3 Geomorphological, Hydrologic, and Geothermal investigations of basin aquifers in Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico

The session will explore BCS basins, focusing on groundwater storage, evaporation, runoff and transport mechanisms, featuring experts on thermal and shallow groundwater interactions, soil mapping for hydrological planning, geomorphology, and human impacts on water balance.

Wednesday, 22 April 2026
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
LMH, Isla Carmen

Magnetotelluric imaging of a geothermal prospect at Loreto, Baja California Sur.

Paper number: 3-12
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 10:55 AM – 11:10 AM

Authors

Abstract

A region close to Loreto town, Baja California Sur, exhibits several geothermal manifestitations. To investigate the subsurface structures controlling this geothermal system, a magnetotelluric (MT) survey was conducted in 2024. A total of 50 broadband MT soundings were acquired across the geothermal prospect area. The magnetotelluric time-series were processed using robust statistical techniques, including remote reference processing, to mitigate cultural noise and enhance the reliability of the estimated transfer functions. Based on the analysis of the magnetotelluric dataset, we are able to infer the orientation of major geological structures, which is consistent with the regional tectonic framework. We applied different inversion thechniques to derive a resistivity model, reaching around 10 km of depth of investigation. Conductivity features were interpreted and related to the structures that are controlling the geothermal sytem. This study demonstrates the efficacy of the MT method in characterizing the elements of a geothermal system. 

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 3

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026CD-411070

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