Water chemistry and abiogenic methane content of a hyperalkaline spring related to serpentinization in the Argolida ophiolite (Ermioni, Greece)

Abstract

Hyperalkaline mineral springs related to active continental serpentinization are a theme of growing interest since they may contain significant amounts of abiotic gas and have important implications for energy resource exploration, subsurface microbiology and astrobiology. We report the discovery of a new hyperalkaline (pH∼12) spring issuing in the Agioi Anargyroi monastery at Ermioni (Greece), connected to serpentinization of peridotites of the Argolis ophiolite. Two water samples have been collected from separated springs and analysed for the chemical composition of major, minor and trace elements, and isotopic composition (2H and18O) of water by IC, ICP-OES, ICP-MS and IRMS, and for the chemical (H2, O2, N2, CH4, CO2and C2H6) and isotopic (He, δ2H-CH4and δ13C-CH4) composition of dissolved gases. The Iliokastron Mélange Unit, comprising abundant serpentinized harzburgite, represent the aquifer feeding the hyperalkaline springs. The isotopic composition of water indicates a recent meteoric recharge probably through the close by and stratigraphically higher limestones of the Faniskos Unit. The Ca-OH water composition resulted to be similar to other hyperalkaline waters of Greece and worldwide. Although the concentrations of dissolved H2are very low (tens of nmol/L) compared to other gases collected in similar manifestations, the concentrations of CH4are considerable (38–314 μmol/L) and display isotopic compositions indicating a substantial if not exclusive abiogenic origin. Methane oxidation is also hypothesized in one of the two springs.