Abstract
Harrat Rahat volcanic field lies along the Makkah-Madinah-Nafud active volcanic line. It has extensive linear weak zones of wrench faults that could provide ideal conduits for upwelling magma and hydrothermal fluids as well. Passive seismic data recorded by seismic stations installed within and around Harrat Rahat has been processed for the detection of microseismic events. Moreover, ambient noise was also gathered and analyzed to construct a subsurface velocity model. This model indicates low velocity zone in Harrat Rahat, and two areas with coincident basement faults and possibly with enhanced subsurface temperatures were identified. It is concluded that Harrat Rahat has high geothermal potential and promising for geothermal renewable power.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank Mr. Yousef Al-Amri for his contribution during field data collection.
Funding
This project was funded by the National Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation (MAARIFAH), King Abdul-Aziz City for Science and Technology, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, award number (11 – SPA 2208 - 02).
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Responsible Editor: Amjad Kallel
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Al-Amri, A.M., Abdelrahman, K., Mellors, R. et al. Seismic identification of geothermal prospecting in Harrat Rahat, Northern Arabian Shield. Arab J Geosci 13, 314 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05300-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05300-2