Subduction Zone
From Open Energy Information
Subduction Zone:
A tectonic process in which one tectonic plate is forced beneath another and sinks into the mantle as the plates converge
Tectonic Settings
List of tectonic settings known to host modern geothermal systems:
Subduction zones occur where one tectonic plate is pulled under another. Most often the subducting plate is oceanic crust and contains many hydrous minerals. As the oceanic plate subducts it dewaters into the mantle, lowering the melting temperature of the surrounding mantle which causes flux melting of the mantle into magma. This magma rises up and creates volcanic arcs. These volcanic arcs have high heat flow from the magma plumes and related intrusives. The associated deformation and heat is conducive to high temperature (230-300°C) geothermal systems.
Though subduction zones and associated volcanic arcs are generally the most exploited tectonic settings for geothermal energy production throughout the world, the US has little development in its two major subduction induced volcanic arcs: The Cascades of the Pacific Northwest and the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.
Examples
Want to add an example to this list? Select a Geothermal Resource Area to edit its "Tectonic Setting" property using the "Edit with Form" option.
| Geothermal Resource Area | Geothermal Region | Control Structure | Host Rock Age | Host Rock Lithology | Mean Capacity | Mean Reservoir Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahuachapan Geothermal Area | Central American Volcanic Arc Chain | 95 MW95,000 kW <br />95,000,000 W <br />95,000,000,000 mW <br />0.095 GW <br />9.5e-5 TW <br /> | 503.15 K230 °C <br />446 °F <br />905.67 °R <br /> | |||
| Akita Geothermal Field | Northeast Honshu Arc | Major Normal Fault | Tertiary | Dacite | 88.3 MW88,300 kW <br />88,300,000 W <br />88,300,000,000 mW <br />0.0883 GW <br />8.83e-5 TW <br /> | 548.15 K275 °C <br />527 °F <br />986.67 °R <br /> |
| Amatitlan Geothermal Area | Central American Volcanic Arc Chain | 25 MW25,000 kW <br />25,000,000 W <br />25,000,000,000 mW <br />0.025 GW <br />2.5e-5 TW <br /> | 513.15 K240 °C <br />464 °F <br />923.67 °R <br /> | |||
| Bac-Man Laguna Geothermal Area | Philippine Island Arc | Fault Intersection | Volcanic | 150 MW150,000 kW <br />150,000,000 W <br />150,000,000,000 mW <br />0.15 GW <br />1.5e-4 TW <br /> | 543.15 K270 °C <br />518 °F <br />977.67 °R <br /> | |
| Berlín Geothermal Area | Central American Volcanic Arc Chain | Andesite | 109 MW109,000 kW <br />109,000,000 W <br />109,000,000,000 mW <br />0.109 GW <br />1.09e-4 TW <br /> | 513.15 K240 °C <br />464 °F <br />923.67 °R <br /> | ||
| Bouillante Geothermal Area | Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc | Fault Intersection Major Normal Fault | Chlorite | 15 MW15,000 kW <br />15,000,000 W <br />15,000,000,000 mW <br />0.015 GW <br />1.5e-5 TW <br /> | 528.15 K255 °C <br />491 °F <br />950.67 °R <br /> | |
| Fukushima Geothermal Area | Northeast Honshu Arc | Major Normal Fault | 65 MW65,000 kW <br />65,000,000 W <br />65,000,000,000 mW <br />0.065 GW <br />6.5e-5 TW <br /> | 579.15 K306 °C <br />582.8 °F <br />1,042.47 °R <br /> | ||
