Abstract Investigating, from surface, deep-seated geothermal systems below hundreds to thousands of meters of thick clastic and unconsolidated sediments is always a timely theme for geothermal exploration. In this paper we describe a fieldwork and remote approach to the San Agustin del Maiz area, located in the central sector of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Here, several geothermal manifestations are distributed in a broad basinal area, characterized by fluvio-lacustrine sediments unconformably resting on volcanic rocks. The tectonic control on the geothermal fluid circulation is highlighted by the alignment of thermal springs, by their temperature distribution and by the morphology of silica-sinter deposits, these latter aligned along the main trend of the regional faults, controlling dykes-feeding volcanoes, too. By integrating these data with structural and kinematic analyses collected in the fault-surfaces exposed in the volcanic bedrocks, it derives that permeable rock volumes, guarantying the arising of geothermal fluids from depth to the surface, are located at the intersection between WSW- striking normal faults and NNW- striking transfer faults, both framed in the current ∼NW-SE extension, active since Pliocene, at least. The proposed model offers new inputs for the geothermal exploration in Mexico, and, overall, for those areas worldwide with a similar tectonic setting.

中文翻译：

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控制深层地热系统的新第三纪-第四纪正断层和转移断层：以圣阿古斯丁德尔梅兹（墨西哥中部跨墨西哥火山带）为例

摘要 研究地表、深层地热系统数百至数千米厚的碎屑和松散沉积物一直是地热勘探的一个及时主题。在本文中，我们描述了对位于跨墨西哥火山带中部的 San Agustin del Maiz 地区的实地考察和远程方法。在这里，几个地热表现分布在广阔的盆地区域，其特征是不整合地停留在火山岩上的河湖沉积物。地热流体环流的构造控制主要体现在温泉的排列、温度分布和硅烧结矿的形态上，后者沿区域断层的主走向排列，也控制了以岩脉为食的火山. 通过将这些数据与在火山基岩中暴露的断层表面收集的结构和运动学分析相结合，它推导出可渗透的岩石体积，保证地热流体从深处到地表的产生，位于 WSW 撞击法线之间的交点处。断层和 NNW 显着的转移断层，都在当前的~NW-SE 延伸范围内，至少自上新世以来活跃。拟议的模型为墨西哥的地热勘探提供了新的输入，总体而言，为全球具有类似构造环境的地区提供了新的输入。位于 WSW 走向的正断层和 NNW 走向的转移断层之间的交叉点，这两个断层都在当前的~NW-SE 延伸范围内，至少自上新世以来一直活跃。拟议的模型为墨西哥的地热勘探提供了新的输入，总体而言，为全球具有类似构造环境的地区提供了新的输入。位于 WSW 走向的正断层和 NNW 走向的转移断层之间的交叉点，这两个断层都在当前的~NW-SE 延伸范围内，至少自上新世以来一直活跃。提议的模型为墨西哥的地热勘探提供了新的输入，总体而言，为全球具有类似构造环境的地区提供了新的输入。