Deep fluid circulation within crystalline basement rocks and the role of hydrologic windows in the formation of the Truth or Consequences, New Mexico low‐temperature geothermal system

摘要: Hot springs can occur in amagmatic settings, but the mechanisms of heating are often obscure. We have investigated origin Truth or Consequences, New Mexico low-temperature (approximately 41°C) hot southern Rio Grande Rift. tested two hypotheses that could account for this geothermal anomaly: lateral forced convection a gently dipping carbonate aquifer and circulation through high-permeability crystalline basement rocks to depths 8 km is then focused an overlying faulted hydrologic window. These were using regional two-dimensional hydrothermal model. Model parameters constrained by calibrating measured temperatures, specific discharge rates, groundwater residence times. collected 16 temperature profiles, 11 geochemistry samples, 6 carbon-14 samples within study area. The waters Na+/Cl−-dominated apparent ages ranging from 5500 11 500 years. Hot-spring consistent with water/rock interaction silicate reservoir, rather than system. Peclet number analysis profiles suggests rates beneath Consequences range 2 4 m year−1. Geothermometry indicates maximum reservoir temperatures around 170°C. Observed measurements reasonably reproduced deep permeable-basement modeling scenario (10−12 m2) not forced-convection carbonate-aquifer scenario. Focused result localized faulting, which has created window confining unit. In tectonically active areas, such as Rift, fractured may play more prominent role formation systems generally been acknowledged.