Proceedings 27th NZ Geothermal Workshop 2005

HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION MINERALOGY OF THE LAHENDONG

GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM, NORTH SULAWESI: A PROGRESS REPORT
PRI UTAMI1,2, P.R.L. BROWNE1, S. F. SIMMONS1, & SUROTO3
1
Geology Department, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
2
Dept. of Geological Engineering, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
3
Pertamina Geothermal, Jakarta, Indonesia

SUMMARY – Lahendong is a hot-water dominated geothermal system located in the north arm of
Sulawesi Island. Cores and cuttings from 9 of the 18 wells drilled in Lahendong were re-examined to
determine the subsurface geology and to construct the hydrothermal history of the field. There are two
styles of alteration in the subsurface, namely replacement of the primary minerals and deposition of
secondary minerals in fractures and cavities. The hydrothermal fluid-rock interactions at depths have
produced clays, calcite, anhydrite, pyrite, iron oxide, quartz, actinolite, adularia, albite, epidote, prehnite,
pumpellyite, and wairakite. Most of the subsurface rocks have undergone a pervasive alteration. In each
studied well 5 stages of vein & cavity mineralization are recognised, although a particular stage in one
well may not be present in others. Stage 1 is characterised by extensive chlorite, sometimes with hematite
and pyrite. Stages 2 and 3 are dominated by calcite and quartz, respectively. Calc-silicate minerals were
formed during stage 4, and marked a high-temperature regime (≥ 250 oC) in the system. The last stage of
mineralisation (stage 5) possibly reflects the present-day conditions.

1. INTRODUCTION type, and mainly coincide with the NE-SW

trending faults. They consist of altered and
Lahendong is the first geothermal field in the steaming ground, acid sulfate hot springs, mud
eastern part of Indonesia to be developed for pots and mud pools (with or without mud
electricity generation. It is managed by Pertamina volcanoes), and gas vents. The common surface
Geothermal, and the power is generated by the alteration minerals are alunogen, often associated
State Electricity Company (PLN). with halotrichite and alunite (in mud pots &
pools, steaming ground, and on rims of gas
This paper describes the style of subsurface vents), sulfur and fine-grained pyrite (on the rims
alteration, and hydrothermal mineral parageneses of fumaroles), alunite and halloysite, sometimes
of the field, and forms an updated progress report with alunogen (in steaming ground), amorphous
of research on the subsurface geology and the silica and hematite, in places with kaolin (in
evolution of the Lahendong geothermal system by cooler altered ground).
the first author. Cores and cuttings recovered
from 9 of the 18 wells drilled in Lahendong (1500 The studied wells are LHD-1 (abandoned), 3
– 2500 m deep) were examined to recognise the (exploration), 4 (production), 5 (production), 6
sequence of hydrothermal mineral deposited. (exploration), 7 (re-injection), 10 (make-up), and
Preliminary results of the fluid inclusion 13 (production). These wells, except LHD-1 and
microthermometry are included. Similar work has 3 are located inside the Pangolombian Caldera
been done by Moore et al (2000) in a landmark (Figure 1-b). They encounter thick sequences of
study of the Tiwi geothermal system, Philippines. andesitic – rhyolitic Quaternary rocks, i.e., the
Study of mineralogical relationships has also been Pangolombian, Tondano, and Pre-Tondano units.
made by Moore et al (2004) that recognised the The last two units were intruded by diorite dykes.
behaviour of the descending acid-sulfate waters in Sedimentary and volcano-sedimentary rocks
the Karaha – Telaga Bodas geothermal system, occur, probably as lenses, within the Pre-Tondano
Indonesia. unit. The simplified subsurface stratigraphy of the
field is summarised in Figure 2.
2. FIELD OVERVIEW
The deep reservoir (1000 – 2000 m) is hosted by
The tectonic setting and the surface geology of Tondano and Pre-Tondano units, and the
the Lahendong area and its vicinity was described measured temperature ranges from 250 to 350oC
by Utami et al (2004), and is briefly reviewed (Azimudin, 1999).
here.
3. SUBSURFACE HYDROTHERMAL
Lahendong is located in the north arm of ALTERATION
Sulawesi, and is part of the Sangihe volcanic arc
(Figure 1-a), in Quaternary volcanic terrain about 3.1 Alteration style and mineralogy
750 m above sea level. The thermal
manifestations are of fumarolic and steam-heated
Hydrothermal minerals in Lahendong occur as between the wall rocks and the hydrothermal
replacements of primary minerals, and in vein and fluids, while space fill minerals reflect the
cavities (including pores, vesicles, and the processes that affected the circulating fluids
chambers of micro fossils). The replacement (Browne, 1988).
hydrothermal minerals record the interactions

