Hydrothermal alteration related to Los Tachos Geothermal Manifestation, Domuyo Volcano, Neuquén province, Argentina.

LOPEZ, N.; CÓCOLA M.A.; MAS G.; BENGOCHEA, L.; MAS L.C.

Cusco

Congreso; XV Congreso Peruano de Geología; 2010

The Domuyo Geothermal Field is located in the north-western sector of Neuquén province (between 36º30?- 36º42?S and 70º27?-70º39?W), and included in Las Minas and Chos Malal Departments. The access is from Chos Malal locality across the National Route 40 and then across the Provincial Route 43 (Figure 1A). The main manifestations are placed in the west and southwest areas of the Domuyo volcano and are distributed (from east to west) in the following order: La Bramadora, Mallín del Domo, El Humazo, Los Tachos, Rincón de la Papas, Las Olletas and Aguas Calientes (Figure 1B). These, had been grouped depending on the particular characteristics of each manifestation, and from east to west the different types are the following: Type I (Vapor-Dominated. Sulfate Spring), Type II (Water.Vapor-Mixed. Common Salt Springs), Type III (Water-Dominated. Common Salt Springs) and Type IV (Water-Dominated. Ca-Mg Bicarbonate Springs) (JICA 1984).Los Tachos geothermal manifestation is placed in the southern part of the field and is characterized by both, water and vapor expressions. The aim of this work is to determinate the alteration pattern associated to these expressions, including mineralogy and water composition, and try to delimitate different alteration areas.