Helium and carbon isotopes in the dissolved gases of Friuli Region (NE Italy): Geochemical evidence of CO2 production and degassing over a seismically active area

Abstract

The first geochemical data showing the existence of an active degassing activity over a large seismically active sector of the Southern Alps (Friuli Region, NE Italy) are presented. The dissolved gases, helium and carbon isotopic systematics of 46 water samples taken from 13 sites running along E–W and NE–SW faults besides the natural degassing of a 5000 km2 wide area are investigated. The chemical composition of the dissolved gases revealed that a CO2-rich gas phase feeds the local groundwaters. 3He/4He ratios (R) normalized to the atmospheric 3He/4He ratio (Ra=1.39×10−6) and corrected for the atmospheric contamination (R/Rac), range from 0.29 to 1 as a result of a two component (radiogenic and atmospheric) mixing. The δ13C values of total dissolved inorganic carbon (TDIC) ranging from −15.28 to −0.75‰ vs. PDB, show the occurrence of multiple gas–water interactions. The mixing between the atmospheric air and a crustal source and the gas–water interactions occurring at various extents appears to be the main control on the observed He–C systematics. The natural CO2 degassing was evaluated by a soil gas survey carried out by a grid of about 100 measuring sites located over the area that generated destructive seismic sequences (e.g. the Gemona sequence of 1976; main shocks M6.4 of 6th May and M6.1 of 11th and 15th September). The results obtained show that a significant amount of crustal-originated gases are released over the continental area of Eastern Southern Alps. The evidence that carbon dioxide is associated with radiogenic-type helium denotes the lack of the mantle as primary energy and degassing source, highlighting the possibility that CO2 is produced by thermo-mechanical processes occurring at seismogenic depth. The information provided here may be used to start up a long-term geochemical monitoring of this seismically active area and could be able to detect the modifications occurring to the circulating fluids to gain a better insight on the relationships between the fluids' geochemistry and the activity of the local seismogenic faults.