Geochemistry of hydrothermally altered rocks from Los Azufres geothermal field, Mexico

Qualitative and semi-quantitative studies of element mobility at Los Azufres geothermal field, Michoacán, Mexico, were carried out, in order to get a better understanding of the hydrothermal alteration processes that affected the volcanic rocks from this area. X-ray fluorescence techniques were appl...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Torres-Alvarado, Ignacio S., Satir, Muharrem
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:1998
País:México
Institución:UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AUTÓNOMA DE MÉXICO
Repositorio:Geofísica Internacional
Idioma:español
OAI Identifier:oai:revistagi.geofisica.unam.mx:article/611
Acceso en línea:http://revistagi.geofisica.unam.mx/index.php/RGI/article/view/611
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Sistemas geotérmicos
alteración hidrotermal
movilidad de elementos
Cinturón Volcánico Mexicano
Geothermal systems
hydrothermal alteration
element mobility
Mexican Volcanic Belt
Descripción
Sumario:Qualitative and semi-quantitative studies of element mobility at Los Azufres geothermal field, Michoacán, Mexico, were carried out, in order to get a better understanding of the hydrothermal alteration processes that affected the volcanic rocks from this area. X-ray fluorescence techniques were applied to analyse well cuttings and drill cores from wells Az-3, Az-26 and Az-52 at different depths. With these analyses a 2000-m thick volcanic sequence was recorded. Geochemically these rocks form a calc- alkaline trend from basaltic to rhyolitic composition. Comparing the chemical composition of altered samples with that of “fresh” samples from the surface we find relatively low element mobility during alteration. Simple calculations of element loss and gain indicate a weak silicification and low mobility of alkalis.