Abstract

ROY, Priyadarsi D.; RIVERO-NAVARRETE, Axel; SANCHEZ-ZAVALA, José Luis  and  LOPEZ-BALBIAUX, Nayeli. Subsurface fire and subsidence at Valle del Potosí (Nuevo León, Mexico): Preliminary observations. Bol. Soc. Geol. Mex [online]. 2014, vol.66, n.3, pp.553-557. ISSN 1405-3322.

Since the last three decades, Valle del Potosí basin (western part of Nuevo León) has been experiencing subsurface fire and subsidence. Preliminary field observations relate the subsurface fire to smoldering of a peat layer at 200-280 cm depth. Subsidence was caused by the associated volume reduction as a result of peat burning. We hereby present the chemical composition of the peat layer and report about the possible reasons of subsurface fire and subsidence.

Keywords : subsurface fire; subsidence; smoldering; peat; Nuevo León.