Gulf of California Rift Zone Geothermal Region

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

[edit]

• Details
• Areas (1)
• Power Plants (1)
• Projects (0)
• Techniques (0)

"The Gulf of California rift zone is a complex transition zone between the dextral (right-lateral) motion of the San Andreas transform fault system and the northwestward progressing spreading ridge complex of the Gulf of California segment of the Eastern Pacific Rise. The Gulf of California and its onshore extension, the Salton Trough (which includes Mexicali, Imperial, and Coachella Valleys), are located over a series of rifts in the Earth's crust which are filling with sediment from above, chiefly from the Colorado River, and magmatic material from below. The Cerro Prieto geothermal field in Mexico and the Brawley Seismic zone in the U.S. are located above two of these rifts, and young volcanoes in these locations are evidence of intrusion of magma from below. The volcanics in this exploration region are less then 5-million year old and associated with northwest folding, block- and thrust- faulting. Dacite is the most common volcanic rock, with a composition that ranges from basalt to rhyolite. The volcanic activity appears to be related to extension associated with the San Andreas fault system. The most recent volcanic activity is dated to 10,000 years ago. The heat source for the Geysers geothermal field is provided by a silicic magama chamber." cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

The Gulf of California rift zone is a complex transition zone between the dextral (right-lateral) motion of the San Andreas transform fault system and the northwestward progressing spreading ridge complex of the Gulf of California segment of the Eastern Pacific Rise. The Gulf of California and its onshore extension, the Salton Trough (which includes Mexicali, Imperial, and Coachella Valleys), are located over a series of rifts in the Earth's crust which are filling with sediment from above, chiefly from the Colorado River, and magmatic material from below. The Cerro Prieto geothermal field in Mexico and the Brawley Seismic zone in the U.S. are located above two of these rifts, and young volcanoes in these locations are evidence of intrusion of magma from below.

The volcanics in this exploration region are less then 5-million year old and associated with northwest folding, block- and thrust- faulting. Dacite is the most common volcanic rock, with a composition that ranges from basalt to rhyolite. The volcanic activity appears to be related to extension associated with the San Andreas fault system. The most recent volcanic activity is dated to 10,000 years ago. The heat source for the Geysers geothermal field is provided by a silicic magama chamber. Clear Lake Volcanic Field, California
Assessment of Moderate- and High-Temperature Geothermal Resources of the United States

References

Geothermal Region Data
State(s)	California
Area	24,178 km² 24,178,000,000 m² 9,332.708 mi² 260,249,574,200 ft² 28,916,888,000 yd² 5,974,504.69 acres
USGS Resource Estimate for this Region
Identified Mean Potential	3,147.2 MW 3,147,200 kW 3,147,200,000 W 3,147,200,000,000 mW 3.147 GW 0.00315 TW
Undiscovered Mean Potential	147.1 MW 147,100 kW 147,100,000 W 147,100,000,000 mW 0.147 GW 1.471e-4 TW
Planned Capacity
Planned Capacity	710 MW 710,000 kW 710,000,000 W 710,000,000,000 mW 0.71 GW 7.1e-4 TW
Plants Included in Planned Estimate	7
Plants with Unknown Planned Capacity	4

Geothermal Areas within the Gulf of California Rift Zone Geothermal Region

• Cerro Prieto Geothermal Area

Energy Generation Facilities within the Gulf of California Rift Zone Geothermal Region

• Cerro Prieto Geothermal Power Station

Geothermal Power Projects within the Gulf of California Rift Zone Geothermal Region

Geothermal Development Projects in the Region(per GEA's Annual U.S. Geothermal Power Production and Development Report (April 2011))

Geothermal Exploration Techniques used within the Gulf of California Rift Zone Geothermal Region