TRANSPORT PHENOMENA IN HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS - COOLING PLUTONS

The nature of heat and mass transport in pluton environments is described by partial differential equations and simulated by numerical approximations to these equations. A series of heuristic models computed on the basis of these equations describes the general features of fluid circulation in the vicinity of an intrusive igneous body within the upper 10 km of the Earth's crust. Analysis of these models indicates that fluid circulation is an inevitable consequence of the emplacement of magmas in the crust. The analysis reveals the extent of fluid circulation, and magnitude of convective heat flux over broad crustal regions and along crustal plate boundaries where igneous activity is voluminous and may be much greater than heretofore realized.