Fluid and carbon flux estimation of regional metamorphic fluid flow in Glen Esk, SE Scottish Highlands: The role of hydrodynamic dispersion for broadening of an isotopic front

Abstract

During metamorphism, large quantities of fluids are mobilized and transported through the crust. Such fluids may interact with surrounding rock and serve as a medium for chemical transport. In this study, we use coupled carbonation and oxygen isotope fronts to estimate fluid and carbon fluxes for metamorphic fluid flow in vein pathways in the Dalradian metasediments that crop out in Glen Esk, SE Scottish Highlands. Comparison of wall rock and vein oxygen isotope ratios indicate that the Barrovian sequence in Glen Esk was infiltrated by at least two separate fluid flow events, where fluid flow from the North Esk Fault overprints an earlier fluid flow event, for which the syn-metamorphic magmatic intrusions north of Glen Esk are a probable fluid source. Advection is the dominating mode of fluid transportation in veins. By advection-dispersion and advection-diffusion modeling, we estimate a time-averaged fluid flux of 0.0005 to 0.0135 m³ · m⁻² · yr⁻¹ and a carbon flux of 0.04 to 0.71 mol C · m⁻² · yr⁻¹for fluid flow from the North Esk fault into the Dalradian metasediments. The duration of this fluid flow event is estimated to between 11 and 230 kyr. Our results also indicate that hydrodynamic dispersion was the main reason for broadening of the oxygen isotope front.