A Polyextreme Hydrothermal System Controlled by Iron: The Case of Dallol at the Afar Triangle

ACS Earth & Space Chemistry
Electra KotopoulouFernando Rull

Abstract

One of the latest volcanic features of the Erta Ale range at the Afar Triangle (NE Ethiopia) has created a polyextreme hydrothermal system located at the Danakil depression on top of a protovolcano known as the dome of Dallol. The interaction of the underlying basaltic magma with the evaporitic salts of the Danakil depression has generated a unique, high-temperature (108 °C), hypersaline (NaCl supersaturated), hyperacidic (pH values from 0.1 to -1.7), oxygen-free hydrothermal site containing up to 150 g/L of iron. We find that the colorful brine pools and mineral patterns of Dallol derive from the slow oxygen diffusion and progressive oxidation of the dissolved ferrous iron, the iron-chlorine/-sulfate complexation, and the evaporation. These inorganic processes induce the precipitation of nanoscale jarosite-group minerals and iron(III)-oxyhydroxides over a vast deposition of halite displaying complex architectures. Our results suggest that life, if present under such conditions, does not play a dominant role in the geochemical cycling and mineral precipitation at Dallol as opposed to other hydrothermal sites. Dallol, a hydrothermal system controlled by iron, is a present-day laboratory for studying the precipitation and progres...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Jan 24, 2020·Scientific Reports·Carlos M DuarteDaniele Daffonchio
Nov 2, 2019·Nature Ecology & Evolution·Jodie BelillaPurificación López-García
Nov 2, 2019·Nature Ecology & Evolution·John E Hallsworth

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
X-ray
transmission
electron diffraction
scanning electron

Software Mentioned

SMOW
AZtec
. Suite
Diffrac

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