Fluid-inclusion evidence for previous higher temperatures in the Miravalles geothermal field, Costa Rica

Heating and freezing data were obtained for liquid-rich secondary fluid inclusions in magmatic quartz, hydrothermal calcite and hydrothermal quartz crystals from 19 sampled depths in eight production drill holes (PGM-1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 11, 12 and 15) of the Miravalles geothermal field in northwestern Costa Rica. Homogenization temperatures for 386 fluid inclusions range from near the present measured temperatures to as much as 70°C higher than the maximum measured well temperature of about 240°C. Melting-point temperature measurements for 76 fluid inclusions suggest a calculated salinity range of about 0.2–1.9 wt% NaCl equivalent. Calculated salinities as high as 3.1–4.0 wt% NaCl equivalent for 20 fluid inclusions from the lower part of drill hole PGM-15 (the deepest drill hole) indicate that higher salinity water probably was present in the deeper part of the Miravalles geothermal field at the time these fluid inclusions were formed.