Fluid geochemistry of Montserrat Island, West Indies

Two geochemical surveys carried out in March 1991 and September 1992 revealed the existence of a hydrothermal system in the southern portion of Montserrat Island, below Soufriere Hills Volcano. This conclusion is supported by the presence of: (a) the thermal springs of Plymouth which are fed by deep Na-Cl waters (Cl concentration similar to 25 000 mg/kg, temperature ca. 250 degrees C) mixed with shallow steam-heated waters; (b) the four fumarolic fields of Galway's Soufriere, Gages Upper Soufriere, Gages Lower Soufriere, and Tar River Soufriere, where acid to neutral, steam-heated waters are present together with several fumarolic vents, discharging vapors formed through boiling of hydrothermal aqueous solutions. Involvement of magmatic fluids in the recharge of the hydrothermal aquifers is suggested by: (a) the high He-3/He-4 ratios of fumarolic fluids, i.e., 8.2 R(A) at Galway's Soufriere and 5.9 R(A) at Gages Lower Soufriere; (b) the delta D and delta(18)O values of Na-Cl thermal springs and steam condensates, indicating the involvement of arc-type magmatic water in the formation of deep geothermal liquids; and (c) the CH4/CO2 ratios of fumarolic fluids, which are lower than expected for equilibrium with the FeO-FeO1.5 hydrothermal rock buffer, but being shifted towards the SO2-H2S magmatic gas buffer.