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- Title
New Mexico "Continental Smokers": Geothermal Potential of Spring Vents that show Mantle Degassing and High CO<sub>2</sub> Content.
- Authors
ANDERSON, JORDAN; KARLSTROM, KARL; BLOMGREN, VALERIE; HOLT, BENJAMIN; GOLLA, JON; CROSSEY, LAURA; KELLEY, SHARI; MCGIBBON, CHRIS; WALK, CORY
- Abstract
Carbonic springs and wells in New Mexico exhibit evidence for mantle-to-groundwater connections. In addition to high CO2 partial pressure, these vents (termed "continental smokers") have high 3He/4He ratios, major faults nearby, travertine deposits, and low mantle velocity regions below the surface. These attributes indicate crustal permeability capable of transporting fluids and heat from deep within the Earth to near-surface groundwater systems. They typically occur within tectonically extended regions of the Earth's crust with high heat flow. The term "continental smokers" arises from their similarities to oceanic smokers at mid-ocean ridges. Robust correlations exist between high 3He/4He values and regions of relatively low mantle seismic wave velocity. No strong correlation exists between helium isotope ratios and crustal thickness suggesting that regional mantle volatile sources are more essential than crustal conduit systems. Low seismic velocities in the mantle indicate partial melt, a logical source of deeply derived helium (3He) and CO2-bearing volatiles. Springs and wells with the highest helium isotope ratios in the NM area (3He/4He in non-airlike groundwater) are located above the Valles Caldera (3.86 to 6.16 RA), Rico area of SW Colorado (4.75-5.88 RA), SE corner of AZ near the NM boarder (up to 4.23 RA), Bravo Dome (up to 3.78 RA), and Socorro magma body (NM Tech wells = 1.41 to 1.91 RA). This study also applies multiple geochemical tracer analyses to evaluate fluid mixing end members, fluid pathways, and the geothermometry of deeper fluids leading to a synthesis of geothermal resources in the New Mexico region.
- Subjects
GEOTHERMAL resources; DEGASSING of metals; GROUNDWATER quality; MIXING; GEOTHERMOMETRY
- Publication
New Mexico Journal of Science, 2017, Vol 51, Issue 1, p63
- ISSN
0270-3017
- Publication type
Article