
- The first in situ measured pH of high-temperature hydrothermal vent fluids at arc-back arc basins was reported
- A new approach to obtain in situ H2S/HS− concentration and in situ pH of high temperature hydrothermal vent fluids was established
- The pH transition of hydrothermal fluids from alkaline to acidic should attributes to the precipitation of sulfide minerals
Li L., Li Z., Zhong R., Du Z., Luan Z., Xi S. & Zhang X., 2023. Direct H2S, HS− and pH measurements of high-temperature hydrothermal vent fluids with in situ Raman spectroscopy. Geophysical Research Letters 50: e2023GL103195. doi: 10.1029/2023GL103195. Article.
