WANG Kai, PEI Jianguo, ZENG Jinyan, LIU Awei
World Geology.
2025, 44(3):
495-504.
This study is the first to analyze the geothermal resource occurrence conditions and the formation
evolution mechanisms in the southern part of Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, from both geothermal geophysical and
geothermal water isotope geochemical perspectives. Based on geophysical exploration data and geothermal water
isotope chemical analysis, and combined with regional geological data, a comprehensive study of the geothermal
field in southern Taiyuan is conducted. The geophysical methods primarily include gravity, magnetic, and electrical
surveys, which are used to analyze the structural characteristics and reservoir distribution of the geothermal field.
The geochemical methods mainly include hydrochemical and isotopic analyses, aimed at revealing the origin, evolution,
and water-rock interaction processes of thermal groundwater. The geophysical exploration results indicate that the
Taiyuan Basin as a whole exhibits a low gravity field and negative magnetic anomalies, reflecting a deeply buried
basement and strong tectonic activity, which provide favorable heat sources and reservoir spaces for the formation of
geothermal fields. The southern geothermal field of Taiyuan is located at the southeastern margin of the basin,
where the gravity field shows a distinct gradient zone, and the magnetic anomalies are characterized by negative
values, suggesting the presence of concealed fault structures that serve as channels for deep thermal flow upwelling.
Moreover, an apparent arcuate low-resistivity zone exists within the geothermal field, inferred to represent the
geothermal reservoir, further demonstrating the favorable conditions for geothermal resource accumulation in this
area. Geothermal water isotope geochemical analysis reveals that the thermal groundwater in the southern Taiyuan
geothermal field originates from meteoric water, undergoing processes of infiltration, leaching, and transformation
into sedimentary (semi-confined) water. During this process, water interacts with surrounding rocks through
leaching, dissolution, and cation exchange. Stable components accumulate in the groundwater, while unstable
components precipitate, thus forming the hydrogeochemical characteristics of modern geothermal water. The formation of
the geothermal field in southern Taiyuan is mainly controlled by the favorable regional geological structure, the
development of concealed faults, and the good storage capacity and permeability of the geothermal reservoir.