Preliminary Evaluation of Monghyr Geothermal Area, Bihar, India

Abstract

Monghyr geothermal area in Eastern Peninsular India is characterized by the occurrence of about a dozen thermal springs (32°-65°C) within a hill range viz. Karkakpur Hills. The springs emerge along fault or joint planes with a sequence of metasediments comprising quartzites and phyllites (1800-2400 Ma). Regional geotectonic set up, indicates genetically relationship of the area with a major deep seated Tertiary shear zone (trend NW-SE) which is related to the Himalayan orogency. Simple indifferent nature of the chemical quality of lost of the spring waters, with remarkably low specific conductance and slightly acidic pH along with moderate variations in their discharge and temperature in different periods, are consistent with a model in which local meteoric water descends to a shallow hot zone, becomes charged with chemical mainly due to rock/water interaction at augmented temperature (>100°C) and emerge to the surface under thermo-artesian conditions. Formation of the shallow hot zone may be ascribed to frictional heat and or leakage from transcrustal zones due to deep seated crustal movements. Total convective heat flow from the area is considerable (229.12 kwt/hr), which is, however, of low grade and can be utilized of recreational purpose, refrigeration, cold storage and vegetable drying.