Stable isotopes evidence of recycled

subduction fluids in the

hydrothermal/volcanic activity across
Nicaragua and Costa Rica
Ramírez-Leiva A., Sánchez-Murillo R., Martínez-Cruz M.,
Calderón H., Esquivel-Hernández G.,
Delgado V., Birkel C., Gazel E., Alvarado G.E., Soulsby C.
Fractionation 𝐻2 𝑂 𝑙 ↔ 𝐻2 𝑂 𝑣
Phase change: 20C
18 16
18 ( 𝑂/ 𝑂)𝑙 P 1H216O > P1H218O
𝛼 𝑂𝑙−𝑣 = 18 16 ~1%
( 𝑂/ 𝑂)𝑣

Vapor

Vapor pressure

Water
1H 18O 1H 16O
2 2

Leibundgut et al., 2009

4
Fractionation
Non-equilibrium: 𝐻2 𝑂 𝑙 ↔ 𝐻2 𝑂 𝑣

Vapor-in Turbulent air

mixing

Molecular
exchange
Diffusion

Turbulent layer
Pre-
pressãolayer
Interface de vapor shifted
Equilibrium

water
water

Leibundgut et al., 2009

5
GMWL: 2H=8·18O+10
d-excess=2H-8·18O
lc-excess= 2H-a·18O-b
 Concluding remarks
• Hydrothermal waters of Nicaragua exhibited a
notable departure from meteoric conditions due to
intense evaporation, which is reflected in the
consistent low d-excess and lc-excess values
• In Costa Rica, hydrothermal fluids are divided in
two main groups: a) fluids isotopically-close to
meteoric conditions and b) fluids isotopically-
altered by the interaction with magmatic-derived
sources
 Concluding remarks
• The larger precipitation regime of Costa Rica results
in the attenuation of the evaporative effect
• Relative weak correlations between 18O and the
elevation gradient suggest that subsurface heat
sources are the main driver of the observed isotopic
departure
• There is a limitation regarding the separation of
surface/subsurface kinetic fractionation
Questions and Comments
ricardo.sanchez.murillo@una.cr