Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2020, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (1): 72-80.DOI: 10.13745/j.esf.2020.1.9

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Analysis of hot-dry geothermal resource potential in southeastern Guangxi

SUN Minghang1(), LIU Demin2,*(), KANG Zhiqiang3, GUAN Yanwu4, LIANG Guoke1, HUANG Xiqiang1, YE Jiahui1, GUO Shangyu1,5, SUN Xingting1, TANG Wei1, FENG Minhao1   

  1. 1. Guangxi Institute of Geological Survey, Nanning 530023, China
    2. School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences(Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China
    3. China-ASEAN Geosciences Cooperation Center, Nanning 530023, China
    4. Key Laboratory of Applied Geophysics, Ministry of Natural Resources; College of Geo-exploration Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China
    5. Guangxi Mineral Resources and Reserves Evaluation Centre, Nanning 530023, China
  • Received:2019-08-27 Revised:2019-09-27 Online:2020-01-20 Published:2020-01-20
  • Contact: LIU Demin

Abstract:

As an important part of geothermal resource, hot dry rock (HDR) is regarded as future clean energy with great developmental prospect and research value. Here, we studied southeastern Guangxi by re-examining the basic geological, geophysical and geochemical data. We carried out field investigations of tectonic-magmatic-sedimentary formation system, lithospheric structure, characteristics of present-day geothermal field and distribution of earthquakes and hot springs to explore the potential of dry-heat geothermal resources in southeastern Guangxi. The results show that the lithosphere is relatively thin with two low-velocity layers about 6 and 2 km thick at above 25 and 6-8 km, respectively, indicating presence of slippage type ductile shears and high temperature geological bodies. In this area, Indosinian granites can provide stable supply of radiogenic heat materials (mean U concentration 5.41×10-6; Th 18.38×10-6; K2O 4.43%), whilst Cenozoic volcanic activities (OIB) provide a channel for the upwelling of deep thermal material while replenishing large amounts of geothermal energy. Indeed, we observed obvious geothermal anomalies in southeastern Guangxi: in Beihai-Nanning, terrestrial heat flow was at 80-100 mW/m2with geothermal gradient above 30 ℃/km; in Qinzhou and Hepu, Mesozoic-Cenozoic fault basins possess rich HDR geothermal resources that the sedimentary cap was of low cracking, porosity and thermal conductivity. Our research of dry heat geothermal potential will assist energy structural adjustment, ecological environmental optimization and industrial transformation and upgrading in Guangxi.

Key words: hot dry rock (HDR), resource potential, low-velocity layers, fault basins, southeastern Guangxi

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