Quantitative testing of conceptual models for hydrothermal carbonate genesis

This project focusses on the initial implementation of the new CSMP-GEMSnumerical code, designed for combined fluid flow (CSMP) and reactive transport modelling (GEMS), hence this code can suitable for prediction fluid distributions, temperatures as well as fluid and mineral compositions resulting from water-rock interactions. Although this new code is promising (especially regarding the level of complexity) furthertesting is needed, especially with regard to the combination of hydrologic non-isothermal fluid flow with dynamic permeability and fracture flow. Also the extrapolation of the models with respect to natural system needs to be examined further. Herein lies the innovative aspect of this projects: creating a model that combines a natural complex geometry in combination with realistic porosity and permeabilitychanges in a hydrothermal system and applying this to a natural system.
To this end, the Latemar carbonate platform (Italy) was chosen. This region is ideal for testing the codes capacity to model the geometric evolution of the dolomitization (and hence of the dolomitizing fluid) asit contains different lithologies, with each their specific porosity andpermeability, which are cross-cut by fractures and dikes. Furthermore, there is still some debate concerning the nature of the dolomitizing fluid, giving us the opportunity to examine to what extend the code can determine the source of dolomitization.
More specifically, this project will be divided into three major parts. The first part will mainly focus on fluid composition and will attempt to determine the source and conditions of dolomitization. The second part will focus more on the geometry of the fluid flow by incorporating the fracture and dike distribution pattern, as well as permeability and porosity changes into the model. The third part will largely depend on the findings of the two previous parts. For now, the idea is to shift the focus towards magmatic intrusion and the resulting effects on the related hydrothermal fluid flow and hence, the effects on the carbonate system