Characteristics of Radiogenic Heat Production of Widely Distributed Granitoids in Western Sichuan, Southeast Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

Abstract Investigating the genesis of geothermal resources requires a thorough understanding of the heat source mechanism, which is also a vital basis for the efficient exploration and utilization of geothermal resources. Situated in the eastern Himalayan syntax, western Sichuan is considered to be one of the main concentration regions of high-temperature geothermal resources in China. To date, various studies have been carried out to reveal the heat source and genesis of the abundant high-temperature resources in this area; however, studies on the contribution of the radioactive heat generated by the widely distributed granitoids to the high-temperature geothermal resources remain scarce. In order to resolve this knowledge gap, we attempted to obtain evidence from the geochemical data published in the literature in the past few decades. A total of 548 radiogenic heat production rate data were determined. The statistical data indicate that the average concentrations of the heat-producing elements U, Th, and K are 6.09±5.22 ppm, 26.74±16.78 ppm, and 3.51±0.82%, respectively. The calculated heat production values of the granitoids vary from 0.52 to 10.86 μW/m3, yielding an arithmetic average value of 3.74±2.15 μW/m3, which is higher than that of global Mesozoic–Cenozoic granites (3.09±1.62 μW/m3). Based on the heat production values, the capacity of the granitic batholiths to store heat was assessed, and the Dongcuo pluton was found to be the largest heat reservoir (382.88×1013 J/a). The distribution of the crustal heat flow was examined using the calculated heat production data and the stratigraphic structure obtained via deep seismic sounding in the study area. The results indicate that the crustal heat flow is 48.3–56.2 mW/m2, which is mainly contributed by the radioactive decay in the granitoids in the upper crust. The fact that it accounts for nearly half of the regional background heat flow indicates that the radiogenic heat from the granitoids is an important heat source for the formation of the thermal anomaly and the high-temperature geothermal resources in the study area. Thus, the results obtained in this study highlight the importance of the widely distributed granitoids to high-temperature geothermal resources in western Sichuan.