Thermal Regime of the Podhale Geothermal System (Poland) in the Light of Organic Matter Maturation and Other Research Methods

Abstract

It is very difficult, and perhaps impossible, to make a precise reconstruction of the thermal conditions in the Mesozoic complex, and make a comparison between the Paleogene filling complex and the Mesozoic basement complex in the Podhale Trough, based on organic-matter data only. The rate of transformation of the organic matter is strongly influenced by the nature of the host sediments. The maturation of the Paleogene organic matter from Podhale Trough increases gradually with depth and in a lateral south-east direction. This observation concords with the results of the diagenetic study of the clay minerals. Maturation of organic matter in the Mesozoic sedimentary rocks is much more complex and possibly a result of its complicated geological history and/or oxidation of the organic matter during hydrothermal fluid migration.