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Shannon Entropy as an Indicator for Sorting Processes in Hydrothermal Systems.
Frank J A van Ruitenbeek1, Jasper Goseling2, Wim H Bakker1
1Department of Earth Systems Analysis, Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, Hengelosestraat 99, 7500 AA Enschede, The Netherlands.
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 8, 2020
Summary
Hydrothermal processes create order in volcanic rocks by sorting elements and spectral features. This study quantifies this increased order using Shannon entropy, revealing insights into rock composition changes.
Area of Science:
- Geochemistry
- Mineralogy
- Information Theory
Background:
- Hydrothermal processes significantly alter the chemical and mineralogical composition of rocks.
- Quantifying these alterations is crucial for understanding geological processes and resource formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the effects of hydrothermal alteration on volcanic rock composition using Shannon entropy.
- To demonstrate Shannon entropy as a novel tool for measuring chemical and spectral sorting in altered rocks.
Main Methods:
- Application of Shannon entropy to major elemental composition data of volcanic rocks.
- Calculation of Shannon entropy on short-wave infrared (SWIR) reflectance spectra of hydrothermally altered and unaltered rocks.
Main Results:
- Shannon entropy values are lower in hydrothermally altered rocks compared to unaltered rocks of similar primary composition.
- This reduction in entropy indicates significant chemical and spectral sorting during hydrothermal alteration.
- Hydrothermal processes act as a natural mechanism for increasing order within rock structures.
Conclusions:
- Shannon entropy effectively quantifies the increased order (chemical and spectral sorting) resulting from hydrothermal alteration.
- The findings have implications for studying hydrothermal mineral deposits and early life environments.
- This method provides a new approach to analyzing the impact of hydrothermal processes on geological materials.
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