The hydrothermal system of the Domuyo volcanic complex (Argentina): A conceptual model based on new geochemical and isotopic evidences

• Autores: Tassi, Franco; Liccioli, Caterina; Agusto, Mariano Roberto; Chiodini, Giovanni; Vaselli, Orlando; Calabrese, Sergio; Pecoraino, Giovannella; Tempesti, L.; Caponi, Cecilia; Fiebig, Jens; Caliro, Stefano; Caselli, Alberto Tomás
• Año de publicación: 2016
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Geothermal System; Hydrothermal Fluid; Geothermometry; Domuyo Volcanic Complex; Alternative Energy Source; Ciencias Exactas y Naturales
• Institución: Universidad Nacional de Río Negro

Fil: Tassi, Franco. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; Italia.
Fil: Liccioli, Caterina. Universidad Nacional de Rio Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones en Paleobiologia y Geologia; Argentina. Río Negro, Argentina
Fil: Agusto, Mariano Roberto. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina
Fil: Chiodini, Giovanni. Istituto Nazionale Di Geofisica E Vulcanologia; Italia
Fil: Vaselli, Orlando. Università degli Studi di Firenze; Italia
Fil: Calabrese, Sergio. Istituto Nazionale Di Geofisica E Vulcanologia; Italia
Fil: Pecoraino, Giovannella. Università degli Studi di Firenze; Italia
Fil: Tempesti, L. Università degli Studi di Firenze; Italia
Fil: Caponi, Cecilia. Istituto Nazionale Di Geofisica E Vulcanologia; Italia
Fil: Fiebig, Jens. Università degli Studi di Firenze; Italia
Fil: Caliro, Stefano. Università degli Studi di Firenze; Italia
Fil: Caselli, Alberto Tomás. Universidad Nacional de Rio Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones en Paleobiologia y Geologia; Argentina. Río Negro, Argentina
Fil: Tassi, Franco. Università degli Studi di Firenze; Italia
The Domuyo volcanic complex (Neuquén Province, Argentina) hosts one of the most promising geothermal systems of Patagonia, giving rise to thermal manifestations discharging hot and Cl−-rich fluids. This study reports a complete geochemical dataset of gas and water samples collected in three years (2013, 2014 and 2015) from the main fluid discharges of this area. The chemical and isotopic composition (δD-H2O and δ18O-H2O) of waters indicates that rainwater and snow melting are the primary recharge of a hydrothermal reservoir located at relative shallow depth (400–600 m) possibly connected to a second deeper (2–3 km) reservoir. Reactive magmatic gases are completely scrubbed by the hydrothermal aquifer(s), whereas interaction of meteoric waters at the surface causes a significant air contamination and dilution of the fluid discharges located along the creeks at the foothill of the Cerro Domuyo edifice. Thermal discharges located at relatively high altitude (~ 3150 m a.s.l.), namely Bramadora, are less affected by this process, as also shown by their relatively high R/Ra values (up to 6.91) pointing to the occurrence of an actively degassing magma batch located at an unknown depth. Gas and solute geothermometry suggests equilibrium temperatures up to 220–240 °C likely referred to the shallower hydrothermal reservoir. These results, confirming the promising indications of the preliminary surveys carried out in the 1980′s, provide useful information for a reliable estimation of the geothermal potential of this extinct volcanic system, although a detailed geophysical measurements is required for the correct estimation of depth and dimensions of the fluid reservoir(s).
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