Chemistry and isotope ratios of sulfur in basalts and volcanic gases at Kilauea volcano, Hawaii

Eighteen basalts and some volcanic gases from the submarine and subaerial parts of Kilauea volcano were analyzed for the concentration and isotope ratios of sulfur. By means of a newly developed technique, sulfide and sulfate sulfur in the basalts were separately but simultaneously determined. The submarine basalt has 700 ± 100 ppm total sulfur with δ³⁴S_Σs of 0.7 ± 0.1 ‰">‰0.7 ± 0.1 ‰. The sulfate/sulfide molar ratio ranges from 0.15 to 0.56 and the fractionation factor between sulfate and sulfide is +7.5 ± 1.5‰">‰+7.5 ± 1.5‰. On the other hand, the concentration and δ³⁴S_Σs values of the total sulfur in the subaerial basalt are reduced to 150 ± 50 ppm and −0.8 ± 0.2‰">‰−0.8 ± 0.2‰, respectively. The sulfate to sulfide ratio and the fractionation factor between them are also smaller, 0.01 to 0.25 and +3.0‰, respectively. Chemical and isotopic evidence strongly suggests that sulfate and sulfide in the submarine basalt are in chemical and isotopic equilibria with each other at magmatic conditions. Their relative abundance and the isotope fractionation factors may be used to estimate the ƒo2">ƒo₂ and temperature of these basalts at the time of their extrusion onto the sea floor. The observed change in sulfur chemistry and isotopic ratios from the submarine to subaerial basalts can be interpreted as degassing of the SO₂ from basalt thereby depleting sulfate and ³⁴S in basalt.

The volcanic sulfur gases, predominantly SO₂, from the 1971 and 1974 fissures in Kilauea Crater have δ³⁴S values of 0.8 to 0.9%., slightly heavier than the total sulfur in the submarine basalts and definitely heavier than the subaerial basalts, in accord with the above model. However, the δ³⁴S value of sulfur gases (largely SO₂) from Sulfur Bank is 8.0%., implying a secondary origin of the sulfur. The δ³⁴S values of native sulfur deposits at various sites of Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanos, sulfate ions of four deep wells and hydrogen sulfide from a geothermal well along the east rift zone are also reported. The high δ³⁴S values (+5 to +6%._o) found for the hydrogen sulfide might be an indication of hot basalt seawater reaction beneath the east rift zone.