EGU22-1034
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-1034
EGU General Assembly 2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Geothermal Exploration of the Baia Mare Region (Romania) with Magnetotellurics – Responses, Analysis and 1D Models

Maik Neukirch1, Alexander Minakov1, Maxim Smirnov2, Carmen Gaina1,3, Ionelia Panea4, Anca Isac4,5, Marine Collignon6, Alexandru Zlibut4, Cosmin Coverca4, Bogdan Sebastian Paralescu4, and Ana-Maria Henriuc Morosan4
Maik Neukirch et al.
  • 1Centre for Earth Evolution and Dynamics, University of Oslo, Norway (maik.neukirch@gmx.de)
  • 2Luleå University of Technology, Sweden
  • 3School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
  • 4University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, 6 Traian Vuia Street, Bucharest, 020956
  • 5Geological Institute of Romania, 1 Caransebes Street, Bucharest, Romania
  • 6independent researcher

Geothermal energy extracted from hydrothermal systems can play a key role in mitigating the effects of climate change, while meeting the world’s increasing energy demand. Moreover, not only does it represent a highly economic and adaptive source of renewable energy, but it is genetically related with the formation of ore deposits which are necessary to fuel our energy transition.

The presented study is part of a larger multidisciplinary and international project that aims at investigating the geothermal potential of the Baia Mare region, in northern Romania and for which geological, geochemical, hydrogeological and geophysical data have been. In this framework, the magnetotelluric (MT) method is used to study the hydrothermal system and more specifically to locate heat sources, highlight the presence of fluids and identify the system’s structure.

The largest cluster of measurements with anomalously high heat flow values in Romania (100-160 mW/m2) is situated in the greater Baia Mare region, revealing this area as a prime interest for geothermal exploration. The study area is located within the Neogene Inner Carpathians volcanic arc. Crustal hydraulic properties and associated hydrothermal systems are possibly controlled by the regional Dragos-Voda strike-slip fault zone, which could also provide a pathway for late Miocene magmatic intrusions and lava flows. The associated magmatic plumbing system crosscuts the Neogene sedimentary deposits of the Pannonian Basin. The region is known for surface hot springs, salt and metal mining, which all suggest the presence of a hydrothermal system that could be exploited for geothermal energy.

Broadband magnetotelluric transfer functions have been obtained at 24 sites in the Baia Mare region ranging from 300 Hz up to around 1000s using two MTU instruments from Luleå University of Technology. In addition, we collected continuous telluric broadband recordings at the Surlari National Geomagnetic Observatory to be used as remote reference data together with data from other INTERMAGNET observatories. We applied non-stationary, robust remote processing, which allowed to improve poorly constrained estimates of the impedance tensor in the MT dead band (1 to 10s). Phase tensor and impedance maps provide data overview and a first glimpse of subsurface structures. The preliminary 3D inversion results are presented.

How to cite: Neukirch, M., Minakov, A., Smirnov, M., Gaina, C., Panea, I., Isac, A., Collignon, M., Zlibut, A., Coverca, C., Paralescu, B. S., and Henriuc Morosan, A.-M.: Geothermal Exploration of the Baia Mare Region (Romania) with Magnetotellurics – Responses, Analysis and 1D Models, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-1034, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-1034, 2022.