Mapping Buried Fault Zones in a Granitic Pluton Using Aeromagnetic Data

Globally, the largest geothermal resources are linked to the crystalline basement, which could be exploited using Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). The planned underground laboratory GeoLaB aims to facilitate the large-scale application of EGS technologies by performing in-situ high-flowrate experi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pure and applied geophysics 2023-06, Vol.180 (6), p.2241-2255
Main Authors: Frey, Matthis, Bossennec, Claire, Sass, Ingo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aeromagnetic surveys
Anomalies
Deformation
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Enhanced geothermal systems
Fault zones
Flow rates
Fluid filters
Geological faults
Geophysical surveys
Geophysics/Geodesy
Geothermal resources
Graben
Helium
Hydraulic properties
Mapping
Plutons
Relative abundance
Stress distribution
Surveys
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Summary:Globally, the largest geothermal resources are linked to the crystalline basement, which could be exploited using Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). The planned underground laboratory GeoLaB aims to facilitate the large-scale application of EGS technologies by performing in-situ high-flowrate experiments on fault zones. The Tromm Granite at the northwestern margin of the Upper Rhine Graben was preselected as one of two potential sites for GeoLaB. To improve the understanding of the natural fault network in the target area, a drone-based aeromagnetic survey was conducted in March 2022, covering an area of about 13.3 km 2 in the center of the pluton. A selection of eight filters to enhance the signal was tested against each other using a synthetic model. Based on this comparison, the tilt derivative appears to be the most reliable method for mapping and characterizing natural fault zones. The filtered aeromagnetic dataset reveals a network of linear anomalies interpreted as altered fault zones. The relative abundance of magnetic lineaments correlates broadly with slip tendency in the current stress field. Thus, the aeromagnetic may provide insights into the reactivation potential and deformation history of fault zones, which significantly influence the hydraulic properties. However, additional geophysical surveys or exploration wells are needed to validate the results.
ISSN:0033-4553
1420-9136
DOI:10.1007/s00024-023-03258-2