Chemical and stable isotope composition of surface and groundwater in the surroundings of the Los Humeros Caldera, Puebla, Mexico

Abstract

It is important to develop a regional hydrogeological model to identify possible recharge and discharge areas for a sustainable use of a geothermal reservoir. The Los Humeros geothermal area is situated within five surficial watersheds and coveres an area of more than 15.000 km2. A total of 208 well and spring samples were collected between June 2017 and November 2018. The stable isotope data for this region define a regression line of δDH2O = 8.032·δ18O + 12 and indicate that groundwater is recharged by regional precipitation. At least 39 groundwater wells, with a maximum temperature of 35 °C, show temperatures above the reported mean average surface temperature of 15 °C. Characteristic elements for geothermal reservoir fluids (B, Li, As) are also present in these groundwaters, indicating a possible connection between the reservoir fluid and the local groundwater through local fracture systems. Concentration of B in these hot wells is between 150 and 35000 ppb.