Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Episodic mineralization of hydrothermal illite in the Soultz-sous-Forêts granite (Upper Rhine Graben, France)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Episodic and localized illite mineralization is documented in the hydrothermally altered Soultz-sous-Forêts granite (Upper Rhine Graben, France). Separated grain-size fractions of altered granite and argillite vein samples contain mixtures of 2M1 and 1M trans-vacant illite varieties. The platy pseudohexagonal 2M1 illite phases dominate the vein fillings, whereas the 1M illite occurs largely as a fibrous pore-filling variety, which is particularly abundant in the granite matrix. Multiple phases of fluid injections into the granite body have resulted in different illite assemblages, each sample containing a mixture of polytype generations formed during different crystal growth events. On the basis of mineralogical and K–Ar isotopic constraints, the ages of these vein-mineralizing events are determined by plotting the K–Ar values of the various grain-size fractions against polytype abundance and the fitted volume-weighted crystallite thickness distributions. The results suggest a Permian age for the formation of the studied argillite veins, characterized by successive injections of hydrothermal fluids. Secondary episodes of illite crystallization occurred during Jurassic and Cretaceous (or even younger times) in both the veins and the granite matrix. There are indications that the polytype structure and composition of illite were strongly influenced by variations in fluid chemistry and the degree of fluid–rock interaction as the granite was progressively sealed during post-Variscan, episodic hydrothermal activity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexandrov P, Royer JJ, Deloule E (2001) 331 ± 9 Ma emplacement age of the Soultz monzogranite (Rhine Graben basement) by U/Pb ion-probe zircon dating of samples from 5 km depth. Earth Planet Sci 332:747–754

    Google Scholar 

  • Altaner SP, Ylagan RF, Savin SM, Aronson JL, Belkin HE, Pozzuoli A (2003) Geothermometry, geochronology, and mass transfer associated with hydrothermal alteration of a rhyolitic hyaloclastite from Ponza Island, Italy. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 67(2):275–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aquilina L, Pauwels H, Genter A, Fouillac C (1997) Water–rock interaction processes in the Triassic sandstone and the granitic basement of the Rhine Graben: geochemical investigation of a geothermal reservoir. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 61:4281–4295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey SW, Hurley PM, Fairbairn HW, Pinson WH Jr (1962) K–Ar dating of sedimentary illite polytypes. Geol Soc Am Bull 73:1167–1170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonhomme M, Thuizat R, Pinault Y, Clauer M, Wendling R, Winkler R (1975) Methode de datation potassium-argon. Appareillage techniques. Note Technique de l’Institute de Géologie de Strasbourg 3, p53

  • Bove DJ, Eberl DD, McCarty DK, Meeker GP (2002) Characterization and modeling of illite crystal particles and growth mechanisms in a zoned hydrothermal deposit, Lake City, Colorado. Am Mineral 87:1546–1556

    Google Scholar 

  • Clauer N, Chaudhuri S (1995) Clays in crustal environments: isotope dating and tracing. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Clauer N, Kröner A (1979) Strontium and argon isotopic homogenization of pelitic sediment during low-grade regional metamorphism: the Pan-African upper Damara sequence of northern Namibia. Earth Planet Sci Lett 43:117–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clauer N, Naoual R, Schaltegger U, Piqué A (1995a) K–Ar systematics of clay-to-mica minerals in a multi-stage low-grade metamorphic evolution. Chem Geol 124:305–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clauer N, O’Neil JR, Furlan S (1995b) Clay minerals as records of temperature conditions and duration of thermal anomalies in the Paris Basin, France. Clay Miner 30:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clauer N, Liewig N, Pierret M, Toulkeridis T (2003) Crystallization conditions of fundamental particles from mixed-layer illite–smectite of bentonites based on isotopic data (K–Ar, Rb–Sr and delta (super 18O)). Clays Clay Miner 51:664–674

