Geological implications of a permeability-depth curve for the continental crust

Research Article| December 01, 1999 Geological implications of a permeability-depth curve for the continental crust S. E. Ingebritsen; S. E. Ingebritsen 1U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Craig E. Manning Craig E. Manning 2Department of Earth and Space Science, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1999) 27 (12): 1107–1110. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1999)0272.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation S. E. Ingebritsen, Craig E. Manning; Geological implications of a permeability-depth curve for the continental crust. Geology 1999;; 27 (12): 1107–1110. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1999)0272.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The decrease in permeability (k) of the continental crust with depth (z), as constrained by geothermal data and calculated fluid flux during metamorphism, is given by log k = −14 − 3.2 log z, where k is in meters squared and z is in kilometers. At moderate to great crustal depths (>∼5 km), this curve is defined mainly by data from prograde metamorphic systems, and is thus applicable to orogenic belts where the crust is being thickened and/or heated; lower permeabilities may occur in stable cratonic regions. This k-z relation implies that typical metamorphic fluid flux values of ∼10−11 m/s are consistent with fluid pressures significantly above hydrostatic values. The k-z curve also predicts that metamorphic CO2 flux from large orogens may be sufficient to cause significant climatic effects, if retrograde carbonation reactions are minimal, and suggests a significant capacity for diffuse degassing of Earth (1015–1016 g/yr) in tectonically active regions. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.