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Thermal springs present rare opportunities to locate and interpret the geological drivers of upper-crustal fluid flow. Interpreting the conditions through which crustal fluids are heated and released to the surface is important for advancing our understanding of crustal deformation and geothermal resource potential across tectonic contexts. In New Zealand, the majority of thermal springs are associated with magmatic-hydrothermal systems in the central North Island or with the rapidly uplifting bedrock in the South Island's convergent fault systems. However, low enthalpy systems outside of these areas represent attractive targets for potential geothermal resource development. The low enthalpy warm springs of Banks Peninsula, located immediately adjacent to Christchurch, represent a highly understudied but potentially significant resource to the South Island's most densely populated metropolitan area. Hosted within the eroded 11–5.8 Ma volcanic complex of Banks Peninsula, these warm springs (14.5–33.6 °C) represent an anomalous hydrothermal system that has been perturbed by the 2010–2016 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence (CES). The February 22, 2011, Mw 6.2 earthquake induced observable changes to the Banks Peninsula warm springs system, including the appearance of new warm springs within the peninsula's north-western Hillsborough Valley. We assess the origins of the volcanically-hosted Banks Peninsula warm springs post-CES using an integrated isotopic, geochemical, and soil gas flux approach. Additionally, we elucidate the tectonic context and geological drivers of upper-crustal fluid flow in the Banks Peninsula warm spring system. Aqueous phase emissions from the springs predominantly plot within the Na+ + K+/HCO3− type waters and exhibit δ 18 O , δ D , and δ 13 C values of −8.30 to −9.26‰ V-SMOW, −60.15 to −64.19‰ V-SMOW, and −12.37 to −15.06‰ V-PDB, respectively. Soil gas flux surveys of the springs at Rapaki Bay revealed CO2 fluxes that average 6.93 ± 10 gm-2 day−1, with an average δ 13 C value of −19.81 ± 5‰ V-PDB, and CH4 fluxes that average 5.58 ± 12 gm-2 day−1, with an average δ 13 C value of −59.52 ± 1‰ V-PDB. Our results suggest that the Banks Peninsula warm springs are a structurally controlled, upper-crustal metamorphic hydrothermal heated system, sourced from high-altitude Southern Alps derived meteoric waters. Carbon isotope compositions of gaseous emissions associated with the Banks Peninsula thermal springs are consistent with an upper-crustal metamorphic decarbonation and decarboxylation carbon source. Based on their geochemistry, we propose that the Banks Peninsula warm springs should be considered an outboard extension of the South Island's plate-boundary hydrothermal system. Such connectivity implies that long-lived low-enthalpy geothermal resources may be associated with permeable and distributed fault networks in the periphery of convergent margins.

Natural processes and anthropogenic activities may result in the formation and/or introduction of perchlorate (ClO4−) at elevated levels into the environment. Perchlorate in soil environments on Earth and potentially in Mars may modify the dynamics of metal release and their mobilization. Serpentine soils, known for their elevated metal concentrations, provide an opportunity to assess the extent that perchlorate may enhance metal release and availability in natural soil and regolith systems. Here, we assess the release rates and extractability of Ni, Mn, Co and Cr in processed Sri Lankan serpentine soils using a range of perchlorate concentrations (0.10–2.50 w/v ClO4−) via kinetic and incubation experiments. Kinetic experiments revealed an increase of Ni, Mn, Co and Cr dissolution rates (1.33 × 10−11, 2.74 × 10−11, 3.05 × 10−12 and 5.35 × 10−13 mol m−2 s−1, respectively) with increasing perchlorate concentrations. Similarly, sequential and single extractions demonstrated that Ni, Mn, Co and Cr increased with increasing perchlorate concentrations compared to the control soil (i.e., considering all extractions: 1.3–6.2 (Ni), 1.2–126 (Mn), 1.4–34.6 (Co) and 1.2–6.4 (Cr) times greater than the control in all soils). Despite the oxidizing capability of perchlorate and the accelerated release of Cr, the dominant oxidation state of Cr in solution was Cr(III), potentially due to low pH (

Diffuse soil CO2 flux surveys are a widely applied approach for delineating zones of elevated heat and mass transfer in areas with geothermal surface features including hot-springs, mud pools, and geysers. However, many geothermal systems are capped by relatively impermeable layers that diminish the surface expression of potential resources present at depth. Here, we report diffuse soil CO2 flux survey results with complementary δ13CO2 values and shallow soil temperatures for the Ngatamariki geothermal system (Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand), a largely surface blind system, in an effort to explore the utility of such data as indicators of magmatic carbon emission in geothermal systems with low CO2 flux. Our results include that: (1) the majority (54%) of the soil CO2 flux measurements are below background levels (15 gCO2 m−2 day−1); (2) only 5.6% of the shallow (10 cm) soil temperatures exceed 30 °C; and (3) no correlation is present between soil temperature and CO2 flux at Ngatamariki. These results belie the fact that a recently developed geothermal resource is present beneath Ngatamariki. Yet, δ13CO2 values when interpreted in the context of soil gas CO2 concentrations, demonstrate that the magmatic-hydrothermal system beneath Ngatamariki can be distinguished from soil-zone carbon sources using diffuse soil gas geochemical tracers. Modeling the Ngatamariki CO2 system as a simple mixture of geothermal biogenic and atmospheric end-members allows for the apportionment of CO2 flux at different locations across the field. Based on these findings, we suggest that delineating potential geothermal sites and assessing the relative contributions of mixed fluid end-members is possible even with low diffuse CO2 flux and limited surface expression of geothermal systems at depth.

Serpentine soils derived from the weathering of ultramafic rocks and their metamorphic derivatives (serpentinites) are chemically prohibitive for vegetative growth. Evaluating how serpentine vegetation is able to persist under these chemical conditions is difficult to ascertain due to the numerous factors (climate, relief, time, water availability, etc.) controlling and affecting plant growth. Here, the uptake, incorporation, and distribution of a wide variety of elements into the biomass of serpentine vegetation has been investigated relative to vegetation growing on an adjacent chert-derived soil. Soil pH, electrical conductivity, organic C, total N, soil extractable elements, total soil elemental compositions and plant digestions in conjunction with spider diagrams are utilized to determine the chemical relationships of these soil and plant systems. Plant available Mg and Ca in serpentine soils exceed values assessed in chert soils. Magnesium is nearly 3 times more abundant than Ca in the serpentine soils; however, the serpentine soils are not Ca deficient with Ca concentrations as high as 2235 mg kg −1 . Calcium to Mg ratios (Ca:Mg) in both serpentine and chert vegetation are greater than one in both below and above ground tissues. Soil and plant chemistry analyses support that Ca is not a limiting factor for plant growth and that serpentine vegetation is actively moderating Mg uptake as well as tolerating elevated concentrations of bioavailable Mg. Additionally, results demonstrate that serpentine vegetation suppresses the uptake of Fe, Cr, Ni, Mn and Co into its biomass. The suppressed uptake of these metals mainly occurs in the plants’ roots as evident by the comparatively lower metal concentrations present in above ground tissues (twigs, leaves and shoots). This research supports earlier studies that have suggested that ion uptake discrimination and ion suppression in the roots are major mechanisms for serpentine vegetation to tolerate the chemistry of serpentine soils.