Evidence of a new geothermal prospect in the Northern-Central trans-Mexican volcanic belt: Rancho Nuevo, Guanajuato, Mexico

Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Stable Isotopes (C, O, S) of Hot Spring Waters and Associated Travertines near Tamiahua Lagoon, Veracruz, Gulf of Mexico (Mexico)

Laminated travertine forms in and around an active hot spring on the west coast of Tamiahua Lagoon, north of the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Fluid chemistry is characterized by discharging slightly acidic pH hot water and gas at a constant flow rate. Moreover, finely interbedded mineralogical products from discharging waters at 70 °C host scattered hydrocarbons. The mineralogy and geochemistry of the travertine formations were characterized to determine their origin. Rock samples were collected and further studied by transmitted light petrography, X-ray diffraction, and EDS-coupled scanning electron microprobe. Identified mineralogy from outcrop samples includes aragonite, gypsum, anhydrite, and elemental sulfur as essential minerals, with calcite, celestine, barite, jarosite, opal, and fluorite as accessory minerals. Isotopic analyses for C and O were determined in carbonates, S isotope ratios on both elemental sulfur and sulfates, whereas measurements for trace elements and lanthanides were performed on carbonates. A suit of brines and condensates from gas samples was collected for H and O isotopic analyses and concentration determinations of the main ions and major and trace elements. Isotopic values of δ13C and δ18O of aragonite are in the range of +1.75‰ to +2.37‰ and −1.70‰ to −0.78‰, respectively. The δ34S isotopic values of native sulfur and sulfates ranged from −4.0‰ to +1.2‰. The isotopic values of δ2H (−5.50‰) and δ18O (+7.77‰) of hot water samples collected in terraces where aragonite precipitates suggest a mixture between meteoric water and the Gulf of Mexico oil-field related waters. It was concluded that the aragonitic formations near Tamiahua Lagoon are hypogenic and were generated by CO2 and H2S emanations of deep origin and by oxidation-reduction reactions that can be linked to surficial bacterial activity

Combining ammonium mapping and short-wave infrared (SWIR) reflectance spectroscopy to constrain a model of hydrothermal alteration for the Acoculco geothermal zone, Eastern Mexico

The Acoculco geothermal system is hosted by a caldera complex located at the eastern portion of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Surface manifestations are scarce and consist of low temperature, bubbling, acid–sulfate springs that are concentrated in two zones separated from each other by ~1750 m. In the northernmost one, there are conspicuous features suggesting recent, explosive, hydrothermal activity. Most of the rocks that crop out are tuffs and breccias that show pervasive hydrothermal alteration. Six SWIR-active minerals have been revealed by reflectance spectroscopy in the surface altered rocks: Opal, kaolinite, alunite, ammoniojarosite, buddingtonite and interstratified illite–smectite; they are indicative of alteration assemblages comparable to those reported in other geothermal systems and in epithermal deposits. Opal is the most widespread alteration mineral and occurs in association with tridimite and anatase. Kaolinite is also widely distributed but has a greater presence in the area with active surface manifestations, which, moreover, is the only area with alunite and ammoniojarosite occurrences. Buddingtonite occurs in the same zones as sulfates. As a complement to the alteration maps, we are proposing a simple method for mapping ammonium anomalies, based on total N analyses in altered rocks. Total N data show a discontinuous distribution within a wide range of variation (0.01–3.28 wt.%). All medium and high N values (>0.26 wt.%) plot in three clusters, two of which coincide with zones of gas emission. A deep circulating, active hydrothermal system cannot be ruled out in Acoculco although it may be confined to the deep caldera structure by an impermeable cap-rock of silicic and argillic alteration. In this scenario, hydrothermal fluids would reach the surface periodically, when explosive hydrothermal fracturing allowed it. The occurrence of hydrothermal explosion features and of acid–sulfate alteration supports this scenario. Therefore, further exploration by drilling would be advisable in Acoculco.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Combining ammonium mapping and short-wave infrared (SWIR) reflectance spectroscopy to constrain a model of hydrothermal alteration for the Acoculco geothermal zone, Eastern Mexico

