Hydrogeochemical Characteristics and Conceptual Model of the Geothermal Waters in the Xianshuihe Fault Zone, Southwestern China

Xiao Li, Xun Huang, Xin Liao and Yunhui Zhang
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Xiao Li: State Key Laboratory of Geological Disaster Prevention and Environmental Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Xun Huang: State Key Laboratory of Geological Disaster Prevention and Environmental Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Xin Liao: Faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 611756, China
Yunhui Zhang: Faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 611756, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: Abundant geothermal waters have been reported in the Yalabamei, Zhonggu, Erdaoqiao, and Yulingong geothermal areas of the Xianshuihe Fault Zone of western Sichuan, southwestern China. This study focused on the hydrogeochemical evolution, reservoir temperature, and recharge origin of geothermal waters using hydrochemical and deuterium-oxygen (D-O) isotopic studies. Shallow geothermal waters represented by geothermal springs and shallow drilled water wells are divided into two hydrochemical groups: (1) the Ca–Na–HCO 3 type in the Erdaoqiao area, and (2) Na–HCO 3 in other areas. Deep geothermal waters represented by deep drilled wells are characterized by the Na–Cl–HCO 3 type. The major ionic compositions of geothermal water are primarily determined by the water–rock interaction with silicate and carbonate minerals. The reservoir temperatures estimated by multi-geothermometries have a range of 63–150 °C for shallow geothermal water and of 190–210 °C for deep geothermal water, respectively. The δ 18 O and δD compositions indicated geothermal waters are recharged by meteoric water from the elevation of 2923–5162 m. Based on the aforementioned analyses above, a conceptual model was constructed for the geothermal system in the Xianshuihe fault zone.

Keywords: geothermal water; water-rock interaction; geothermometry; recharge origin; Xianshuihe fault zone (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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