Figure 1. (a). Tectonic elements of the north arm of Sulawesi and its vicinity (redrawn from Hamilton, 1988).
(b). Location map of the wells studied with respect to the major structures in Lahendong geothermal field.

Figure 2. Simplified subsurface stratigraphy of the Lahendong geothermal field. Age data is taken from P.T.
Gondwana (1988).

Most of the subsurface rocks are of andesitic especially those with fragmental textures, have
composition, except part of the Tondano unit been pervasively altered with the common
which is rhyolitic (Figure 2). These rocks, intensity ranging from 0.5 - 1.0. The order of
relative susceptibility of the primary minerals The common vein and vug minerals are chlorite,
along with their common replacement products calcite, quartz, adularia, wairakite, epidote,
is summarised in Table 1. Plagioclase anhydrite, pyrite, hematite, and less commonly
phenocrysts and crystal fragments are replaced actinolite, albite, illite, and prehnite. Their
by more diverse secondary minerals than the parageneses are discussed in the following
other primary phases. sections.

In general, from the near surface down to about 3.2 Vein and cavity fill paragenesis
sea level the dominant replacement minerals are
calcite, quartz, hematite and other iron oxides. Fifty nine cores from 9 wells were examined
In most of the wells studied, epidote and other and their vein and cavity mineral parageneses
calc-silicates start to appear from about sea determined to characterise the changes in the
level, except for LHD-5 where epidote first physical and chemical conditions in the
appears as a replacement of plagioclase at 752 geothermal system. The shallowest core is from
m deep (about 225 m asl). Other calc-silicates 300 m depth (LHD-1).
are usually minor in abundance, and do not
increase with depth. Anhydrite occurs as a Based on the sequence of mineral deposition
partial replacement of plagioclase and pyroxene and vein crosscutting relationship at least 5
sporadically from below –150 m bsl. stages of mineralisation can be recognised in
each well studied (Figure 3 a-g). Here each
Clay minerals are common in Lahendong. stage is expressed by a number followed by a
Smectite and interlayered chlorite-smectite subscript. The number denotes the stage and the
dominate shallow levels (from near surface subscript indicates the well number, e.g. stage
down to about 250 m asl). Chlorite occurs 11 means stage 1 in well LHD-1; this deposition
almost at every depth, while illite occurs in event may not necessarily have occurred at the
restricted zones from about -220 m bsl. same time as, for example, stage 1 in well LHD-
3 (13). That is stages are not necessarily field
Table 1. Relative susceptibility of the primary wide.
minerals in Lahendong subsurface samples.
Relative Primary Replacement mineral Well LHD-1- The first stage (11) of
susceptibility mineral product
Common Less common
mineralisation began with the deposition of
Most Glass smectite, hematite, chlorite into fractures and cavities, mostly
susceptible chlorite, micro- monomineralic, but sometimes forming a
crystalline mozaic with pyrite. Stage 21 is characterised by
quartz calcite although chlorite occurs as a minor
Biotite* iron oxide
Plagioclase chlorite, anhydrite,
phase in places. The appearance of quartz
smectite, albite, indicates stage 31. At some depths, calcite, and
illite, prehnite, chlorite continued to develop, forming veins of
wairakite, pumpellyite, mosaic quartz ± calcite, or segmental veins of
adularia, actinolite,
quartz, tourmaline (?)
quartz – calcite ± chlorite. Stage 41 is marked by
calcite, the occurrence of calc-silicates such as epidote,
epidote, prehnite and wairakite, plus albite and adularia.
hematite, They mostly occur as monomineralic veins or
titanite
amygdules, but at some depths postdate chlorite
Pyroxene chlorite, epidote,
hematite, anhydrite, or calcite, forming mirror veins or
calcite, quartz concentrically zoned amygdules. They occur
semi- from below 650 m depth. Anhydrite, sometimes
opaque with pyrite, calcite or quartz, occurs at 650 m,
Hornblende* None
Apatite None
around 900 m and at 1500 m depths. Stage 51 is
Least Quartz* None represented by hematite. At 651 m depth the
susceptible hematite vein cuts veins of earlier stages, and at
* in rhyolitic host rocks 801 m hematite fills spaces in a brecciated vein.

