Silica Geothermometry Estimates of Heat Flow in the Fujian Province, (P R China)

Abstract

There is an empirical relationship between temperature calculated via the silica geothermometer and measured heat flow values (Swanberg and Morgan). Using data of the dissolved silica content of 1156 groundwater samples in Fujian province, silica geothermometry and heat flow values have been calculated. The results show that the estimated heat flow based.on silica data on the west side of Zhenghe-Dapu fault, Western Fujian, is less than the estimated world average heat flow (41.5 HFU). However, heat flow on the east side of Zhenghe-Dapu fault, eastern Fujian, is higher (about 2 HFU) than the world average heat flow. This area is one which has a slightly positive heat flow.