New assessment of geothermal resources in Morocco: Evaluation of the curie point depth method using magnetic data for geothermal gradient and heat flow estimation

Geothermal exploration in Morocco has gained increasing interest as a promising renewable energy source, driven by the global demand for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. However, the country faces challenges due to the limited availability of deep boreholes for direct heat flow measurements and its complex geological setting, which affects the distribution of geothermal resources. This study evaluates the use of the Curie Point Depth (CPD) method, derived from magnetic data analysis, as an indirect approach for estimating the geothermal gradient and heat flow. The CPD values across Morocco range from 8.2 to 30.0 km, the Geothermal Gradient (GG) varies between 7.5 and 72.9 °C/km (average 44.6 °C/km), and Heat Flow (HF) values range from 29.9 to 239.0 mW/m². Our findings reveal a good correlation between CPD-derived geothermal anomalies and previously identified promising areas for geothermal exploration based on direct measurements, such as in northeastern Morocco, the southern Rif, the southwestern Saharan domain, the middle Atlas, and the western High Atlas. Additionally, comparisons show a reduced discrepancy between CPD-derived and directly measured HF and GG values, particularly in deep and consistent boreholes. Despite these positive correlations, the method also exhibits limitations that highlight the need for further refinement in the context of complex geological settings and hydrothermal circulation.