The Acoculco geothermal system is hosted by a caldera complex located at the eastern portion of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Surface manifestations are scarce and consist of low temperature, bubbling, acid–sulfate springs that are concentrated in two zones separated from each other by ~1750 m. In the northernmost one, there are conspicuous features suggesting recent, explosive, hydrothermal activity. Most of the rocks that crop out are tuffs and breccias that show pervasive hydrothermal alteration. Six SWIR-active minerals have been revealed by reflectance spectroscopy in the surface altered rocks: Opal, kaolinite, alunite, ammoniojarosite, buddingtonite and interstratified illite–smectite; they are indicative of alteration assemblages comparable to those reported in other geothermal systems and in epithermal deposits. Opal is the most widespread alteration mineral and occurs in association with tridimite and anatase. Kaolinite is also widely distributed but has a greater presence in the area with active surface manifestations, which, moreover, is the only area with alunite and ammoniojarosite occurrences. Buddingtonite occurs in the same zones as sulfates. As a complement to the alteration maps, we are proposing a simple method for mapping ammonium anomalies, based on total N analyses in altered rocks. Total N data show a discontinuous distribution within a wide range of variation (0.01–3.28 wt.%). All medium and high N values (>0.26 wt.%) plot in three clusters, two of which coincide with zones of gas emission. A deep circulating, active hydrothermal system cannot be ruled out in Acoculco although it may be confined to the deep caldera structure by an impermeable cap-rock of silicic and argillic alteration. In this scenario, hydrothermal fluids would reach the surface periodically, when explosive hydrothermal fracturing allowed it. The occurrence of hydrothermal explosion features and of acid–sulfate alteration supports this scenario. Therefore, further exploration by drilling would be advisable in Acoculco.Peer Reviewe

Inter-laboratory test for oxygen and hydrogen stable isotope analyses of geothermal fluids: Assessment of reservoir fluid compositions

International audienc

Interlaboratory test for chemical analysis of geothermal fluids: A new approach to determine deep geothermal reservoir fluid composition with uncertainty propagation

International audienceA representative fluid sampling of surface geothermal manifestations and its analytical data quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) are challenging aspects of understanding the geothermal reservoir processes. To achieve these goals, an interlaboratory test for the chemical analyses of ten water samples: one synthetic water, two lake waters (i.e., duplicated), one stream water, and six water samples from two geothermal wells of Los Azufres Geothermal field (LAGF), Michoacan, Mexico, was conducted. The geothermal wells were sampled at four points: (1) total discharge of condensed fluid at the wellhead, (2) separate liquid condensed in the well separator, (3) flushed liquid at the weir box, and (4) separated vapor condensed at the well-separator (data taken from Verma et al., 2022). Sixteen laboratories from ten countries reported their results.The pH, electrical conductivity, Ca2+, Li+, SO42−, B, and Si-total measurements were 8.35 ± 0.04, 12.25 ± 0.53 mS/cm, 25 ± 1 mg/l, 18 ± 1 mg/l, 569 ± 33 mg/l, 320 ± 21 mg/l, and 20.5 ± 0.7 mg/l, which are close to the conventional true values, 8.40, 12.31 mS/cm, 23 mg/l, 19 mg/l, 647 mg/l, 330 mg/l, and 20.0 mg/l, respectively. Analytical errors for major ions, Na+, Cl− and CO2-Total are 17, 21, and 42 percent, respectively; however, the analytical uncertainties are relatively lower, except for CO2-Total (19%). Similarly, the analytical uncertainty for CO2-Total measurements of the lake water sample is 18%. Thus, the analytical method of individual laboratories for CO2-Total measurements needs revision.The NIST Uncertainty Machine web app was used for the stepwise geothermal reservoir fluid composition calculation with uncertainty propagation from the samples collected at different points of a geothermal well. The wellhead fluid sample does not represent the geothermal reservoir fluid, including the sample collected by connecting a portable separator at the wellhead. The samples collected at points 2 and 3 represent equally well for non-volatile species; however, the sample collected at point 2 is a better representative of geothermal reservoir fluid in analyzing the pH and alkalinity values. It is associated with considering the effect of non-condensable gases (CO2, H2S, etc.) liberated at the silencer of the weir box. The geothermal reservoir fluid pH uncertainty, an essential parameter for geochemical modeling, is three to four times the measured fluid pH uncertainty due to the propagation process. Thus, the alkalinity measurement and its calculation procedure of geothermal fluid need revision to understand its correction for the boric, silicic, and other alkalinities