The Pisciarelli main fumarole mechanisms reconstructed by electrical resistivity and induced polarization imaging

Pisciarelli, together with the adjacent Solfatara maar-diatreme, represents the most active structure of the Campi Flegrei caldera (Italy) in terms of degassing and seismic activity. This paper aims to define the structure of the Pisciarelli hydrothermal system (down to a 20 m depth) through electrical resistivity and time-domain-induced polarization tomography and self-potential mapping. The retrieved 3D image of the area helps reconstruct the Pisciarelli subsurface in its area of maximum degassing, containing the main fumarole (“soffione”) and the mud pool. In particular, a channel has been identified in which fluids stored in a deeper reservoir rise toward the surface. Such a structure seems to be surmounted by a clay-cap formation that could govern the circulation of fluids and the abundance of gases/vapors emitted by the soffione. Based on this new reconstruction of the Pisciarelli fumarolic field structural setting, the first conceptual model has been suggested that is capable of simultaneously explaining the mechanisms governing soffione activity and elucidating the role played by the fluid/gas of deeper origin in the shallow fluid circulation system. The proposed model can potentially help to better monitor the processes occurring throughout the Pisciarelli fumarolic field and provide an evaluation of the associated hazards.

Identification and Investigation of Subsidence Areas to Mitigate Karstic Risks in Urbanized Areas of Madrid, Spain: A Case Study

A multidisciplinary investigation was carried out in a karstic depression in a housing development under construction in Madrid to assess its stability. It was found that it is a small basin within a larger depression as a result of subsidence accumulated during the Quaternary. Subsidence has built up progressively in the Miocene clay cap and bedrock due to the underlying dissolution of gypsum rich intercalations. The preferential circulation of the dissolving subsurface flow is along a fault conditioned by subsidence, the formation of an elongated syncline along the fracture, and the alluvial basin. During the Pleistocene, a former lagoon zone was formed in this subsiding area; it was also a groundwater discharge zone. The decrease in recent times is very small and could be evaluated to be about 0.4 mm/year, and affects the alluvial zone and along the furrow of a fault zone, where the maximum average rate of subsidence would be 1.4 mm/year. This has led to the development of a relatively strong alluvium. It seems that under the alluvial deposits, a slow and diffuse dissolution is taking place of the shallower clayey gypsiferous levels, free of hypersoluble mineral species; this is somewhat more intense in the fault zone, which is more active hydrodynamically, where groundwater velocity is higher. Microgravimetry surveys indicate that only 5% of the area hidden under the alluvium shows anomalies, interpreted as residual soft clayey masses, or anomalous alluvial fillings of old dissolution voids. These pockets (“bolsones”), have dimensions of no more than 20 × 20 m and depths below 20 m. These measurements have been confirmed by boreholes and are the only points that would require special attention in the future construction of the urbanization. The urbanization work, in full development, is implementing solutions aimed at the stability of the road in the strips of alluvial studied.

BAYESIAN MAGNETOTELLURIC INVERSION USING METHYLENE BLUE STRUCTURAL PRIORS FOR IMAGING SHALLOW CONDUCTORS IN GEOTHERMAL FIELDS

In geothermal exploration, magnetotelluric (MT) data and inversion models are commonly used to image shallow conductors typically associated with the presence of an electrically conductive clay cap that overlies the main reservoir. However, these inversion models suffer from non-uniqueness and uncertainty, and the inclusion of useful geological information is still limited. We develop a Bayesian inversion method that integrates the electrical resistivity distribution from MT surveys with borehole methylene blue data (MeB), an indicator of conductive clay content. MeB data is used to inform structural priors for the MT Bayesian inversion that focus on inferring with uncertainty the shallow conductor boundary in geothermal fields. By incorporating borehole information, our inversion reduces non-uniqueness and then explicitly represents the irreducible uncertainty as estimated depth intervals for the conductor boundary. We use Markov chain Monte Carlo (McMC) and a one-dimensional three-layer resistivity model to accelerate the Bayesian inversion of the MT signal beneath each station. Then, inferred conductor boundary distributions are interpolated to construct pseudo-2D/3D models of the uncertain conductor geometry. We compared our approach against a deterministic MT inversion software on synthetic and field examples and showed good performance in estimating the depth to the bottom of the conductor, a valuable target in geothermal reservoir exploration.

Anatomy of active volcanic edifice at the Kusatsu–Shirane volcano, Japan, by magnetotellurics: hydrothermal implications for volcanic unrests

We aimed to perform three-dimensional imaging of the underlying geothermal system to a depth of 2 km using magnetotellurics (MT) at around the Yugama crater, the Kusatsu–Shirane Volcano, Japan, which is known to have frequent phreatic eruptions. We deployed 91 MT sites focusing around the peak area of 2 km × 2 km with typical spacings of 200 m. The full tensor impedances and the magnetic transfer functions were inverted, using an unstructured tetrahedral finite element code to include the topographic effect. The final model showed (1) low-permeability bell-shaped clay cap (C1) as the near-surface conductor, (2) brine reservoir as a deep conductor (C3) at a depth of 1.5 km from the surface, and (3) a vertical conductor (C2) connecting the deep conductor to the clay cap which implies an established fluid path. The columnar high-seismicity distribution to the east of the C2 conductor implies that the flushed vapor and magmatic gas was released from the brine reservoir by breaking the silica cap at the brittle–ductile transition. The past magnetization/demagnetization sources and the inflation source of the 2014 unrest are located just below the clay cap, consistent with the clay capped geothermal model underlain by brine reservoir. The resistivity model showed the architecture of the magmatic–hydrothermal system, which can explain the episodic volcanic unrest.