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drits V, Weber F, Salyn AL, Tsipursky SI (1993) X-ray identification of one layer illite varieties: application to the study of illite around uranium deposits of Canada. Clays Clay Miner 41:389–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drits V, Srodon J, Eberl DD (1997) XRD measurement of mean crystallite thickness of illite and illite/smectite: reappraisal of the Kübler index and the Scherrer equation. Clays Clay Miner 45:461–475

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubois M, Ayt Ougoudal M, Meere P, Royer J, Boiron M, Cathelineau M (1996) Temperature of paleo- to modern self-sealing within a continental rift basin: the fluid inclusion data (Soultz-sous-Forêts, Rhine Graben, France). Eur J Mineral 8:1065–1080

    Google Scholar 

  • Dudek T, Srodon J, Eberl DD, Elsass F, Uhlik P (2002) Thickness distribution of illite crystals in shales. I. X-ray diffraction vs. high-resolution transmission electron microscopy measurements. Clays Clay Miner 50:562–577

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durst P, Vuataz FD (2000) Fluid–rock interactions in hot dry rock reservoirs: a review of the HDR sites and detailed investigations of the Soultz-sous-Forêts system. In: Proceedings of the world geothermal congress 2000, Kyushu-Tohoku, 28 May–10 June 2000

  • Eberl DD, Srodon J, Mingchou L, Nadeau PH, Northrop H (1987) Sericite from the Silverton Caldera, Colorado: correlation among structure, composition, origin, and particle thickness. Am Mineral 72:914–934

    Google Scholar 

  • Eberl DD, Drits VA, Srodon J, Nueesch R (1996) MUDMASTER: a program for calculating crystallite size distributions and strain from the shapes of X-ray diffraction peaks. Open-File Report. U.S. Geological Survey, Report: of 96-0171 ftp://www.brrcrftp.cr.usgs.gov/pub/ddeberl/

  • Eberl DD, Drits VQ, Srodon J (1998a) Deducing growth mechanisms for minerals from the shapes of crystal size distributions. Am J Sci 298:499–533

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eberl DD, Nueesch R, Sucha V, Tsipursky S (1998b) Measurement of fundamental illite particle thicknesses by X-ray diffraction using PVP-10 intercalation. Clays Clay Miner 46:89–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elsass P, Aquilina L, Beauce A, Benderitter Y, Fabriol H, Genter G, Pauwels H (1995) Deep structures of the Soultz-sous-Forêts HDR site. In: Proceedings of the world geothermal congress, Florence, pp 2543–2647

  • Genter A, Traineau H (1991) Geological survey of the HDR borehole EPS-1, Soultz-sous-Forêts, Alsace-France. BRGM, R32433

  • Genter A, Traineau H (1996) Analysis of macroscopic features in granite in the HDR geothermal well EPS-1, Soultz-sous-Forets, France. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 72:121–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Genter A, Traineau H, Ledesert B, Bourgine B, Gentier S (2000) Over 10 years of geological investigations within the HDR Soultz project, France. In: Proceedings of the world geothermal congress 2000, Kyushu-Tohoku, 28 May–10 June 2000

  • Glasmacher UA, Tschernoster R, Clauer N, Spaeth G (2001) K–Ar dating of magmatic sericite crystallites for determination of cooling paths of metamorphic overprints. Chem Geol 175:673–687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grathoff GH, Moore D (2002) Characterization of the Waukesha illite: a mixed-polytype illite in the Clay Mineral Society repository. Am Mineral 87:1557–1563

    Google Scholar 

  • Grathoff GH, Moore DM, Hay RL, Wemmer K (2001) Origin of illite in the lower Paleozoic of the Illinois Basin: evidence for brine migration. Geol Soc Am Bull 113:1092–1104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Honty M, Uhlik P, Sucha V, Caplovicova M, Francu J, Clauer N, Biron A (2004) Smectite to illite alteration in salt-bearing bentonites: the East Slovak Basin. Clays Clay Miner 52:533–551

