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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 2008; v. 299; p. 317-339;
DOI: 10.1144/SP299.19
© 2008 Geological Society of London

Fluid flow properties

Assessment of thermal circulations in strike-slip fault systems: the Terme di Valdieri case (Italian western Alps)

A. Baietto1, P. Cadoppi1,4, G. Martinotti1, P. Perello2, P. Perrochet3 & F.-D. Vuataz5

1 DST, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Torino, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125, Torino, Italy (e-mail: alessandro.baietto{at}unito.it)
2 SEA Consulting Srl, Via Cernaia 27, 10121, Torino, Italy
3 CHYN, Centre d'Hydrogéologie, Université de Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11– CP 158 CH-2009 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
4 CNR-IGG, Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse, Sezione di Torino, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125, Torino, Italy
5 CREGE, Centre for Geothermal Research, c/o CHYN, Rue E.-Argand, CP 158, CH-2009 Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Individual faults, faults linking at depth in flower structure zones and jogs bounded by faults are common structural elements in strike–slip fault systems and can play an important role in controlling thermal fluid flows. This paper explores the influence of these structures on the thermal circulations and fluid outflows of Terme di Valdieri, in the crystalline basement of the Argentera Massif (western Alps). In this site, thermal waters upwell at the tip of a NW-trending right-lateral fault, but exactly which structures control infiltration of meteoric waters and deep circulation is not clear from field surveys. Three-dimensional thermohydraulic numerical models calculated in steady-state and in transient regimes are presented for three alternative hypotheses. These account for circulations occurring: (i) within a single fault and adjoining host rocks; (ii) in faults intersecting at depth; and (iii) in faults interacting by means of a permeable step-over. The simulations show that advective flows can coexist with convective flows in models (i) and (iii), provided that the fault permeabilities are higher than 2x10–13 m2, while advection prevails in model (ii) at all values of permeability. Model (iii) achieves the best fit to the data under the assumption of advective and convective flows. This finding provides a first quantitative estimate of the importance of jog structures bounded by strike–slip faults in favouring thermal outflows. Moreover, the numerical results suggest that thermal convection can coexist with advection also in mountainous settings.





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