| Gunun-Salak Geothermal Area | Sunda Volcanic Arc | Major Normal Fault | 345 MW345,000 kW <br />345,000,000 W <br />345,000,000,000 mW <br />0.345 GW <br />3.45e-4 TW <br /> | 548.15 K275 °C <br />527 °F <br />986.67 °R <br /> | ||
| Hachijojima Geothermal Area | Northeast Honshu Arc | 3.3 MW3,300 kW <br />3,300,000 W <br />3,300,000,000 mW <br />0.0033 GW <br />3.3e-6 TW <br /> | 556.15 K283 °C <br />541.4 °F <br />1,001.07 °R <br /> | |||
| Iwate Geothermal Area | Northeast Honshu Arc | Miocene; Pre-Tertiary | Dacitic welded tuff; Marine Sediments Tuffs; Shales; Chert; Slate; Granodiorite | 103.5 MW103,500 kW <br />103,500,000 W <br />103,500,000,000 mW <br />0.104 GW <br />1.035e-4 TW <br /> | 578.15 K305 °C <br />581 °F <br />1,040.67 °R <br /> | |
| Java - Darajat Geothermal Area | Sunda Volcanic Arc | Major Normal Fault | Volcanics | 255 MW255,000 kW <br />255,000,000 W <br />255,000,000,000 mW <br />0.255 GW <br />2.55e-4 TW <br /> | 518.15 K245 °C <br />473 °F <br />932.67 °R <br /> | |
| Java - Dieng Geothermal Area | Sunda Volcanic Arc | Lavas | 60 MW60,000 kW <br />60,000,000 W <br />60,000,000,000 mW <br />0.06 GW <br />6.0e-5 TW <br /> | 598.15 K325 °C <br />617 °F <br />1,076.67 °R <br /> | ||
| Java - Kamojang Geothermal Area | Sunda Volcanic Arc | Major Normal Fault | 200 MW200,000 kW <br />200,000,000 W <br />200,000,000,000 mW <br />0.2 GW <br />2.0e-4 TW <br /> | 518.15 K245 °C <br />473 °F <br />932.67 °R <br /> | ||
| Java-Wayang Windu Geothermal Area | Sunda Volcanic Arc | Major Normal Fault | 227 MW227,000 kW <br />227,000,000 W <br />227,000,000,000 mW <br />0.227 GW <br />2.27e-4 TW <br /> | 558.15 K285 °C <br />545 °F <br />1,004.67 °R <br /> | ||
| Kagoshima Geothermal Area | Ryuku Arc | Fault Intersection | Neogene to recent | Volcanic Rocks, Andesite | 0.1 MW100 kW <br />100,000 W <br />100,000,000 mW <br />1.0e-4 GW <br />1.0e-7 TW <br /> | 512.15 K239 °C <br />462.2 °F <br />921.87 °R <br /> |
| Kawerau Geothermal Area | Taupo Volcanic Zone | Fault Intersection | Quaternary | Volcaniclastic; Sandstone; Mudstone | 115 MW115,000 kW <br />115,000,000 W <br />115,000,000,000 mW <br />0.115 GW <br />1.15e-4 TW <br /> | 543.15 K270 °C <br />518 °F <br />977.67 °R <br /> |
| La Primavera Geothermal Area | Transmexican Volcanic Belt | Tertiary | Andesite | 25 MW25,000 kW <br />25,000,000 W <br />25,000,000,000 mW <br />0.025 GW <br />2.5e-5 TW <br /> | 527.15 K254 °C <br />489.2 °F <br />948.87 °R <br /> | |
| Lahendong Geothermal Area | Minahasa Volcanic Zone | Fault Intersection | Miocene | Andesite | 80 MW80,000 kW <br />80,000,000 W <br />80,000,000,000 mW <br />0.08 GW <br />8.0e-5 TW <br /> | 578.15 K305 °C <br />581 °F <br />1,040.67 °R <br /> |
| Leyte Geothermal Area | Philippine Island Arc | Andesite | 714.9 MW714,900 kW <br />714,900,000 W <br />714,900,000,000 mW <br />0.715 GW <br />7.149e-4 TW <br /> | 553.15 K280 °C <br />536 °F <br />995.67 °R <br /> | ||
| Lihir Geothermal Area | Papua New Guinea Geothermal Region | Basalt; Breccias; Tuffs | 56 MW56,000 kW <br />56,000,000 W <br />56,000,000,000 mW <br />0.056 GW <br />5.6e-5 TW <br /> | 548.15 K275 °C <br />527 °F <br />986.67 °R <br /> | ||
| Los Azufres Geothermal Area | Transmexican Volcanic Belt | Miocene-Pliocene | Andesite | 188 MW188,000 kW <br />188,000,000 W <br />188,000,000,000 mW <br />0.188 GW <br />1.88e-4 TW <br /> | 448.15 K175 °C <br />347 °F <br />806.67 °R <br /> | |
