Study on Geochemistry of Potential High Temperature Geothermal Resources in Taxkorgan, Xinjiang, China

Abstract

The high temperature geothermal resources in China concentrate upon Himalayan Geothermal Zone in Tibet. However the geothermal drilling found high temperature in Taxkorgan County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in recent year. The down hole temperature is 158C at 350m depth. The wellhead open flow of steam and hot water is 146C. Tectonically the Mediterranean-Himalayan Geothermal Zone turns at the joint. Taxkorgan geothermal field is fractured reservoir within granite and gneiss. Geothermal water in the reservoir is Cl.SO4-Na type with total dissolved solids of 1,999-3,667mg/L. The highest concentrations of silica and fluorine are 272.8mg/L and 10.18mg/L respectively. They are mineral water. Geothermometry shows higher K-Mg temperature and silica temperature as 126.4-166.5C and 163.8-202.1C respectively. These geochemical features are similar with the characteristics of high temperature geothermal resources in Yangbajain and Yangyi geothermal fields in Tibet. This discovery enlarges the distribution range of high temperature geothermal resources in China. The geothermal resources have potential for geothermal power generation, and to solve district heat for the whole county.