Abstract:

The Zhacang hot springs, located near Zhacangsi in Guide County, Qinghai, has a utilization history of about 600 years. The occurrence of the hot springs is controlled by faults. The thermal groundwater has total dissolved solids of 1,310-1,390 mg/L, and is hydrochemically of SO₄·Cl-Na type. Chemical analyses indicates that the hot springs are of meteoric origin and the residence time of hot water is 165 a. The temperature of the geothermal reservoir, which is calculated with the SiO₂ geothermometer, is 136 ℃. The thermal groundwater is estimated to circulate to a depth of 1,385 m. The natural heat discharge of the hot springs is more than 1.23×10¹⁴  J/a and the geothermal resources in the Zhacanggou area is more than 2.07×10¹⁴ J. The hot water is suitable to direct use of heating, bathing, greenhouse planting and breeding. The geothermal potential also exists in the deep part of the geothermal field. 

Key words: hot spring, thermal groundwater, hydrochemistry, geothermal resources, Guide County,Qinghai