| Los Humeros Geothermal Area | Transmexican Volcanic Belt | Tertiary | Andesite | 90 MW90,000 kW <br />90,000,000 W <br />90,000,000,000 mW <br />0.09 GW <br />9.0e-5 TW <br /> | 578.15 K305 °C <br />581 °F <br />1,040.67 °R <br /> | |
| Maibarara Geothermal Area | Philippines Geothermal Region | 20 MW20,000 kW <br />20,000,000 W <br />20,000,000,000 mW <br />0.02 GW <br />2.0e-5 TW <br /> | 541.15 K268 °C <br />514.4 °F <br />974.07 °R <br /> | |||
| Mak-Ban / Laguna Geothermal Area | Philippine Island Arc | 457.75 MW457,750 kW <br />457,750,000 W <br />457,750,000,000 mW <br />0.458 GW <br />4.5775e-4 TW <br /> | 618.15 K345 °C <br />653 °F <br />1,112.67 °R <br /> | |||
| Mendeleevskaya Geothermal Area | Kuril-Kamchatka Arc | 1.8 MW1,800 kW <br />1,800,000 W <br />1,800,000,000 mW <br />0.0018 GW <br />1.8e-6 TW <br /> | 553.15 K280 °C <br />536 °F <br />995.67 °R <br /> | |||
| Mindanao Geothermal Area | Philippine Island Arc | 105 MW105,000 kW <br />105,000,000 W <br />105,000,000,000 mW <br />0.105 GW <br />1.05e-4 TW <br /> | 533.15 K260 °C <br />500 °F <br />959.67 °R <br /> | |||
| Miravalles Geothermal Area | Central American Volcanic Arc Chain | 165 MW165,000 kW <br />165,000,000 W <br />165,000,000,000 mW <br />0.165 GW <br />1.65e-4 TW <br /> | 513.15 K240 °C <br />464 °F <br />923.67 °R <br /> | |||
| Miyagi Geothermal Area | Northeast Honshu Arc | Miocene | Basalt | 12.5 MW12,500 kW <br />12,500,000 W <br />12,500,000,000 mW <br />0.0125 GW <br />1.25e-5 TW <br /> | 523.15 K250 °C <br />482 °F <br />941.67 °R <br /> | |
| Mokai Geothermal Area | Taupo Volcanic Zone | Fault Intersection | Quaternary | Volcaniclastic | 112 MW112,000 kW <br />112,000,000 W <br />112,000,000,000 mW <br />0.112 GW <br />1.12e-4 TW <br /> | 568.15 K295 °C <br />563 °F <br />1,022.67 °R <br /> |
| Momotombo Geothermal Area | Central American Volcanic Arc Chain | 77 MW77,000 kW <br />77,000,000 W <br />77,000,000,000 mW <br />0.077 GW <br />7.7e-5 TW <br /> | 513.15 K240 °C <br />464 °F <br />923.67 °R <br /> | |||
| Mori Geothermal Area | Kuril-Kamchatka Arc | Caldera Rim Margins | Pre-Tertiary | Limestone | 50 MW50,000 kW <br />50,000,000 W <br />50,000,000,000 mW <br />0.05 GW <br />5.0e-5 TW <br /> | 513.15 K240 °C <br />464 °F <br />923.67 °R <br /> |
| Mutnovskaya Geothermal Area | Kuril-Kamchatka Arc | Fault Intersection | Oligocene | 62 MW62,000 kW <br />62,000,000 W <br />62,000,000,000 mW <br />0.062 GW <br />6.2e-5 TW <br /> | 507.15 K234 °C <br />453.2 °F <br />912.87 °R <br /> | |
| Ogiri Geothermal Area | Ryuku Arc | Major Normal Fault | Quaternary | Andesite | 30 MW30,000 kW <br />30,000,000 W <br />30,000,000,000 mW <br />0.03 GW <br />3.0e-5 TW <br /> | 533.15 K260 °C <br />500 °F <br />959.67 °R <br /> |
| Oguni Geothermal Field | Japan: Energy Resources | 2 MW2,000 kW <br />2,000,000 W <br />2,000,000,000 mW <br />0.002 GW <br />2.0e-6 TW <br /> | 475.15 K202 °C <br />395.6 °F <br />855.27 °R <br /> | |||
| Ohaaki Geothermal Area | Taupo Volcanic Zone | Fault Intersection | Quaternary | Volcaniclastic | 122 MW122,000 kW <br />122,000,000 W <br />122,000,000,000 mW <br />0.122 GW <br />1.22e-4 TW <br /> | 538.15 K265 °C <br />509 °F <br />968.67 °R <br /> |
