Resistivity, Thermal Probing and Self Potential Studies in the Izmir Balcova Geothermal Field, Turkey

Abstract

Resistivity, thermal probing and self potential surveys were run in the Izmir Balcova geothermal field of Turkey in 1962. These were in a hot water area in Turkey. This Izmir Balcova area is covered by alluvium, which is underlain by a tiysch or Cretaceous age. The single hot water manifestations, a spring, had a temperature of 72°C. The spring discharged in a stream bed along the alluvium fiysch contact. The resistive and thermal probing surveys revealed a fault zone delineated by low resistivity and high temperature closures under 30-50 meter thick alluvium. Two holes of 40 and 100 m depth were drilled in this zone; they produced 124°C and 100°C hot water, respectively. The self potential anomaly, as low as -120 mV, was located over a stream bed, which had a width up to 80 m. Because there stream was dry during the survey, the anomaly was explained as being due to electrofiltration potential caused by convection created by cold water underflow in the stream bed and hot water in the alluvium. Presently the geothermal system has been developed for house and greenhouse heating.