Cold-water geyser

Cold-water geysers are geysers that have eruptions whose water spurts are propelled by CO₂-bubbles, instead of the hot steam which drives the more familiar hot-water geysers: The gush of a cold-water geyser is identical to the spurt from a freshly-opened bottle of soda pop. Cold-water geysers look quite similar to their steam-driven counterparts; however, their CO₂-laden water often appears whiter and more frothy.^[1]

Mechanism

In cold-water geysers, the supply of CO₂-laden water lies confined in an aquifer, in which water and CO₂ are trapped by less permeable overlying strata. The more familiar hot-water geysers derive the energy for their eruptons from the proximity to (relatively) near-surface magma. In contrast, whereas cold water geysers might also derive their supply of CO₂ from magmatic sources, by definition of "cold-water", they do not also obtain sufficient heat to provide steam pressure, and their eruptions are propelled only by the pressure of dissolved CO₂. The magnitude and frequency of such eruptions depend on various factors such as plumbing depth, CO₂ concentrations and refresh rate, aquifer water yield, etc.

The water and its load of CO₂ powering a cold-water geyser can escape the rock strata overlying its aquifer only through weak segments of rock, like faults, joints, or drilled wells. A borehole drilled for a well, for example, can unexpectedly provide an escape route for the pressurized water and CO₂ to reach the surface. The column of water rising through the rock exerts enough pressure on the gaseous CO₂ so that it remains in the water as dissolved gas or small bubbles. When the pressure decreases due to the widening of a fissure, the CO₂ bubbles expand, and that expansion displaces the water above and causes the eruption.

Examples

Cold-water geyser Wallender Born (Germany)

Notable cold-water geysers include:

Saratoga Springs, New York
Crystal Geyser, near Green River, Utah^[1]^[2]

Other cold-water geysers include:

Caxambu, Brazil^[3]
Herľany, Slovakia
Sivá Brada, Slovakia
Wallender Born (a.k.a. Brubbel), Germany
Wehr Geyser Germany
Andernach Geyser (a.k.a. Namedyer Sprudel), Germany

References

^ a b Glennon, J.A. (6 May 2005) [12 February 2004]. "Carbon dioxide-driven, cold water geysers" (academic site). University of California, Santa Barbara. Archived from the original on 2007-09-02. Retrieved 8 June 2007.
^ Glennon, J.A.; Pfaff, R.M. (2005). "The operation and geography of carbon-dioxide-driven, cold-water geysers". GOSA Transactions. 9: 184–192.
^ Bonotto, Daniel Marcos (2016). "Hydrogeochemical study of spas groundwaters from southeast Brazil". Journal of Geochemical Exploration. 169: 60–72. doi:10.1016/j.gexplo.2016.07.016. hdl:11449/173240.

[Glennon-2004-2005-1] Glennon, J.A. (6 May 2005) [12 February 2004]. "Carbon dioxide-driven, cold water geysers" (academic site). University of California, Santa Barbara. Archived from the original on 2007-09-02. Retrieved 8 June 2007.

[Glennon-Pfaff-2005-2] Glennon, J.A.; Pfaff, R.M. (2005). "The operation and geography of carbon-dioxide-driven, cold-water geysers". GOSA Transactions. 9: 184–192.

[Bonotto-2016-3] Bonotto, Daniel Marcos (2016). "Hydrogeochemical study of spas groundwaters from southeast Brazil". Journal of Geochemical Exploration. 169: 60–72. doi:10.1016/j.gexplo.2016.07.016. hdl:11449/173240.