Results of 1- Meter Soil Temperature Survey Conducted at Butajira Geothermal Prospect, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The paper present the result of near surface (1 meter) soil temperature measurement carried out at Butajira Geothermal prospect; which is about 150 km south of Addis Ababa and about 20 km southeast of Butajira town, on the Marginal plane of Main Ethiopian Rift called Ashute. Hot springs and mud pools with a maximum measured temperature of 98 °C are the surface geothermal manifestations on the survey area. Measurement was carried out on vicinity of the manifestations enclosing 2.3 km x 3.5 km area. Results from the soil temperature distribution of the area shows anomalies with a general direction of NE-SW; while deep insight in to the temperature profile distinguishes about three structures that are oriented to the NE-SW, NNE-SSW and N-S directions. These striking directions coincides with the direction of the main Ethiopian rift margin and Debrezeyit - silti active tectonic lineament. The alignments of the temperture anomalies are in line with the direction of the geotharmal manifestations. This implies that the presence of hiddne fault associated with the general NE-SW rifting direction along the flat lain Ashute area.