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hower J, Hurley PM, Pinson WH, Fairbairn HW (1963) The dependence of K–Ar age on the mineralogy of various particle size ranges in a shale. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 27:405–410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunziker JC, Frey M, Clauer N, Dallmeyer RD, Friedrichsen H, Flehming W, Hochstrasser K, Roggwiller P, Schwander H (1986) The evolution of illite to muscovite: mineralogical and isotopic data from the Glarus Alps, Switzerland. Contrib Mineral Petrol 92:157–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Imaoka T, Nakashima K, Itaya T, Okada T (2001) Timing and duration of hydrothermal activity in the Oligocene Hamada Cauldron, SW Japan: evidence from K–Ar ages of sericite. Resour Geol (Tokyo 1998) 51:55–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Inoue A, Meunier A, Beaufort D (2004) Illite–smectite mixed-layer minerals in felsic volcaniclastic rocks from drill cores, Kakkonda, Japan. Clays Clay Miner 52:66–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim J, Peacor DR (2002) Crystal-size-distribution of clays during episodic diagenesis: the Salton Sea geothermal system. Clays Clay Miner 50:371–380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laverret E (2002) Evolutions temporelles et spatiales des alterations argileuses des gisements d’uranium sous discordance, secteur de Shea Creek (bassin de l’Athabasca, Canada). Unpublished thesis de l’Université de Poitiers

  • Ledesert B, Berger G, Meunier A, Genter A, Bouchet A (1999) Diagenetic-type reactions related to hydrothermal alteration in the Soultz-sous-Forêts Granite, France. Eur J Mineral 11(4):731–741

    Google Scholar 

  • Liewig N, Clauer N (2000) K–Ar dating of varied microtextural illite in Permian gas reservoirs, northern Germany. Clay Miner 35:271–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merriman RJ, Frey D (1999) Patterns of very low-grade metamorphism in metapelitic rocks. In: Frey M, Robinson D (eds) Low-grade metamorphism. Blackwell, p 313

  • Montigny R, Faure G (1969) Contribution au probleme de l`homogeneisation isotopique du strontium des roches totales au cours du metamorhisme. Cas du Wisconsin Range, Antarctique. Comptes Rendus à l’Académie des Sciences, Paris 268D:1012–1015

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore DM, Reynolds RC (1997) X-ray diffraction and the identification and analysis of clay minerals. Oxford University Press, pp 378

  • Mullin JW (1961) Crystallization. Butterworths, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Pauwels H, Fouillac C, Fouillac AM (1993) Chemistry and isotopes of deep geothermal saline fluids in the Upper Rhine Graben: origin of compounds and water rock interactions. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 57:2737–2749

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peacor DR (1992) Diagenesis and low-grade metamorphism of shales and slates. In: Buseck PR (ed) Minerals and reactions at atomic scale: transmission electron microscopy. Rev Mineral 27:335–380

    Google Scholar 

  • Pribnow D, Clauser C (2000) Heat and fluid flow at the Soultz hot dry rock system in the Rhine Graben. In: Proceedings of the world geothermal congress, Kyushu-Tohoku, 28 May–10 June 2000

  • Reuter A (1985) Grain-size dependency of K–Ar dating and illite crystallinity determined on anchizonal metapelites and associated metatuffs from the eastern Rhenish Schiefergebirge. Goettinger Arbeiten zur Geologie und Palaeontologie 27:91

  • Rosenberg PE (2002) The nature, formation and stability of end-member illite: a hypothesis. Am Mineral 87:103–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Rousset D, Clauer N (2003) Discrete clay diagenesis in a very low-permeable sequence constrained by an isotopic (K–Ar and Rb–Sr) study. Contrib Mineral Petrol 145:182–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Sausse J, Genter A, Leroy JL, Lespinasse M (1998) Description and quantification of vein alterations: paleopermeabilities in the Soultz-sous-Forêts granite (Bas-Rhin, France). Bull Soc Geol Fr 169:655–664

