Surface hydrothermal activity controlled by the active structural system in the self-sealing geothermal field of Acoculco (Mexico)

• Published in: Geothermics Vol. 101; p. 102372
• Main Authors: Bolós, Xavier, Del Ángel, Victor, Villanueva-Estrada, Ruth E., Sosa-Ceballos, Giovanni, Boijseauneau-López, Mario, Méndez, Viridiana, Macías, José Luis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2022; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Acoculco volcanic caldera; Active control; Calderas; Carbon dioxide; Degassing; Exploitation; Geothermal energy; Geothermal power; Hydrothermal cold degassing; Permeability; Self-potential method; Self-sealing geothermal field; Soil CO2 flux survey; Temperature measurements; Volcanic activity; Mexico; Soil CO2 flux survey; Temperature measurements; Self-sealing geothermal field; Acoculco volcanic caldera; Self-potential method; Hydrothermal cold degassing
• ISSN: 0375-6505; 1879-3576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.geothermics.2022.102372

•Geophysical and geochemical investigations of Acoculco self-sealing geothermal field.•Joint interpretation of self-potential, temperature, and soil CO2 flux surveys.•Absence of hydrothermal fluid circulation with convective activity.•The importance of the active structural system on a self-sealing geothermal field.•Permeability and degassing processes controlled by the intersection of fault systems. The active volcanic caldera of Acoculco has been explored in the last few years to develop geothermal energy from non-conventional sources. This caldera located in eastern Mexico has been classified as a Hot Dry Rock geothermal system. Our results bring a new understanding to the interaction between two intra-caldera fault systems in terms of their permeability and degassing processes through self-potential, temperature, and CO2 flux surveys. We demonstrate the absence of hydrothermal fluid circulation with convective activity, and we provide new evidence for the origin of cold degassing. These outcomes may have important implications for future exploitation targets in the area.