Pablo Rodríguez Gonzálvez

3D Digital Outcrop Modeling and aquifer/reservoir characterization of a slope system tufa complex. La Peña del Manto, Soria (Spain)

Field surveys had been performed on an excellent outcrop of a Quaternary perched springline (slope system) tufa complex (La Pena del Manto, Soria, Spain) integrating LIDAR (Laser Imaging Detection and Ranking), DGPS (differential global position system), GPR (Ground penetrating Radar), ERT (Electrical resistivity tomography) technologies and conventional field studies. The later include: 1) detailed GIS-based geological and geomorphological mapping; 2) description and characterization of sedimentary facies; 3) logging of stratigraphic sections; 4) palaeocurrent measurement; 5) sampling for petrographic, microtextural, geochemical and geochronological analysis; together with 5) sampling for petrophysical characterization (porosity and hydraulic conductivity analysis) of the different lithofacies that will be carried out in a following step of research project. PETREL sowftware (Schlumberger) is being used to integrate the data set and to build a digital outcrop model (DOM) and a 3D facies model of this sloped tufa complex. These models will allow the accurate reconstruction of sedimentary geometries and quantification of the spatial distribution of lithofacies and their physical properties. These models are envisaged as a highly valuable tool for unraveling the sedimentological development and evolution of the cascade tufa complex and their aquifer characterization, providing key insights for understanding the geomorphological evolution during the Quaternary of the fluvial drainage network of the area. In addition, the results will help to improve the current knowledge and understanding of tufa sedimentary systems (comparatively much less studied that other carbonate sedimentary systems) and will provide valuable information for aquifer and reservoir analogs of comparable sedimentary bodies.