Low-temperature geothermal resources in the Acoma Basin and Lucero Uplift, eastern Cibola and western Valencia counties, New Mexico

Although the geochemistry of the mineralized waters from springs on the eastern flank of the Lucero uplift has been the subject of several geothermal investigations, measured temperatures in oil and water wells in the uplift and adjacent Acoma basin have received little attention. Bottom hole temperature (BHT) measurements in oil wells and discharge temperatures from water wells reveal three structural zones that warrant further investigation. BHTs in two oil wells on the west flank of the Lucero uplift in the Correo fault zone have elevated temperatures of 65 to 71°C at a depth of ca. 1100 m. These wells are located ca. 7 km northeast of the youthful (>192 ka) Lucero volcanic field. Two distinct bands of water wells located near the Hickman and Red Lake fault zones on margins of the Acoma basin that tap the San Andres-Glorieta aquifer have elevated discharge temperatures of 34 to 52.8°C (depths 615 to 884 m). We also apply a novel analysis of conservative ion (boron and lithium) data using reverse particle-tracking (upwinding) to locate the source of high concentration plumes along the east side of the Lucero uplift and within the Acoma basin. Wells with highest temperatures and conservative ion concentrations are found on the down gradient end of a gravity driven flow system. The <80°C geothermal resource in this area could be used for greenhouses and similar low-temperature applications. 263