Finite element modeling of mineral diagenesis induced by hydrothermal circulation in oceanic crust

摘要

A 2D hydrothermal flow and geochemical speciation model is applied to simulate densitydependent flow, thermal energy transport and multi-component reactive mass transport through the oceanic crust. The modeling presented here is part of a study to assess the effect of water-rock interactions, including mineral precipitation and dissolution, on the evolution of flow systems and mineral diagenesis. The modeling approach is outlined, and a preliminary numerical simulation is completed showing anhydrite precipitation towards the bottom of a hydrothermal convective flow system where temperatures are between 150-300 °C.