Six types of veins and five cavity fillings are Well LHD-3 – Here stage 13 is characterised by
recognised in Lahendong system (Table 2). chlorite. Calcite possibly formed in stage 23 ;
this interpretation is not well established as the
Table 2. Types of vein and their equivalent cavity calcite forms monomineralic amygdules. Quartz
deposit types. with minor calcite or chlorite (and possibly
Type Vein Cavity filling titanite ?) is assigned to stage 31. Wairakite,
1 Mono-mineral Mono-mineral albite, and adularia mark stage 43. Stage 53 is
2 Mirror Concentric
probably represented by late calcite or late
3 Mozaic Mozaic
quartz with or without hematite at about 1620 m
4 Segmental Segmental
5 Combination Combination
depth. In the deepest part of the cored portion of
6 Brecciated -
the well (2201-2203 m depth) a brecciated vein Wells LHD-10 & 13 - Wells LHD-10 and 13
is postdated by calcite, adularia and quartz. have 1 and 2 cores, respectively, therefore it is
difficult to judge their mineral paragenesis.
Well LHD-4 - Stage 1 in LHD-4 started with However, in LHD-10 chlorite is thought to
deposition of chlorite into amygdules and that develop at stage 110, quartz at 310 and epidote at
was probably continued to later stages. 410 - 510. Epidote and actinolite in LHD-13 were
Hematite occurs at around 650 m and 850 m probably developed at stages 413 – 513.
depths forming mosaic veins with chlorite.
Calcite, titanite and leucoxene are interpreted to 3.3. Fluid inclusion microthermometry
have developed during stage 24, and quartz Not many crystals suitable for fluid inclusion
during stage 34, where it usually forms parts of geothermometry are available, and their
concentric amygdules of chlorite → quartz, or occurrences are sporadic. However, the results
chlorite → calcite → quartz. Stages 44 and 45 of measurements made on stage 37 calcite
are marked by epidote, late quartz and late deposited as part of segmental vein of
calcite forming mosaic veins of quartz ± epidote microcrystalline quartz - calcite from LHD-7
± calcite. These stages are well developed from (1568 – 1571 m) and stage 55 euhedral quartz
below about 1000 m depth. Late chlorite vein from LHD-5 (900 – 901 m) are briefly
appears in the well bottom (2305 m) as part of reported here.
concentric amygdules of epidote → chlorite.
Thirty six primary fluid inclusions in stage 37
Well LHD-5 – Widespread chlorite marks stage vein calcite (LHD-7, 1568 – 1571 m) were
1 5. Hematite commonly deposited in the measured. They are liquid-rich with consistent
shallow part is interpreted to develop at this vapor contents, i.e., about 10% of the
stage as well, since some thin monomineralic inclusions’ volume. No vapor inclusions are
hematite veins are cut by younger veins. Stage present in the sample. Their homogenisation
25 is characterised by calcite that forms temperatures (Ths) and ice melting temperatures
concentric amygdules of early chlorite → (Tms) range from 227 to 269 oC and -0.3 to -
calcite, or mosaic veins of calcite ± hematite ± 0.1oC, respectively. The downwell temperature
pyrite at the shallow depths. Quartz, and here is about 75 oC The fluid inclusion salinity
perhaps illite (minor at around 1002 m depth) calculated using the formula proposed by Potter
mark stage 35, where calcite and chlorite occur et al (1978) ranges from 0.18 to 0.53 wt% NaCl
as minor phases. Stage 45 is marked by the equivalent.
appearance of adularia, epidote, and
clinozoisite, usually as parts of mosaic veins Euhedral quartz veins from stage 55 LHD-5
with calcite, quartz, or chlorite, and sometimes (900 – 901 m) contains measurable fluid
pyrite. Anhydrite occurs at around 650 m and inclusions in the last deposited crystals. Twenty
