Hydrothermal Systems Laboratories
Our mission is to better understand all hydrothermal systems, with a particular focus on subseafloor and sublacustrine systems for a safer and more prosperous New Zealand.
Our Expertise
Hydrothermal systems play an important role in our understanding of volcanic, tectonic and geothermal process in Aotearoa New Zealand. They also host critical minerals essential to the low-carbon technologies we aspire to develop at GNS Science.
Our laboratories provide specialised analyses of hydrothermal fluid chemistry, fluid inclusions, massive sulfide mineralization dating and petrography, together with potential field geophysical techniques and heat flow.
Our scientists study the geology, geochemistry, geophysics, mineralogy, and petrology for a holistic picture of the processes and impacts of hydrothermal activity.
For the past two decades, our researchers have been studying hydrothermal systems along the Kermadec arc, as well as New Zealand lakes, and international locations. We have undertaken more than 50 voyages to better understand the natural hazards, mineralisation, extreme life forms, and fluid/metal pathways from magma to the sea and lake floor systems we study.
We host the largest collection of volcanic rock samples from volcanoes of the Kermadec arc and the most extensive collection of chimneys from hydrothermal vents on the seafloor up the arc. We also have a large bathymetric dataset of the Kermadec arc and offshore New Zealand.
Our Clients
We are funded by the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment to work in partnership with national and international researchers and facilities.
We deliver consultancy work on seafloor massive sulfides for for a range of commercial and government entities, including Neptune Minerals and New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals. Our fluid inclusion work is applied to petroleum systems in New Zealand, ore deposits and geothermal systems in the Philippines, Chile, South Africa, Indonesia, Japan and New Zealand, and to volcanic studies in New Zealand and offshore.
Our Hydrothermal Systems laboratories and Capabilities
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The Marine Geochemistry Laboratory
The Marine Geochemistry Laboratory (MGL) specialises in the analysis of trace elements, rare earth elements and major ions in the complex seawater matrix.
The lab operates a clean environment for low-level elements and uses ion chromatography, LC-MS, ICP-AES, and ICP-MS (through partner labs).
Ion exchange resins, concentration columns and chelation chromatography are used to minimise the matrix and maximise analyte signal. MGL owns and maintains a set of major titanium samplers for collection of high temperature, high pressure hydrothermal fluids, and a SeaBird CTD (Conductivity-Temperature-Depth) profiler with added LS (light-scattering) and ORP (oxidation-reduction potential) sensors, plus twenty 20-L sampling rosette bottles for plume analysis.
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The Fluid Inclusion Laboratory
The Fluid Inclusion Laboratory is equipped with two petrographic microscopes: one solely for fluid inclusion measurements, also equipped with a UV-light source; the other for reflected and transmitted light for petrographic analysis of rock slides and fluid inclusions prior to measurements.
There are three sets of fluid inclusion systems in the laboratory:
1. Fluid Inc. U.S.G.S. gas-flow heating/freezing system for heating up to 700oC and freezing down to the boiling point of liquid nitrogen (-195.8oC)
2. Linkam system including a heating/freezing stage THMSG600 for heating up to 600oC and freezing down to the boiling point of liquid nitrogen (-195.8oC). These instruments are used to measure the temperatures at which fluids are trapped in micro-vacuoles in minerals, and also to determine the freezing point depression of trapped aqueous solutions.
3. Linkam TS1500 heating stage for heating up from ambient to 1500oC. The stage is cooled by circulating water. This is used to measure the melting point of melt/glass inclusions in volcanic rocks.
Our Sulfide Dating Laboratory performs barite extractions from volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits (commonly chimneys) for dating 226Ra, 228Ra, 228Th and 210Pb. Dating of mineralization helps provide an understanding of subseafloor hydrothermal mineralisation processes and the transfer of Ba from magmas to the seafloor.
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The Marine Geophysics Laboratory
The Marine Geophysics Laboratory hosts a Lacoste-Romberg gravity meter, two SeaSpy magnetometers and a set of 14 heat flow blankets.
The gravity meter can be installed on large, ocean going vessels and also small boats used on volcanic lakes of the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The SeaSpy magnetometers are towed behind the vessel while the heat flow blankets can be deployed off a small boat when on lakes, or on the seafloor using ROVs (remotely operated vehicles).
The lab also owns a miniature magnetometer that can be deployed on an ROV or AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle).
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International Relationships
International Relationships: We are a key part of the global network of hydrothermal geoscientists, researchers and facilities. We gain and share knowledge with:
- GEOMAR, Kiel, Germany
- MARUM, Bremen, Germany
- NOAA/PMEL, Seattle, Washington, USA
- WHOI, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
- JAMSTEC, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan
- IODP, College Station, Texas, USA
- University of Bremen, Germany
- University of Genoa, Italy
- New Zealand Navy
- Orka Energy, Iceland
- Thai Shell Exploration & Production Co Limited, Thailand
- Petroleum companies, New Zealand: OMV New Zealand, New Zealand Oil and Gas Ltd., Swift Energy New Zealand Ltd., Todd Corporation, Greymouth Petroleum Ltd., New Zealand Overseas Petroleum Ltd.
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Research Programmes
Hydrothermal systems and Pink and White Terraces, IODP Expedition 376.
Our Location
The Marine Geochemistry Laboratory is located at the Avalon, Lower Hutt campus.
Our team
The Hydrothermal Systems Laboratories employs a truly multidisciplinary team:
- Cornel de Ronde, Principal Scientist, Hydrothermal Systems and Minerals Team Leader
- Valerie Stucker, Analytical Geochemist, Marine Geochemistry Laboratory Lead Scientist
- Agnes Reyes, Petrologist/Fluid Geochemist, Fluid Inclusion Laboratory Lead Scientist
- Ariadni Georgatou, Post-doctoral Scientist, Petrologist
- Bob Ditchburn, Emeritus Scientist, Chimney Dating Laboratory
- Jenny Black, Data Technician, Marine Geophysics Laboratory Operator