Indications of a Geothermal Resource West of Santa Fe, New Mexico Karl Bloor Advisors Dr. Shuo Ma and Dr. George Jiracek ABSTRACT New data... » More

Indications of a Geothermal Resource West of Santa Fe, New Mexico

Karl Bloor

Advisors Dr. Shuo Ma and Dr. George Jiracek

ABSTRACT

New data from the USGS provide indications of a potential geothermal resource west of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The study area is located within the Española Basin, part of the Rio Grande rift, which has calculated heat flow between 72-109 mW/m2. Data from the USGS include temperature gradients, proposed geologic structures and ground water flow models. Temperature gradients and depth to basement increase from east to west across the basin, faults and proposed geologic structures trend north-south. The proposed geologic structures beneath the Cerros del Rio volcanic field provide an explanation for elevated geothermal gradients along the proposed Caja del Rio horst and Cañada Ancha graben bounding fault. Forced convection models show that this proposed structure would force ground water flowing along the base of the Santa Fe formation closer to the surface thus influencing the temperature gradient as measured in the Cañada Ancha canyon. A problem with this proposed geologic structure is the gravity profile across the section does not show results indicating a basement high. Another proposed model for the anomalously high geothermal gradient in the Cañada Ancha canyon is fluid flow up basement piercing faults from a deep source. The aforementioned model is supported by high 3He/4He ratios in groundwater samples from the study location. Although there is some question as to why there is a high temperature gradient in the study area, available data will be used to determine the uses and viability of the proposed geothermal resource. The basement high discrepancy is the topic for further exploration during the 2011 Summer of Applied Geophysical Experience (SAGE).

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