The southeastern region of China is abundant in granite of various ages and types, as well as geothermal resources. The relationship between granite bodies and geothermal resources, especially the connection between granite's radiogenic heat production rate and the genesis of geothermal energy, represents a significant scientific issue. Over the past nearly fifteen years, we have conducted field geological surveys, rock density determinations, and radiogenic heat-producing element content measurements in the Nanling area of inland southeastern China and the Zhangzhou area along the southeast coast. Our data reveal significant differences between the two regions in terms of rock type, genesis, and radiogenic heat-producing element content. Granites in the Nanling area exhibit high radiogenic heat production rates, characteristics of high heat-producing granites. In contrast, granites in the southeast coastal areas have relatively lower heat production rates, slightly above the global average for granites. Although the heat source conditions are available for the both regions possessing high background heat flow values, it is essential to carry out in-depth research on whether there are matching conditions between high-thermogenic hidden granite and its overlying low-thermal conductivity sedimentary caprock, thus forming radiogenic hot dry rocks.

Press the Back button in your browser, or search again.

Copyright 2025, Stanford Geothermal Program: Readers who download papers from this site should honor the copyright of the original authors and may not copy or distribute the work further without the permission of the original publisher.