| Title | Hydrothermal alteration: marker of paleo-hydrothermal fluid circulation. Towards a better understanding of Vieux-Habitants geothermal area (Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe) |
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| Authors | Beauchamps, G; Ledésert, B; Hébert, R; Bartier, B |
| Year | 2016 |
| Conference | European Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | hydrothermal alteration, clay minerals, petrography, Guadeloupe |
| Abstract | Due to its geodynamic location in the Lesser Antilles arc, Basse-Terre of Guadeloupe (France, Lesser Antilles) displays an active volcanism. The geological context in the west coast of Basse-Terre is favourable for the development of geothermal energy associated to power generation. Thus, thirty years ago, the Bouillante geothermal field was brought into production and now produces around 15 MWe (Bouchot et al., 2010). In order to increase the geothermal electricity generation of Guadeloupe, investigation is taking place over Vieux Habitants area, a few kilometres southward of Bouillante. This investigation is currently supported by GEOTREF project. This project is conducted by nine French laboratories (Mines Paristech, ENS Paris, GeoAzur, Georessources, IMFT, IPGS, LHyGes, UAG, UCPGEC) and two french industrial companies (Teranov and Kidova). It is funded by the ADEME in the frame of “les Investissements d’Avenir” program. As part of the characterization of deep fluid circulations, we focused this study on areas that have been subjected to paleo-hydrothermal alterations. These zones represent potential exhumed deep fluid pathways. The main task of this study is to understand the different processes of hydrothermal alteration that took place in different types of volcanic host-rock by understanding the geochemical transfers between hydrothermal fluids and the host-rock. To achieve this task, field-work combined to laboratory studies will allow petrographic characterization of this alteration by means of microscopic study, XRD, and also geochemical analysis. |