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Cuenca de la Independencia (CI) is a semi-arid basin in Central Mexico, subdivided into four administrative hydrogeological regions, and comprised of two hydrogeological units: a granular aquifer of lacustrine origin overlying a fractured acidic igneous aquifer. Although many geophysical soundings were carried out within the basin, no geophysical data exceeding 500 m of depth has ever been reported; the actual conceptual models were generated only from shallower geophysical studies, geological and hydrogeochemical mapping. We performed a geophysical survey in CI to determine the geometry of the hydrogeological units through Audio-Magnetotellurics (AMT), Time Domain Electromagnetics (TDEM), and Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES). Since the acquired data set from the different applied geophysical methods are multidimensional and band-limited, some well-known empirical relations between the applied methods were used to improve the subsurface imaging, turning data into broadband-integrated and space-time scaled into the MT frequency domain. We present a methodology on how to handle this integrated information through a 2-D inversion approach. The results reveal that, even though there are two hydrogeological units, they could not be vertically distinguished, thus is not possible to refute the previous idea of direct vertical communication between the two aquifers. Moreover, a clear lateral transition in resistivity models was not found, so the administrative division of CI would only obey political-administrative purposes. • Cuenca de la Independencia aquifer is an important ground water source in Mexico. • Space- and time-scaling can increase resolution of 2-D resistivity models. • MT-methodologies can be applied to other geophysical methods under right conditions. • Resistivity distribution suggest that CI is a single hydrogeological system. • 2-D resistivity models show both aquifers vertically semi-connected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Los Humeros Volcanic Complex (LHVC) is a large silicic caldera complex in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB), hosting a geothermal field currently in exploitation by the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) of Mexico, with an installed capacity of ca. 95 MW of electric power. Understanding the structural architecture of LHVC is important to get insights into the interplay between the volcano-tectonic setting and the characteristics of the geothermal resources in the area. The analysis of volcanotectonic interplay in LHVC benefits from the availability of subsurface data obtained during the exploration of the geothermal reservoir that allows the achievement of a 3D structural view of the volcano system. The LHVC thus represents an important natural laboratory for the development of general models of volcano-tectonic interaction in calderas. In this study, we discuss a structural model of LHVC based on morphostructural and field analysis, integrated with well logs, focal mechanism solutions and magnetotelluric imaging. The structural analysis suggests that inherited regional tectonic structures recognized in the basement played an important role in the evolution of the magma feeding system, caldera collapses and post-caldera deformations. These inherited weak planes have been reactivated by resurgence faults and post-caldera magma-driven hydrofractures under a local radial stress field generated by the shallow LHVC magmatic/hydrothermal system. The local stress field induced caldera resurgence and volcanotectonic faulting. The results of this study are important to better constrain the structural architecture of large caldera complexes. Also, our study is useful to understand the structure of the Los Humeros geothermal field and support the exploration of deeper Super-Hot Geothermal Systems (SHGSs) and engineering of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGSs) for electric power production in the LHVC and other active resurgent calderas. • Geomorphological, field, subsurface and geophysical information are integrated into a new 3D model of LHVC; • Magmatic radial stress field, overwhelming the regional stress field, induces caldera resurgence; • Volcanotectonic deformations and hydrofractures reactivated inherited tectonic weak planes; • Resurgence faults and volcanotectonic stress field control the location of structures producing geothermal fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water supply in semiarid areas in Mexico depends on water extraction from compartmentalized aquifers where large drawdown rates can be observed due to increasing demand from urban, industrial and agricultural users. Understanding the behavior of these aquifers is a necessity in order to improve the estimation of water balances. Accordingly, this study assembles both geochemical and isotopic data to identify the source of recharge to the San Juan del Río graben aquifer and to determine its dynamics. The geological model developed with the aforementioned data reveals a complex system composed of a heterogeneous multilayered compartmentalized aquifer. The San Juan del Rio basin is composed of (1) the Amealco perched aquifer, (2) a shallow granular aquifer, and (3) a fractured aquifer. Hydrogeochemical and isotopic data (δ2H, δ18O, δ13C and correct carbon activity (Δ14C)) allow for identification of three end-member sources: (1) local meteoric recharge, (2) old groundwater contained in the siliciclastic shallow aquifer, and (3) regional/local hydrothermal recharge. The contribution of both meteoric and regional hydrogeothermal flow to the different aquifer compartments is determined through a principal component analysis of the hydrogeochemical data. With the aforementioned analysis it was found that the dominant contribution source for all aquifer compartments is meteoric water (up to 60% with a median of 50%), while the regional hydrothermal groundwater contribution represents 15%, even for the shallow aquifer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Juchipila graben is an unconventional geothermal system located in central Mexico. • Thermal water has anomalous concentrations of F, B, Li, and As. • δ2H and δ18O indicate a common meteoric source but different evaporation processes. • Mantle helium is transported into the system through deep-rooted faults. This work presents hydrochemical results for groundwater and dissolved gas samples collected from a thermal and cold aquifer in the Juchipila Basin, in southern Sierra Madre Occidental, central Mexico. Thermal springs in the Juchipila Basin reach temperatures of 60 °C, these manifestations are not related to recent or active volcanism as are all the known geothermal fields in Mexico. The thermal waters (>32 °C) are Na-HCO 3 and Na-SO 4 type, with an anomalous concentration of F, B, Li, and As. Their chemistry likely results from water-rock interaction processes. The cold waters (<32 °C) have a Ca-HCO 3 composition typical of recent infiltration and shallow flow, but they have an anomalous concentration of NO 3. The δ2H and δ18O indicate a common meteoric source for the warm and cold water plotting along an evaporation line. The waters have higher CO 2 and He concentrations than the air-saturated water. The helium composition is mainly atmospheric and terrigenous with a mantle helium contribution of up to 14%. This suggests that faults affecting the region are deeply rooted, permitting mantle helium uprise. Geothermometry gives mean reservoir temperatures of 58–102 °C. Based on these results, we propose a model of hydrothermal circulation in the Juchipila Basin, in which rainwater infiltrates deeply through the graben edges fault system, dissolves ions and crustal helium, incorporates mantle helium, while heated by the geothermal gradient, and eventually surges and mixes with the cold, shallow aquifer along faults cutting the whole succession within the graben. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]