Regional Geothermal Exploration in Arizona and New Mexico Using Magnetotellurics

Abstract

A regional magnetotelluric (MT) study of Arizona and New Mexico, consisting of over 200 MT sites, has been performed. The main objective was to produce a regional geoelectric contour map of the pervasive deep electrical conductor within the crust and/or upper mantle beneath portions of the Colorado Plateau, Basin and Range Province, and Rio Grande rift. Results indicate that the depth to the deep electrical conductor correlate with terrestrial heat flow, depth to Curie point, and tectonic provinces. Analysis suggest several regions of anomalously shallow high electrical conductivity. These anomalies were correlated with other geophysical and geological data. In particular, results indicate that the rim of the Colorado Plateau is associated with substantial swallowing of the crustal electrical conductor most probably associated with a passive rift system.