EVIDENCE FROM FLUID INCLUSIONS FOR A PALEOGEOTHERMAL GRADIENT AT THE GEOTHERMAL TEST WELL SITES, LOS-ALAMOS, NEW-MEXICO

Homogenization temperatures of individual fluid inclusions from the geothermal test well sites near Los Alamos, New Mexico, systematically change as a function of depth in the cores. Inclusions in samples from depths between 1.5 and 3.0 km have re-equilibrated to thermal gradients higher than the present gradient of 50-60°C/km. The loci of maximum temperatures attained has a slope of about 70°C/km; the deepest sample has cooled to 200°C from a maximum of 230°C. The wide range of salinities (0.0 wt.% equivalent NaCl to more than 25 wt.% equivalent NaCl) observed in each sample indicates a large amount of pervasive fluid circulation had not occurred at the time of re-equilibration of these inclusions. The results are relevant to calculations for the thermal history of the test site. © 1979.