Tectonic controls on the hydrogeology
of the Rio Grande Rift, New Mexico
Mailloux BJ, Person M, Kelley
S, Dunbar N, Cather S, Strayer L, Hudleston P
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
v. 35(#9) pp. 2641-2659 SEP 1999
- Institutions:
- PRINCETON UNIV,DEPT GEOSCI,PRINCETON,NJ 08544
- NEW MEXICO BUR MINES & MINERAL RESOURCES,NEW MEXICO INST
MIN & TECHNOL,SOCORRO,NM 87801
- UNIV MINNESOTA,DEPT GEOL & GEOPHYS,MINNEAPOLIS,MN 55455
- Abstract:
- Mathematical modeling is used in this study to assess how
tectonic movement of fault blocks
and fault permeability influence the present-day and paleohydrogeology
of the Rio Grande Rift near Socorro, New Mexico. Our analysis
focuses on active and ancient groundwater flow patterns and hot
spring development within the southern La Jencia and Socorro
subbasins. The best agreement between model results and present-day
and paleoheat flow data was achieved by representing faults as
passive surfaces and incorporating 2 km of moderately permeable
(10(-14.0) m(2)) fractured crystalline rocks into the hydrogeologic
model. Quantitative results indicate that changes in groundwater
flaw patterns across the basin are primarily generated by the
truncation/reconnection of aquifers and confining units. Calculated
flow patterns help to explain the annealing of apatite fission
tracks within Eocene Baca Formation clasts to the east of Socorro,
potassium metasomatism mass balance constraints within Oligocene
volcanics and overlying Santa Fe Group deposits, and the timing
of barite/fluorite ore mineralization within the Gonzales prospect
on the eastern edge of the Rio Grande Rift. We estimate that
about 5% of mountain front recharge penetrates to a depth of
2.8 km below the sedimentary pile. This may have implications
for water resource planners who have historically focused on
groundwater resource development within the shallow alluvial
deposits along the Rio Grande Rift valley.
- Keywords:
- +TERRESTRIAL HEAT-FLOW; +GROUNDWATER-FLOW; +FLUID-FLOW; +SEDIMENTARY
BASINS; +NUMERICAL-MODEL; +LOMA-PRIETA; +FAULT; +CALIFORNIA;
+ZONE; +EXPULSION
- Categories:
- LIMNOLOGY; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; WATER RESOURCES
Language: English Document type: Article
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