Mode of Occurrence of Clay Minerals and Chemical Composition of Hot Waters in Southeastern Part of Hyogo Prefecture

The mode of occurrence of clay minerals and the interaction between hot waters and wall rocks in Arima and Takarazuka have been investigated by X-ray powder diffraction, microscopic observation and chemical analysis. The alteration halo can be divided into three zones, such as, zone I (chlorite-mica zone), zone II (silica zone) and zone III (mica-kaolinite zone). Low, medium and high-temperature waters are mainly located in zone I, II and III respectively. Calcite veinlets are present in drilling cores of zone I and II. The pH values of hot waters in zone II calculated on the basis of the calcite-brine equilibrium equations are higher than those in zone I. Partial CO2 pressure of hot waters are almost constant, indicating a 3.8 atmospheric pressure in zone I, and a 4.9 atmospheric pressure in zone II. The most important factor controlling the chemical composition of hot waters seems to be the calcite-brine equilibrium in wall rocks.