Mantle Degassing Through Continental Crust Triggered by Active Faults: The Case of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico

Abstract

In this work, we report new chemical and isotopic data (3He/4He, δ13CCO2, δ13CCH4, and δDCH4) from poorly or previously unstudied hydrothermal and magmatic gases that are emitted along the eastern coast of the Baja California Peninsula (BCP). High 3He/4He values (up to ~7 Ra) characterize the magmatic gases, while lower ratios (≤1.6 Ra) characterize hydrothermal springs. We infer that the mantle beneath the BCP could be Mid‐ocean‐ridge basalt (MORB)‐likes, as in the rift within the Gulf of California, or it may reflect contamination from C‐rich sediment during paleo‐subduction of the Farallon plate. During their ascent, through the crust, mantle/magmatic gases mix with CO2‐ and 4He‐rich fluids, thus forming CO2‐rich hydrothermal gases. These hydrothermal gases undergo partial dissolution of CO2 in shallow waters under different temperature and pH conditions, which further modifies their composition. Thermogenic and possibly abiogenic sources of methane are present only in magmatic gases from the BCP. Secondary methane oxidation (microbial/inorganic) processes are proposed for some hydrothermal gases, which are extremely enriched in heavy isotopes. Finally, we argue that the hydrothermal gases that are emitted from the BCP have variable percentages of mantle contribution, indicating the presence of lithospheric faults enhancing the rise of mantle fluids also in areas where volcanism is absent.