Study of phases formed during sintering at different temperatures in ceramic composites containing gypsum waste

Gypsum production generates wastes in the productive chain during the extraction of the clay cap on the gypsum and in the products manufacturing. The objective of this study was to make possible the reuse of two different types of wastes from the Polo Gesseiro of Araripe in red ceramics. 5 and 10% by mass of gypsum waste was incorporated into the clay waste. The specimens were molded through uniaxial pressing and then dried at 110 ºC for 24h, sintered at 850 ºC, 950 ºC and 1050 ºC for 2h. Linear shrinkage, water absorption, apparent porosity, loss on ignition and flexural strength were evaluated in the specimens. The results indicated that the best performance was obtained in sintered composites at 850 ºC. The formation of new phases in the sintered ceramic bodies was obtained by increasing the temperature and adding the gypsum waste. The presence of crystalline calcium phases indicates that reactions occurred between calcium sulfate and oxides of the material. The incorporation of gypsum waste into clay waste for the production of ceramic composites allowed the reduction of environmental impacts in the gypsum production chain.

Revisiting Toba Caldera: an insight from regional magnetotelluric data

<p>Regional magnetotelluric (MT) survey had been conducted to image resistivity structures beneath Toba Caldera, Indonesia. A crustal-scale 2D inversion model is generated from ten MT stations with extended recording time, deployed along NE-SW regional line to cross perpendicularly both the Caldera and the nearby regional strike-slip fault system, the Sumatran Fault. High resistivity background is likely related to Palaeozoic rocks which is basement of the Tertiary sediments and the Quaternary volcanics. The most noticeable conductive anomaly is located between 10-20 km deep, interpreted as the main magma reservoir beneath the region. An intermediate, less than 10 km-deep, less conductive anomaly beneath the Caldera is interpreted as shallow magma chamber affected by the last major eruption. Shallow, less than 2 km-deep conductive layers are associated either with hydrothermal clay cap beneath the Caldera, or sedimentary formations of the nearby basins. Other conductive anomaly is spatially associated with the Sumatran Fault which located 15 km away from the Caldera. Parameter plots of some stations are consistent with the orientation of basement structures, while the others may be affected by more complex caldera structures. A conceptual model of magma plumbing system beneath the Caldera is then interpreted from the combination of regional resistivity structures, surface geology, and available seismic tomography.</p>

IDENTIFIKASI CEKUNGAN HIDROKARBON “RAE” BERDASARKAN DATA MAGNETOTELURIK DI DAERAH BULA, MALUKU

The research had been performed using Magnetotelluric to get a 2D model based on variations in resistivity of the subsurface rock. The purpose of this study was to determine the hydrocarbon formation zone. The research method to achieve the research objectives, among others, the first filtering performed on the data with a robust process. This process consists of Robust No Weight, Robust Rho Variance and Ordinary Cohenerency. The second step is done to change the format Selection XPR And Edi. A third inversion resistivity model for the review get a 2D cross section. Based on the findings of the eight data processing methods of measurement points obtained information Magnetotelluric rock formations. Formation hidrokrabon What are the areas is research a reservoir and caprock. The layer in 1600 m – 2700 m depth from the surface which resisvity 12 -33 m assumpted as clay cap. While the layer in 2700 m – 5000 m depth from the surface with high resistivity 41- 250 m is assumpted as oil sands (reservoir). The trap zone of this hidrocarbon formation categorized into structural trap which is the trap of anticline.

A comparison of regularized, sharp boundary and tear zone inversions along an MT profile in Sabalan geothermal field, Iran

This paper investigates magnetotelluric (MT) data recorded along a profile in the Sabalan geothermal region, NW of Iran. To find the range of relevant models consistent with the data, this study employed the so-called regularized, tear zone, and sharp boundary inversions. This study could effectively derive three alternative classes of models. Although the models show stable common resistive and conductive features there are some inconsistent details. Unaltered surface rocks and porous Basalt exhibit a high resistive overburden underlain by relatively more conductive Paleozoic sediments. A common signature of hydrothermal systems appears, and resistivities increase beneath a highly conductive clay cap in deeper parts. An intriguing feature resolved in the smoothest inversion model is a second deep conductor of 30 Ωm resistivities at a depth of 3 km, extending close to the surface. It can be related to the hot, solidified volcanic intrusions, resemblingthe heat source in a geothermal system. This study applied the two other inversion approaches for further hypothesis tests. Although the tear zone inversion re-establish the deep conductor (with 38 Ωm resistivities at 3 km depth), it is absent in the sharp boundary inversion result. This study concludes that the second deep conductor has a limited structure resolution.