900 m depths forming mosaic veins with primary and six secondary / pseudo-secondary
adularia, quartz or calcite, or in monomineralic liquid-rich fluid (10% vapor) inclusions give Th
amygdules. Stage 55 is marked by late calcite and Tm ranges from 227 to 269 oC and 0.0 to -
and quartz, and at around 1300 m depth it is 0.1oC, respectively. The downwell temperature
characterised by brecciated veins composed of here is about 250 oC. No vapor inclusions are
quartz, pyrite, chlorite, calcite, titanite, illite, present but the maximum Ths closely match the
epidote, and adularia. boiling temperature of pure water at 900 m
depth. The Tms correspond to salinities of < 0.2
Well LHD-7 – Stage 17 is dominated by chlorite wt% NaCl equivalent.
at shallow depths down to about 900 m. Calcite,
sometimes with chlorite, marks stage 27. 4. DISCUSSION
Titanite probably developed at this stage as
well, but its position in the paragenesis is not 4.1. Hydrothermal history
well constrained. Stage 37 started with the
deposition of quartz, where in some parts it was The occurrence of chlorite as the first deposited
predated by the deformation of calcite veins mineral indicates that the earliest recorded stage
deposited in the stage 27 event. Epidote and of the hydrothermal system at Lahendong was
wairakite and illite appeared at stage 47. Epidote liquid-dominated. The optical properties of the
occurs at 560 m depth, postdating calcite in chlorites assigned to stage 1 are very similar
veins. Wairakite appears at deeper level (1567 from well to well but the deposition
m) together with pyrite. Illite ± epidote temperatures may have ranged widely. Chlorite
postdates quartz at around 1750 m depth. Stage is reported to be stable from 120 to > 320oC in
57 is marked by the occurrence of pyrite, and the Philippines geothermal systems (Reyes,
hematite sometimes with late calcite. The veins 1990). The coexistence of the chlorite with
at around 1570 m and 1755 m depths are only hematite (e.g. in the shallow parts of LHD-4
partly filled. and 5) and pyrite (in the shallow part of LHD-1)
suggests the influence of cooler, more
oxygenated water.
In stage 2 the fluid was CO2-rich, as indicated calcite deposited as indicated by its bent
by the presence of calcite. In some parts of the cleavages
field, deformation took place shortly after

(d) LHD-5

(a) LHD-1

(e) LHD-7

(b) LHD-3 (f) LHD-10

(g) LHD-13

Figure 3 (a – g). Paragenetic sequences of

hydrothermal mineral depositions in wells studied.
(c) LHD-4
Fluid inclusions in veins of stage 37 quartz ± to the boiling point versus depth curve for pure
calcite from LHD-7 (1568 m depth) record water. This suggests a boiling event occurred at
temperatures of 227 – 269 oC, which plot close
this stage, even though no vapour-rich 5. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
inclusions were seen.
This research is part of a PhD study by the first
By contrast to the previous stages where the author supported by an NZ Doctoral Open
veins mostly had simple paragenesis, the Scholarship. The authors sincerely thank
textures in stages 4 and 5 are more complex. Pertamina Geothermal management for
This probably reflects the more complex fluid permission to publish this paper.
flow patterns. The circulating fluid during stage
4 was of near-neutral pH at temperatures of 6. REFERENCES
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fluid and its salinity. 40Ar/39Ar age dating is Proc. of the 26th NZ Geothermal Workshop
planned on samples of adularia vein minerals, 2005.
and this will time constrain the onset of the high
temperature regime of the Lahendong system.