Thermal Anomaly Study for the Otero County Area, South Central New Mexico

Abstract

Actual temperatures, bottom hole temperature gradients, and SiO2 and Na-K-Ca geotemperatures were screened for anomalous data and analyzed for thermal trends and patterns. The western half of the study area is characterized by anomalous data similar to those found to the immediate west in the southern Rio Grande Rift system, while to the west a normal or cool crust is apparent. Major low temperature geothermal areas exist in the southwestern portion of the study area in the southern end of the Tularosa Basin. Thermal anomaly trends and patterns have a spatial relationship with trends inferred from residual gravity data and mapped surface faults, which suggests fault controlled hydrothermal systems as the main mechanism responsible for the geothermal anomalies.