Volcanostratigraphic Approach and its Implication for Geothermal Evaluation in Talang Volcano West Sumatra

Abstract

The desk studies are a fundamental preliminary step in any geologic investigation of volcanic regions. These studies are very important approaches used in the reconnaissance survey stage for the exploration of volcanic geothermal systems. Volcanostratigraphic study has been done in Talang volcano and nearby regions, where the two topographic maps on the scale of 1:100000 and 1:50000 were utilized by drawing the patterns of drainage, ridges and flows without intersecting these flows. The first scale employed to distinguish eruption product units based on their respective eruptive centers (Crown), as well as a map on 1:50000 scale to find detailed parasitic distributed unit (s) product such as (Hummock). The challenge based on this approach is to distinguish different volcanic products based on their origins without ground truthing. Thus, the correlation with existing published geological map was employed. One volcanic unit were identified (Talang Brigade) which consists of three eruption centers (The Talang Bawah, Talang Batino and Talang Jantan Crowns) and three Hummocks with different ages based on age of eruption. The volcanostatigraphic units, is bounded by a large Talang Brigade caldera with a diameter more than 2 km. Based on analyses of the dimension, maturity, stress regimes, and an estimation of the thermal resource base of its magmatic heat source, it was concluded that Talang volcano as a geothermal potential that deserves further detailed studies before embarking to development phase. For verifying desk work studies, the detailed volcanostratigraphic mapping is recommended to understand the physical- and chemical properties of the volcanic rocks and provide the history of volcanism and validation of the potentially geothermal boundaries.