| Title | Tecuamburro Volcano, Guatemala Geothermal Gradient Core Hole Drilling, Operations, and Preliminary Results |
|---|---|
| Authors | Goff, S.; Heiken, G.; Duffield, W.; Laughlin, A. W.; Goff, F.; Martinelli, L.; Castaneda, O.; Aycinena, S.; Gardner, J. |
| Year | 1990 |
| Conference | Geothermal Resources Council Transactions |
| Keywords | Exploration; Drilling; Guatemala; Tecuamburro; Volcanics; Age Dating; Hot Springs; Temperature Gradient; Diamond Core Drilling; Crater; Tuff Ring; Hydrothermal Breccia; Phreatic |
| Abstract | A geothermal gradient core hole (TCB-1) was drilled to a depth of 700+ m at the Tecuamburro geothermal site, Guatemala during February and March , 1990. The core hole is located low on the northern flank of the Tecuamburro Volcano complex. Very preliminary analysis of cores (>95% core recovery) suggest that the hydrothermal system may be located in the 4 km diameter Chupadero Crater, which has been proposed as the source of pyroxene pumice deposits in the Tecuamburro area. TCB-1 is located 300 m south of a 300 m diameter phreatic crater, Laguna Ixpaco; the core hole may penetrate the thin edge of a tuff ring surrounding Ixpaco and zones of hydrothermal brecciation within the upper 150 m may be related to the phreatic blast, dated at 2,910 14C years. At the time of this writing, the unequilibrated temperature at a depth of 570 m was 180°C. Data on fracturing, permeability, hydrothermal alteration, and temperature will be presented. |