Central American Resource Studies

Abstract

The Los Alamos National Laboratory has been involved in geothermal and mineral resource studies in Central America over the last four years. These studies have concentrated on finding mineral resources in Costa Rica (using geochemical prospecting), peat in Costa Rica and Panama, geothermal resources in Honduras and Guatemala, and developing existing geothermal fields in Costa Rica (Miravalles), El Salvador (Ahuachapán), and Guatemala (Zunil). We have been assisted in these efforts by the counterpart electrical utilities in each country, the U.S. Geological Survey, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, and private consultants. The work has been funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) at a level of $8.0 million over calendar years 1985–1987.

Significant achievements to date include the release of geochemical atlases for quadrangles in CostaRica, the identification of Platanares as the site with greatest geothermal energy potential in Honduras, a geothermal assessment of the Tecuamburro volcano in Guatemala, and use of state-of-the-art geothermal well logging and direct current resistivity equipment in the region. This equipment was used in well logging and geophysical surveys at the Miravalles geothermal field in Costa Rica, the Ahuachapán geothermal field in El Salvador, and the Zunil geothermal field in Guatemala.