Silica geotemperature mapping and thermal regime in the Mexican Volcanic Belt.

Abstract

Geochemical analyses for 176 thermal springs were used to determine their silica T. The main geothermal fields - La Primavera, Los Azufres and Los Humeros - were not included, to avoid distortion of the regional trend by their large anomalies. Using the T data an isotherm map was drawn up which shows a homogeneous thermal regime along the TMVB. Its limits are well defined and it was found that the high-T zone continues to the west but is closed to the east. Within the belt T are high (average 121oC) and a few local maxima are observed that may be related to active geothermal systems. -J.M.H.