| Title | The Origin of the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Brine |
|---|---|
| Authors | A. H. Truesdell, J. M. Thompson, T. B. Coplen, N. L. Nehring, C. J. Janik |
| Year | 1979 |
| Conference | DOE-CFE Symposium on Cerro Prieto |
| Keywords | |
| Abstract | The Cerro Prieto geothermal brine is suggested to have originated from mixing of Colorado River water with sea water evaporated to about six times its normal salinity. This mixture circulated deeply and was heated by magmatic processes. During deep circulation Li, K, Ca, B, Si02, and rare alkalis were transferred from rock minerals to the water and Mg, S04, and a minor quantity of Na were transferred to the rock. Similar alteration of sea water salt chemistry has been observed in coastal geothermal systems and produced in laboratory experiments. After heating and alteration the brine was further diluted to its present compositions. Oxygen isotopes in the fluid are in equilibrium with reservoir calcite and have been affected by exploitation-induced boiling and dilution. Se sugiere que la salmuera geotermica de Cerro Prieto se origino cuando las aguas del Rfo Colorado se mezclaron con agua de mar, la cual, debido a evaporacion, presenta una salinidad aproximadamente seis veces mayor a la normal. Esta mezda circulo profundamente y se calento por procesos magmaticos. Durante la circulacion profunda, se transfirieron Li, K, Ca, 8, Si02 y alcalis raros de los minerales rocosos al agua, mientras que Mg S04 y una cantidad pequefia de Na se transfirieron a la roca. En sistemas geotermicos costeros se ha observado una alteracion similar de la qu imica salina del agua de mar. Dicha alteracion ha sido reproducida en experimentos de laboratorio. Despues del calentamiento y alteracion, la salmuera se diluyo hasta alcanzar la presente composicion. Los isotopos de oxfgeno en el fluido estan en equilibrio con la calcita del yacimiento y han sido afectados por la ebullicion y dilucibn producidas por la explotacibn. |