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Seismicity recorded in the Cerro Prieto geothermal field during 1994-1995

Conference ·
OSTI ID:175654

Seismicity was monitored from August 1994 to April 1995 in the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Field (Mexico), with 4 analog seismographs. That allow the initiation of a catalog of the seismicity occurring within the production zone. Although seismic activity is scattered in time, up to 118 earthquakes were located during this period of time. Magnitudes range from -1 to 4,0 and five of these earthquakes had magnitudes Md{>=}3. Earthquake locations showed a significant change in pattern from November to December 1994. It is proposed that the October-November 1994 seismicity, located to the southeast of the field and with depths up to 12-14 km, is related to the spreading center located between Cerro Prieto and Imperial faults. Seismicity occurring after and until April 1995 is shallower and situated close to the production area. Up to now, it is too early to state whether the latter is {open_quotes}normal{close_quotes} and linked to the spreading center and strike-slip faults or exploitation-related. A longer monitoring would be necessary to discriminate both mechanisms.

OSTI ID:
175654
Report Number(s):
CONF-951037--; CNN: Contract CLSO-001/95
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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