Carbon Sequestration in Mid Ocean Ridge Hydrothermal Systems

Abstract The objective of this paper is to explore a novel environment for carbon sequestration. Mid ocean ridge hydrothermal systems flow enormous volumes of water through vesicular porosity and natural fracture systems in basalt. Since the basic premise of carbon mineralization projects is to dissolve carbon dioxide in water and react the resulting carbonate ions with minerals in mafic or ultramafic igneous rock, the presence of so much natural flow through such rocks presents an opportunity. The proposed concept is to inject carbon dioxide in or near natural seawater intakes associated with these hydrothermal systems. Snæbjörnsdóttir and Gislason (2016) assessed the carbon dioxide sequestration potential in basalt offshore Iceland and concluded that up to 7000 GtCO2 could be stored offshore Iceland within its exclusive economic zone, so volumes of basalt are not a limiting factor.