Isotopic and chemical composition of parbati valley geothermal discharges, North-West Himalaya, India

• Published in: Geothermics 1983, Vol.12 (2), p.199-222
• Main Authors: Giggenbach, W.F., Gonfiantini, R., Jangi, B.L., Truesdell, A.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; chemical reactions; chemical variables measurement; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Energy; energy resources; Exact sciences and technology; gases; Geothermal energy; geothermal resources; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; isotopes; Natural energy; temperature; thermal variables measurement
• ISSN: 0375-6505; 1879-3576
• DOI: 10.1016/0375-6505(83)90030-5

The isotopic compositions of the waters discharged from Parbati Valley geothermal areas indicate a higher altitude meteoric origin, with discharge temperatures reflecting variations in the depth of penetration of the waters to levels heated by the existence of a ‘normal’ geothermal gradient. On the basis of mixing models involving silica, tritium, discharge temperatures and chloride contents, deep equilibration temperatures of 120–140°C were obtained for Manikaran, possibly reaching 160°C at even greater depth. Geothermometers based on sulfate-water 18O exchange and gas reactions point to similar temperatures. Exceptionally high helium contents of the discharges correspond to apparent crustal residence times of the waters in the order of 10–100 Ma; relative nitrogen-argon contents support a largely meteoric origin of the waters with a possible fossil brine, but no detectable magmatic component.