    Google Scholar 

  • Schleicher (2005) Clay mineral formation and fluid–rock interaction in fractured crystalline rocks of the Rhine rift system: case studies from the Soultz-sous-Forêts granite (France) and the Schauenburg Fault (Germany). Doctorate Thesis, University of Heidelberg, pp 104

  • Srodon J (1984) X-ray identification of illitic materials. Clays Clay Miner 32:337–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srodon J, Clauer N, Eberl DD (2002) Interpretation of K–Ar dates of illitic clays from sedimentary rocks aided by modeling. Am Mineral 87:1528–1535

    Google Scholar 

  • Surma F, Geraud Y (2003) Porosity and thermal conductivity of the Soultz-sous-Forêts granite. Pure Appl Geophys 160:1125–1136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van der Pluijm BA (1999) Clay-bearing fault gouge: processes and implications. Goettinger Arbeiten zur Geologie und Palaeontologie Sonderband 4:158

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Pluijm BA, Lee JH, Peacor DR (1988) Analytical electron microscopy and the problem of potassium diffusion. Clays Clay Miner 36(19):498–504

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van der Pluijm BA, Hall CM, Vrolijk PJ, Pevear DR, Covey MC (2001) The dating of shallow faults in the Earth’s crust. Nature 412:172–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Velde B (1965) Experimental determination of muscovite polymorph stabilities. Am Mineral 50:436–449

    Google Scholar 

  • Warr LN, Nieto F (1998) Crystallite thickness and defect density of phyllosilicates in low-temperature metamorphic pelites: a TEM and XRD study of clay–mineral crystallinity-index standards. Can Mineral 36:1453–1474

    Google Scholar 

  • Warr LN, Peacor DR (2002) Evaluation of X-ray diffraction methods for determining the crystal growth mechanisms of clay minerals in mudstones, shales and slates. Schweizerische Mineralogische Petrografische Mitteillungen 82:187–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson M, Haszeldine RS (2002) Fibrous illite in oilfield sandstones—a nucleation kinetic theory of growth. Terra Nova 14:56–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yates DM, Rosenberg PE (1998) Characterization of neoformed illite from hydrothermal experiments at 250 °C and P v,soln: an HRTEM/ATEM study. Am Mineral 83:1199–1208

    Google Scholar 

  • Ylagan RF, Kim CS, Pevear DR, Vrolijk PJ (2002) Illite polytype quantification for accurate K–Ar age determination. Am Mineral 87:1536–1545

    Google Scholar 

  • Zwingmann H, Clauer N, Gaupp R (1998) Timing of fluid flow in a sandstone reservoir of the North-German Rotliegend (Permian) by K–Ar dating of related hydrothermal illite. In: Parnell J (ed) Dating and duration of fluid flow events. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 144:91–106

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the GRK 273 “Fluid–rock-interaction” grant of the DFG, Germany. We thank Ben van der Pluijm and Don Peacor (Michigan) for supporting the TEM work. Special thanks also to Jana Just and Agnes Kontny for numerous helpful discussions. Dennis Eberl is thanked for providing the UNMIXER program. Raymond Wendling and Thierry Perrone (CGS Strasbourg) are thanked for technical assistance during the K–Ar determinations (this is EOST publication # 2006.302).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geologisch-Paläontologisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität INF 234, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Anja M. Schleicher

  2. Centre de Géochimie de la Surface (CNRS-ULP), 1 rue Blessig, 67084, Strasbourg, France

    Laurence N. Warr & Norbert Clauer

  3. Institut für Umweltgeochemie, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität INF 234, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Bernd Kober & Emmanuel Laverret

Authors
  1. Anja M. Schleicher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Laurence N. Warr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bernd Kober
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Emmanuel Laverret
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Norbert Clauer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anja M. Schleicher.

Additional information

Communicated by T.L. Grove

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schleicher, A.M., Warr, L.N., Kober, B. et al. Episodic mineralization of hydrothermal illite in the Soultz-sous-Forêts granite (Upper Rhine Graben, France). Contrib Mineral Petrol 152, 349–364 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-006-0110-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-006-0110-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation