Helium–carbon relationships in geothermal fluids of western Anatolia, Turkey

We investigate the helium, carbon and oxygen–hydrogen isotopic systematics and CO2/3He ratios of 8 water and 6 gas samples collected from 12 geothermal fields in western Anatolia (Turkey). 3He/4He ratios of the samples (R) normalized to the atmospheric 3He/4He ratio (RA = 1.39 × 10− 6) range from 0.27 to 1.67 and are significantly higher than the crustal production value of 0.05. Fluids with relatively high R / RA values are generally found in areas of significant heat potential (Kızıldere and Tuzla fields). CO2/3He ratios of the samples, ranging from 1.6 × 109 to 2.3 × 1014, display significant variation and are mostly higher than values typical of an upper mantle source (2 × 109). The δ13C (CO2) and δ13C (CH4) values of all fluids vary from − 8.04 to + 0.35‰ and − 25.80 to − 23.92‰ (vs. PDB), respectively. Stable isotope values (δ18O–δD) of the geothermal waters are conformable with the Mediterranean Meteoric Water Line and indicate a meteoric origin. The temperatures calculated by gas geothermometry are significantly higher than estimates from chemical geothermometers, implying that either equilibrium has not been attained for the isotope exchange reaction or that isotopic equilibration was disturbed due to gas additions en route to the surface.Evaluation of He–CO2 abundances indicates that hydrothermal degassing and calcite precipitation (controlled probably by adiabatic cooling due to degassing) significantly fractionate the elemental ratio (CO2/3He) in geothermal waters. Such processes do not affect gas phase samples to anywhere near the same extent. For the gas samples, mixing between mantle and various crustal sources appears to be the main control on the observed He–C systematics: however, crustal inputs dominate the CO2 inventory. Considering that limestone is the main source of carbon (∼ 70 to 97% of the total carbon inventory), the carbon flux from the crust is found to be at least 20 times that from the mantle. As to the He-inventory, the mantle-derived component is found to vary up to 21% of the total He content and is probably transferred to the crust by fluids degassed from deep mantle melts generated in association with the elevated geotherm and adiabatic melting accompanying current extension. The range of 3He/enthalpy ratios (0.000032 to 0.19 × 10− 12 cm3 STP/J) of fluids in western Anatolia is consistent with the release of both helium and heat from contemporary additions of mantle-derived magmas to the crust. The deep faults appear to have facilitated the deep circulation of the fluids and the transport of mantle volatiles and heat to the surface.