Geochemical (δ13C, δ18O, 87Sr/86Sr, REEs) characterization of travertine in Tengchong, China: Insights into travertine origin and reservoir conditions

Geochemical characterization is extensively employed in travertine research, yet few studies have explored the potential of travertine geochemistry for elucidating the subterranean details of spring systems. In this study, we systematically characterized the geochemical signatures (δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, REEs, Zr, Th, Sr, Mn) of travertine from six spring systems in Tengchong (SW China) and compared them with those of potential reservoir rocks, aiming to understand travertine origin and assess reservoir conditions. Our results revealed substantial variations in the δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O of travertine among the examined systems, but the water temperature and parent CO₂ assessments suggest a hot spring thermogene origin of the travertine. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of the studied travertine also varies significantly among the systems and overlaps with that of potential reservoir rocks. However, only the springs systems with reservoir temperatures exceeding 150 °C are likely to have precipitated travertine with ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr resembling the whole-rock ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of the reservoir rocks. REE contamination by exogenous detritus and FeMn (oxyhydr)oxides was noted, emphasizing the need for careful REE contamination evaluation in travertine research. The REE comparison reveals that the studied travertine does not fully replicate the REE signature of its potential reservoir rocks, but the REE pattern, (Eu/Eu*)_SN, and (Ce/Ce*)_SN characteristics of the travertine reveal informative reservoir conditions. In summary, this study shows that the geochemistry of the travertine offers valuable insights into its origin and reservoir conditions. These findings could assist in the geochemical interpretation of travertine and the exaction of hypogean reservoir conditions from travertine.