Geothermal Potential of the Banaz-Hamamboğazı Thermal and Mineral Waters

Abstract

The Hamambo?az? spa is located 7 km NE of the Banaz town along the E-23 Izmir highway. Its elevation is 970 m. Alluvium deposits of the Hamambo?az? creek extending to the southwest form the Banaz plain. The annual precipitation in the Banaz region is 672.3 mm. Miocene and Quaternary deposits are exposed in the area. Miocene deposits are composed of conglomerate, sandstone, silt, claystone, clayey limestone, marl, tuff and tuffite units. Volcanism was active during the deposition of unit in the Miocene lake. Foot prints on the volcanic ash deposits around the Salihli at west of the area may indicate that volcanic activity continued during Quaternary.
Quaternary alluvium is composed of fan and debris deposits and travertine. Green rocks such as serpentine, radiolarite and chert are found at a depth of more than 300 m in deep wells. Left flank of the Hamambo?az? valley is faulted and thermal waters issue through this fault. Drilling studies in the Hamambo?az? area were started in 1994 by MTA. As a result of drilling of 4 wells, thermal water with a discharge of 124.82 l/sec and with a temperature of 62-73?C was produced. On the basis of AIH classification, thermal water is sodium-magnesium, carbonate, sulfate, boron, silica bearing waters containing significant amount of CO2 gas.
In this study, origin, recharge and physico-chemical characteristics of the Banaz Hamambo?az? thermal waters are investigated. In order to determine reservoir temperature of the area various chemical geothermometers were used. Assuming a reservoir temperature of 80?C for the Banaz area, fluid potential was computed as 350 l/sec.
Applications of district heating and green house as well as building of new spas in the area are seriously considered by the Banaz Municipality.