Aluto-Langano Geothermal Field, Ethiopia: Multiscale Image of Trans-crustal Magmatic System by Combining Local 3D and Regional 2D Magnetotelluric Soundings


METADATA ONLY
Loading...

Date

2021

Publication Type

Conference Paper

ETH Bibliography

yes

Citations

Altmetric
METADATA ONLY

Data

Rights / License

Abstract

Geothermal energy has the potential to support Ethiopia in its attempt to overcome energy poverty and provide sustainable energy for all. The formation and distribution of geothermal energy resources in Ethiopia is associated with magmatic activity along the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER). Until now, geothermal exploration mainly concentrated on shallow magmatic-hydrothermal systems underneath volcanoes in the central part of the MER. At the geothermal field of the Aluto volcano local 3-D magnetotelluric (MT) surveys successfully imaged the geothermal reservoir leading to the placement of productive geothermal wells. However, due to the limited aperture (15 km) of the surveys it was not possible to image the lower crustal magmatic plumbing system of the volcano. A regional MT study along a 120 km long profile transecting the rift and Aluto volcano was conducted within the project RiftVolc. They imaged an off-rift axis magmatic system in the Silti-Debre Zeyit Fault Zone (SDFZ) west of the central rift. However, the feeding zone of Aluto’s magmatic system remained enigmatic. In this study we combined the two existing datasets, resulting in a selection of 165 stations located at Aluto and 26 stations along the 120 km long RiftVolc cross-rift profile. The preliminary 3-D model revealed the existence of a deep conductor in about 35 km of depth on the western side of the rift, indicating that partial melt is present.

Permanent link

Publication status

published

External links

Editor

Book title

Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2020+1

Journal / series

Volume

Pages / Article No.

11054

Publisher

International Geothermal Association

Event

World Geothermal Congress 2020+1 (WGC 2020+1)

Edition / version

Methods

Software

Geographic location

Date collected

Date created

Subject

Geothermal exploration; Magnetotellurics; High-enthalpy geothermal systems; Volcano monitoring; Ethiopia

Organisational unit

09494 - Saar, Martin O. / Saar, Martin O. check_circle

Notes

Conference postponed due to Corona virus (COVID-19). Conference was held on-site October 24-27, 2021 and virtual from March - October 2021. Conference lecture held on May 11, 2021.

Funding

Related publications and datasets