Deep Heat Flow and Geothermal Structure in Sichuan Basin of China

Abstract

With a hybrid-crust heat-flow model, using the peelingî method, we have investigated the deep geothermal structures of the southwestern and middle uplifts, and the northwestern depression and south lowly folded belt as well as eastern highly folded belt, Sichuan Basin of China. The temperature values at the Conard surface are in the range of 371-494 degree centigrade, and those at the Moho discontinuity are in the range of 552 - 821 degrees centigrade. Preliminary analysis of the bottom temperature of the sub-crust and the lithosphere temperature distribution indicates that Sichuan Basin is a stable tectonic unit relatively with fairly low temperature and heat flow except the southwestern part of the Basin.