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- Title
Using geochemical tracers to understand geothermal flow pathways in northern NM.
- Authors
Blomgren, Valerie; Crossey, Laura; Karlstrom, Karl; Hyunwoo Lee; Fischer, Tobias
- Abstract
Carbonic warm and hot springs extend NE of the Valles Caldera toward Taos NM. We examined a suite of springs NE of the caldera along the Jemez lineament. Springs were analyzed for the purpose of understanding deep flow pathways of the regional geothermal system. Spring groups differ in the eastern (Taos) versus western (Ojo Caliente and La Madera) regions. Throughout both regions helium isotope analysis reveals the presence of a mantle component; 0.32 Rc/Ra in west and 0.20 Rc/Ra in the east (RA = 3He/4He ratio of air; Rc is air-corrected value). Additional tracers show that Ojo Caliente springs have 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0.747 and Sr abundances of 1.35 ppm, reflecting water flow through granitic basement rock; the 87Sr/86Sr ratios at La Madera and Statue are 0.718, these values can be explained by mixing basement-influenced Ojo Caliente water and interaction with the less radiogenic limestone aquifer. Ojo Caliente and La Madera also have high CO2 gas concentrations, 7.9 to 30.7%. These tracers suggest that Ojo Caliente waters travel north to La Madera, and the Jemez volcanic system supplies CO2 leakage along faults of the Jemez lineament. CO2 leakage is not as evident on the east side, which has less radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0.708 and lower CO2, 1.36 to 4.27%. We conclude that western springs mixed with endogenic fluids derived in part from the Jemez Mountains whereas eastern springs are more meteoric, but still have 3He/4He ratios that suggest magmatic fluid input.
- Subjects
VALLES Caldera (N.M.); JEMEZ Mountains (N.M.); NEW Mexico; GEOCHEMISTRY; GEOTHERMAL resources; HOT springs
- Publication
New Mexico Journal of Science, 2015, Vol 49, Issue 1, p31
- ISSN
0270-3017
- Publication type
Article