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Fracture-related hydrothermal alteration of metagranitic rock and associated changes in mineralogy, geochemistry and degree of oxidation: a case study at Forsmark, central Sweden

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Abstract

Red-staining of rocks due to fluid–rock interaction during hydrothermal circulation in fractures is a common feature in crystalline sequences. In this study, red-stained metagranitic rock adjacent to fractures in Forsmark, central Sweden, has been studied with emphasis on the mineral reactions and associated element mobility occurring during the alteration. The main mineral reactions associated with the hydrothermal alteration are an almost complete saussuritization of plagioclase accompanied by total chloritization of biotite. Magnetite has been partly replaced by hematite whereas quartz and K-feldspar were relatively unaffected by the hydrothermal alteration. We show that redistribution of elements on the whole rock scale was very limited and is mainly manifested by enrichment of Na2O and volatiles and depletion of CaO, FeO and SiO2 in the red-stained rock. However, on the microscale, element redistribution was more extensive, with both intragranular and intergranular migration of e.g. Ca, K, Na, Al, Si, Fe, Ba, Cs, Rb, Sr, Ti and REEs. The altered rock shows a shift towards higher total oxidation factors, but the change is smaller than 1σ and the red-staining of the rock is due to hematite dissemination rather than a significant oxidation of the rock. An increase in the connected porosity is also observed in the altered rock.

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Acknowledgments

The project was financially supported by the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company (SKB). We would like to thank Assen Simeonov (SKB) and Michael Stephens (SGU) for discussions and support. Jesper Petersson (Vattenfall Power Consultants) and Kenneth Åkerström (KÅ Geoskog) are thanked for their assistance during the drill core sampling. Allan Stråhle (Geosigma AB) and the staff at Sicada are thanked for assistance with the Sicada data and Ulf Brising (Sweco Position) for the geological map of the area. Discussions with Henrik Drake (University of Gothenburg) regarding the rock alteration in the Simpevarp/Laxemar area have also improved the manuscript. Valuable comments by Sven Åke Larson (University of Gothenburg) and two anonymous journal reviewers are gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 460, 405 30, Göteborg, Sweden

    Björn Sandström

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, 752 36, Uppsala, Sweden

    Hans Annersten

  3. Terralogica AB, Östra Annekärrsvägen 17, 443 72, Gråbo, Sweden

    Eva-Lena Tullborg

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  1. Björn Sandström
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Sandström, B., Annersten, H. & Tullborg, EL. Fracture-related hydrothermal alteration of metagranitic rock and associated changes in mineralogy, geochemistry and degree of oxidation: a case study at Forsmark, central Sweden. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 99, 1–25 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-008-0369-1

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