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Determining the Maximum Depth of Hydrothermal Circulation Using Geothermal Mapping and Seismicity to Delineate the Depth to Brittle-Plastic Transition in Northern Honshu, Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Yota Suzuki

    (Graduate School of Science and Technology, Hirosaki University, 3 Bunkyo-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8561, Japan)

  • Seiichiro Ioka

    (North Japan Research Institute for Sustainable Energy, Hirosaki University, 2-1-3 Matsubara, Aomori 030-0813, Japan)

  • Hirofumi Muraoka

    (North Japan Research Institute for Sustainable Energy, Hirosaki University, 2-1-3 Matsubara, Aomori 030-0813, Japan)

Abstract

This paper defines the maximum possible vertical extent of hydrothermal circulation in granitic crust, and thus the maximum depth within which geothermal reservoirs can be encountered. To evaluate prospective geothermal fields we constructed a geothermal database in northern Honshu, Japan that includes 571 points of thermal data of existing wells and hot springs. Depth-temperature curves were normalized by the Activity Index for three-dimensional extrapolation and a depth contour map of the 380 °C isotherm was plotted as an assumed brittle-plastic transition for granitic crust. Shallower-depth anomalies of the brittle-plastic transition on this map are closely coincident with the Quaternary volcanoes and their prospective geothermal fields. It should be noted that the bottom of the spatial distribution of seismicity in the volcanic fields shows strong correlation to the 380 °C isotherm. This result indicates reliability of the subsurface three-dimensional thermal map and suggests that the 380 °C isotherm strongly constrains the bottom surface of seismicity, fracturing and hydrothermal convection in granitic crust.

Suggested Citation

  • Yota Suzuki & Seiichiro Ioka & Hirofumi Muraoka, 2014. "Determining the Maximum Depth of Hydrothermal Circulation Using Geothermal Mapping and Seismicity to Delineate the Depth to Brittle-Plastic Transition in Northern Honshu, Japan," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-9, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:7:y:2014:i:5:p:3503-3511:d:36434
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Yota Suzuki & Seiichiro Ioka & Hirofumi Muraoka, 2016. "Comparative Study of the Subsurface Thermal Structure in Northern Honshu, Japan, Based on Normalized Temperature Data and Solute Geothermometers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-9, May.
    2. Yota Suzuki & Seiichiro Ioka & Hirofumi Muraoka, 2017. "Geothermal Resource Exploration by Stream pH Mapping in Mutsu Hiuchi Dake Volcano, Japan," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-11, July.
    3. Yota Suzuki & Hirofumi Muraoka & Hiroshi Asanuma, 2020. "Validation and Evaluation of an Estimation Method for Deep Thermal Structures Using an Activity Index in Major Geothermal Fields in Northeastern Japan," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-13, September.
    4. Yota Suzuki & Hirofumi Muraoka & Hiroshi Asanuma, 2021. "Thermal Monitoring of the Lithosphere by the Interaction of Deep Low-Frequency and Ordinary High-Frequency Earthquakes in Northeastern Japan," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-11, March.
    5. Paul L. Younger, 2015. "Geothermal Energy: Delivering on the Global Potential," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-18, October.

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