Hydrothermal fluids and where to find them: Using seismic attenuation
and anisotropy to map fluids beneath Uturuncu volcano, Bolivia
Abstract
Mapping fluid accumulation in the crust is pertinent for numerous
applications including volcanic hazard assessment, geothermal energy
generation and mineral exploration. Here, we use seismic attenuation
tomography to map the distribution of fluids in the crust below Uturuncu
volcano, Bolivia. Seismic P-wave and S-wave attenuation, as well as
their ratio (QP/QS), constrain where the
crust is partially and fully fluid-saturated. Seismic anisotropy
observations further constrain the mechanism by which the fluids
accumulate, predominantly along aligned faults and fractures in this
case. Furthermore, subsurface pressure-temperature profiles and
conductivity data allow us to identify the most likely fluid
composition. We identify shallow regions of both dry and
H2O/brine-saturated crust, as well as a deeper
supercritical H2O/brine column directly beneath
Uturuncu. Our observations provide a greater understanding of Uturuncu’s
transcrustal hydrothermal system, and act as an example of how such
methods could be applied to map crustal fluid pathways and
hydrothermal/geothermal systems elsewhere.