| Oita Geothermal Area | Ryuku Arc | 13.54 MW13,540 kW <br />13,540,000 W <br />13,540,000,000 mW <br />0.0135 GW <br />1.354e-5 TW <br /> | ||||
| Okeanskaya Geothermal Area | Kuril-Kamchatka Arc | 3.2 MW3,200 kW <br />3,200,000 W <br />3,200,000,000 mW <br />0.0032 GW <br />3.2e-6 TW <br /> | 558.15 K285 °C <br />545 °F <br />1,004.67 °R <br /> | |||
| Pailas Geothermal Area | Central American Volcanic Arc Chain | Andesite | 35 MW35,000 kW <br />35,000,000 W <br />35,000,000,000 mW <br />0.035 GW <br />3.5e-5 TW <br /> | |||
| Pauzhetskaya Geothermal Area | Kuril-Kamchatka Arc | Tuff | 27 MW27,000 kW <br />27,000,000 W <br />27,000,000,000 mW <br />0.027 GW <br />2.7e-5 TW <br /> | 468.15 K195 °C <br />383 °F <br />842.67 °R <br /> | ||
| Pengalengan Geothermal Area | West Java | 2 MW2,000 kW <br />2,000,000 W <br />2,000,000,000 mW <br />0.002 GW <br />2.0e-6 TW <br /> | 503.15 K230 °C <br />446 °F <br />905.67 °R <br /> | |||
| Rincon De La Vieja Geothermal Resource Area | Rincon De La Vieja | Andesite | 42 MW42,000 kW <br />42,000,000 W <br />42,000,000,000 mW <br />0.042 GW <br />4.2e-5 TW <br /> | 533.15 K260 °C <br />500 °F <br />959.67 °R <br /> | ||
| Rotokawa Geothermal Area | Taupo Volcanic Zone | Fault Intersection | Quaternary | Volcaniclastic | 167 MW167,000 kW <br />167,000,000 W <br />167,000,000,000 mW <br />0.167 GW <br />1.67e-4 TW <br /> | 573.15 K300 °C <br />572 °F <br />1,031.67 °R <br /> |
| San Jacinto Geothermal Area | Central American Volcanic Arc Chain | 87 MW87,000 kW <br />87,000,000 W <br />87,000,000,000 mW <br />0.087 GW <br />8.7e-5 TW <br /> | 543.15 K270 °C <br />518 °F <br />977.67 °R <br /> | |||
| South Negros Geothermal Area | Philippine Island Arc | 242 MW242,000 kW <br />242,000,000 W <br />242,000,000,000 mW <br />0.242 GW <br />2.42e-4 TW <br /> | 573.15 K300 °C <br />572 °F <br />1,031.67 °R <br /> | |||
| Sumatra-Sibayak Geothermal Area | Sunda Volcanic Arc - Great Sumatra Fault Zone | Fault Intersection | Tertiary | Sandstone; Limestone | 12 MW12,000 kW <br />12,000,000 W <br />12,000,000,000 mW <br />0.012 GW <br />1.2e-5 TW <br /> | 543.15 K270 °C <br />518 °F <br />977.67 °R <br /> |
| Takigami Geothermal Area | Ryuku Arc | Fault Controlled | Tertiary | Andesite | 28 MW28,000 kW <br />28,000,000 W <br />28,000,000,000 mW <br />0.028 GW <br />2.8e-5 TW <br /> | 478.15 K205 °C <br />401 °F <br />860.67 °R <br /> |
| Tiwi / Albay Geothermal Area | Philippine Island Arc | Andesite | 330 MW330,000 kW <br />330,000,000 W <br />330,000,000,000 mW <br />0.33 GW <br />3.3e-4 TW <br /> | 593.15 K320 °C <br />608 °F <br />1,067.67 °R <br /> | ||
| Wairakei-Poihipi Geothermal Area | Taupo Volcanic Zone | Fault Intersection | Quaternary | Volcaniclastic | 352 MW352,000 kW <br />352,000,000 W <br />352,000,000,000 mW <br />0.352 GW <br />3.52e-4 TW <br /> | 483.15 K210 °C <br />410 °F <br />869.67 °R <br /> |
| Yamagawa Geothermal Area | Ryuku Arc | Neogene to Recent | Volcanics | 30 MW30,000 kW <br />30,000,000 W <br />30,000,000,000 mW <br />0.03 GW <br />3.0e-5 TW <br /> | ||
| Zunil Geothermal Area | Central American Volcanic Arc Chain | Granite; Volcanics | 28 MW28,000 kW <br />28,000,000 W <br />28,000,000,000 mW <br />0.028 GW <br />2.8e-5 TW <br /> | 532.15 K259 °C <br />498.2 °F <br />957.87 °R <br /> |