This study presents the first high resolution geophysical survey conducted in The El Tatio geothermal field, northern of Chile, focused on the detection of shallow subsurface structures and identification of ascending fluid pathways. TEM data was collected along 5 profiles crossing the two main geothermal basins (Upper and Middle Basin) to obtain an electrical resistivity model up to 200 m depth. The models show important structures that allowed us to improve the conceptual model of the field connecting these geophysical observations with the geology and the geochemistry of the area. We found a shallow (<60 m) high conductivity layer in all profiles. This layer was interpreted as a shallow aquifer of thermal water, which is probably the water supplier of surface manifestations. In the Upper Basin a main permeable zone allows the ascent of fluids from deep aquifers to the shallower one, and a structure that probably act as impermeable geological barrier that forces the fluids to ascend has been detected. In the Middle Basin fluid ascent zones are less clear than in the Upper Basin but it is possible to observe areas of lower resistivity that could be associated with higher permeability.

这项研究提出了在智利北部的El Tatio地热田进行的首次高分辨率地球物理调查，重点是浅层地下结构的探测和上升流体路径的识别。沿横跨两个主要地热盆地（上部和中部盆地）的5个剖面收集TEM数据，以获得高达200 m深度的电阻率模型。这些模型显示了重要的结构，这些结构使我们能够改进将这些地球物理观测与该地区的地质和地球化学联系起来的油田的概念模型。我们在所有剖面中都发现了一个浅（<60 m）的高电导率层。该层被解释为热水的浅水层，可能是地表水的供应者。在上盆地，一个主要的渗透带允许流体从深层含水层上升到较浅的含水层，并且已经发现了一种结构，该结构可能充当不可渗透的地质屏障，迫使流体上升。中部盆地的流体上升区不如上部盆地清晰，但有可能观察到电阻率较低的地区，这可能与较高的渗透率有关。