Stable isotope study of rainfall, river drainage and hot springs of the kerguelen archipelago, SW Indian Ocean

International audienceThis study is the first synthesis of chemical composition and stable isotopes values for the Kerguelen archipelago waters. The stable isotope values for rainfall and river waters in the Kerguelen archipelago allow a calculation of the Local Meteoric Water Line (δD rainfall = 8.43 x δ18O rainfall + 11) and a summer runoff line (δD river drainage = 7.45 x δ18O river drainage + 6). Surface waters with low- ion concentrations, chlorine facies and stable isotope values infiltrate through fractures and lava flows recharging deeper groundwaters. Thermal groundwater with low- (7 to 50 °C) and high- (50 to 100 °C) temperatures emerges in different localities in the volcanic archipelago. The low-temperature thermal waters might represent a mixture of high-temperature water with rainfall, thermal gradient changes or shallower infiltration compared to that for high-temperature thermal waters. The Rallier du Baty and Val Travers areas contain geothermal fluids with high-temperature springs, fumaroles and a large water flow. In the Rallier du Baty, the major ion chemistry and O, H, C and S stable isotope ratio of low (7 to 50 °C) temperature spring waters in Rallier du Baty area demonstrate a geothermal-system recharged by meteoric water (δD H2O liquid = 7.0 x δ18O H2O liquid + 0.5) rather than sea water. The chemical and isotopic compositions of elevated temperature spring waters (50 to 100 °C) have a long and complex history of meteoric water interacting with cooling magmas (δD H2O liquid = 1.78 x δ18O H2O liquid – 23). Surficial precipitation of aragonite, kaolinite, pyrite, native sulfur attest to a long livied geothermal system. A temperature of the geothermal reservoir has been estimated between 193 and 259 °C by cation geothermometry. The combination of minerals observed, major ion composition of water with thermodynamic modeling and stable isotope data suggest a geothermal system with a series of water/rock interactions from 50 to 250 °C. The conductive cooling of rising of H2O−CO2-rich fluids have produced a H2O−CO2 phase separation with the precipitation of secondary minerals