Characteristics of surface hydrothermal alteration around Gunung Pancar area, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Hydrothermal alteration is an interaction between rock and hydrothermal fluid by means changing the mineralogical composition of the rock. This process is controlled by permeability, chemical composition, temperature, pressure, and duration of the hydrothermal alteration. Gunung Pancar, located in West Java, is considered an outflow for Gunung Gede Geothermal System. Typical geothermal surface manifestations found around Gunung Pancar are hot springs, warm ground and surface alteration. Basic geological mapping was conducted followed by water and altered rock sampling. Petrographic and diffraction methods are completed to confirm altered protolith. Water analyses were conducted to determine water type and origin. Alteration zonation is then inferred based on the water type, intensity of alteration and then cross referenced with indication of structural geological features. Zonation reveals that the intensity of alteration gets weaker as it moves away from the apparent faults. The result suggested that the permeability of the host rock affects thermal fluid movement around Gunung Pancar and subsequently the local geothermal conceptual model.