Evolution of hot fluids in the Chingshui geothermal field inferred from crystal morphology and geochemical vein data
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Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The Chingshui geothermal field once hosted the first geothermal power plant in Taiwan from 1981 to 1993. After a long period of inactivity, this field is attracting renewed interest to meet the need for clean energy. A 213-m length of cores (IC-21) with continuous recovery, the longest in the Chingshui geothermal field, was recovered from 600 m to 813 m below the surface in 2010. Three types of calcite crystal morphologies have been identified in the veins of the cores of well IC-21: bladed, rhombic and massive crystals. Bladed calcites are generated via degassing under boiling conditions with a precipitation temperature of ∼165 °C and calculated δ18O value of −6.8‰ to −10.2‰ VSMOW for the thermal water. Rhombic calcites grow in low concentration Ca2+ and CO32− meteoric fluids and precipitate at approximately ∼180 °C. Finally, massive calcites are characterized by co-precipitation with quartz in the mixing zone between meteoric water and magmatic or metamorphic fluids with calculated δ18O value of up to 1.5 ± 0.7‰ VSMOW. Furthermore, the scaling and hot fluids at a nearby pilot geothermal power plant confirm a meteoric origin. Based on these observations, we propose that the current orientations of the main conduits for geothermal fluids are oriented at N10°E with a dip of 70°E. This result provides the basic information needed for deploying production and injection wells in future developments of the geothermal power plant in this region.
Date Issued
2018-07-01
Date Acceptance
2017-11-29
Citation
Geothermics, 2018, 74, pp.305-318
ISSN
0375-6505
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
305
End Page
318
Journal / Book Title
Geothermics
Volume
74
Copyright Statement
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Total E&P UK Limited
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000431469700027&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
4200059621
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Physical Sciences
Energy & Fuels
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Geology
Chingshui geothermal field
Clumped isotopes
Fluid inclusions
Calcite
Formation scaling
CLUMPED-ISOTOPE THERMOMETRY
HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION
CALCITE
TAIWAN
INCLUSION
MINERALS
DEPOSIT
GROWTH
MODEL
PRECIPITATION
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-02-01