RT Journal Article
T1 Fluid-rock interaction signature in Palomares fault zone : new mineralogical and geochemical insights into the tectono-magmatic Águilas arc geothermal system (SE Spain)
A1 Real Fernández, Elena
A1 Pozo, Manuel
A1 De Ignacio San José, Cristina
A1 Sánchez Malo, Ángel
A1 Sanz Rubio, Enrique
A1 Villa, Luis
AB The southeastern Iberian Peninsula, particularly the Águilas Arc within the Neogene Volcanic Province (NVP), represents a promising geothermal domain with complex tectonics and geology. The Palomares Fault Zone (PFZ), a key shear structure initiated during the Late Miocene, acts as a conduit for fluid migration, promoting mineralization and potential anomalies of rare and critical metals through fluid–rock interaction. This study investigates such interactions in the southernmost Águilas Arc, focusing on the El Arteal fault segment within the eastern PFZ strand. Mineralogical, geochemical, and hydrogeological analyses were performed using XRD, SEM, and ICP-MS techniques. Results reveal six mineral assemblages (MA) within the fault segment where the fault gouge samples were characterized by cataclastic textures and the occurrence of authigenic minerals, including halite, kaolinite, illite, paragonite, goethite, hematite, gypsum, barite, celestine, and quartz. Geochemical data indicate enrichment signatures in large-ion lithophile elements (LILE) and minor chalcophile and light rare-earth elements (LREE). Two thermal hydrofacies with alkaline metals enrichment were identified in wells and mine shafts: (1) Na+SO42− and (2) Na+Cl−, where the latter exhibits high Na+ and Cl− concentrations toward deeper sectors. These findings suggest multiple stages of fluid–rock interaction controlled by temperature: an early phase dominated by epithermal mineralization, followed by late-stage circulation of hypersaline fluids. This evolution provides an abnormal geochemical signature that is unique in the Aguilas Arc Geothermal System.
PB MDPI
YR 2026
FD 2026-01-30
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/133732
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/133732
LA eng
NO Real-Fernández, E., Pozo, M., De Ignacio, C., Sánchez-Malo, Á., Sanz-Rubio, E., & Villa, L. (2026). Fluid-rock interaction signature in palomares fault zone—New mineralogical and geochemical insights into the tectono-magmatic águilas arc geothermal system(Se spain). Applied Sciences, 16(3), 1420. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16031420
NO MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033
NO MINERSA
NO Geomnia Natural Resources S.L.N.E.
DS Docta Complutense
RD 8 jun 2026