Structural and Tectonic Controls of Geothermal Activity in the Basin and Range Province

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We are conducting an inventory of structural settings of geothermal systems (>400 total) in the extensional to transtensional Great Basin region of the western USA. A system of NW-striking dextral faults known as the Walker Lane accommodates ~20% of the North American-Pacific plate motion in the western Great Basin and is intimately linked to N- to NNE-striking normal fault systems throughout the region. Overall, geothermal systems are concentrated in areas with the highest strain rates within or proximal to the eastern and western margins of the Great Basin, with the highest temperature systems clustering in transtensional areas of highest strain rate in the northwestern Great Basin.

Of the 250+ geothermal fields catalogued, step-overs or relay ramps in normal fault zones serve as the most favorable setting, hosting ~32% of the systems. Such areas have multiple, overlapping fault strands, increased fracture density, and thus enhanced permeability. Other common settings include a) intersections between normal faults and strike-slip or oblique-slip faults (22%), where multiple minor faults connect major structures and fluids can flow readily through highly fractured, dilational quadrants, and b) normal fault terminations or tip-lines (22%), where horse-tailing generates closely-spaced faults and increased permeability. Other settings include accommodation zones (i.e., belts of intermeshing, oppositely dipping normal faults; 8%), major normal faults (6%), displacement transfer zones (5%), and pull-aparts in strike-slip faults (4%). In addition, Quaternary faults lie within or near most systems (e.g., Bell and Ramelli, 2007). The relative scarcity of geothermal systems along displacement-maxima of major normal faults may be due to reduced permeability in thick zones of clay gouge and periodic release of stress in major earthquakes. Step-overs, terminations, intersections, and accommodation zones correspond to long-term, critically stressed areas, where fluid pathways are more likely to remain open in networks of closely-spaced, breccia-dominated fractures.

Citation Formats

University of Nevada. (2012). Structural and Tectonic Controls of Geothermal Activity in the Basin and Range Province [data set]. Retrieved from https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/383.
Export Citation to RIS
Faulds, James E., Hinz, Nicholas, and Kreemer, Corne. Structural and Tectonic Controls of Geothermal Activity in the Basin and Range Province. United States: N.p., 30 Nov, 2012. Web. https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/383.
Faulds, James E., Hinz, Nicholas, & Kreemer, Corne. Structural and Tectonic Controls of Geothermal Activity in the Basin and Range Province. United States. https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/383
Faulds, James E., Hinz, Nicholas, and Kreemer, Corne. 2012. "Structural and Tectonic Controls of Geothermal Activity in the Basin and Range Province". United States. https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/383.
@div{oedi_383, title = {Structural and Tectonic Controls of Geothermal Activity in the Basin and Range Province}, author = {Faulds, James E., Hinz, Nicholas, and Kreemer, Corne.}, abstractNote = {We are conducting an inventory of structural settings of geothermal systems (>400 total) in the extensional to transtensional Great Basin region of the western USA. A system of NW-striking dextral faults known as the Walker Lane accommodates ~20% of the North American-Pacific plate motion in the western Great Basin and is intimately linked to N- to NNE-striking normal fault systems throughout the region. Overall, geothermal systems are concentrated in areas with the highest strain rates within or proximal to the eastern and western margins of the Great Basin, with the highest temperature systems clustering in transtensional areas of highest strain rate in the northwestern Great Basin.

Of the 250+ geothermal fields catalogued, step-overs or relay ramps in normal fault zones serve as the most favorable setting, hosting ~32% of the systems. Such areas have multiple, overlapping fault strands, increased fracture density, and thus enhanced permeability. Other common settings include a) intersections between normal faults and strike-slip or oblique-slip faults (22%), where multiple minor faults connect major structures and fluids can flow readily through highly fractured, dilational quadrants, and b) normal fault terminations or tip-lines (22%), where horse-tailing generates closely-spaced faults and increased permeability. Other settings include accommodation zones (i.e., belts of intermeshing, oppositely dipping normal faults; 8%), major normal faults (6%), displacement transfer zones (5%), and pull-aparts in strike-slip faults (4%). In addition, Quaternary faults lie within or near most systems (e.g., Bell and Ramelli, 2007). The relative scarcity of geothermal systems along displacement-maxima of major normal faults may be due to reduced permeability in thick zones of clay gouge and periodic release of stress in major earthquakes. Step-overs, terminations, intersections, and accommodation zones correspond to long-term, critically stressed areas, where fluid pathways are more likely to remain open in networks of closely-spaced, breccia-dominated fractures.}, doi = {}, url = {https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/383}, journal = {}, number = , volume = , place = {United States}, year = {2012}, month = {11}}

Details

Data from Nov 30, 2012

Last updated Jun 7, 2017

Submitted Mar 23, 2014

Organization

University of Nevada

Contact

James E. Faulds

775.682.8751

Authors

James E. Faulds

University of Nevada

Nicholas Hinz

University of Nevada

Corne Kreemer

University of Nevada

DOE Project Details

Project Name Recovery Act: Characterizing Structural Controls of EGS-Candidate and Conventional Geothermal Reservoirs in the Great Basin: Developing Successful Exploration Strategies in Extended Terranes

Project Lead Mark Ziegenbein

Project Number EE0002748

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