ThaiScience  


ENIVRONMENT ASIA


Volume 14, No. 03, Month SEPTEMBER, Year 2021, Pages 37 - 49


Geochemical characterization of hot spring waters from southern thailand as the base for geothermal energy utilization

Wipada Ngansom and Helmut D?rrast


Abstract Download PDF

Hot springs, which are the surface expressions of active geothermal systems at depth, are widely found in countries around Asia, especially in Southeast and East Asia, and can be tapped as a renewable energy source without CO2 emissions. However, much information about such geothermal systems and their potential for heat and energy production is hidden in the geochemical compositions of hot spring waters. Here, a geochemical survey was conducted on hot springs from nine geothermal provinces in southern Thailand. Thirty samples were analyzed to investigate geochemical relationships, understand geochemical characteristics, identify the origin and mixing of hot waters and calculate the reservoir temperature using diff erent chemical geothermometers. The surface temperatures of the hot springs range from 40 to 80°C. Among cations of sodium, calcium, and potassium show higher concentrations than anions for bicarbonate, sulfate, and chlorine. Most of the hot spring waters show a K-Nabicarbonate-rich water signature, refl ecting homogeneity in the hydrochemical processes of the various hot spring systems. etc...


Keywords

Hot spring; Southern Thailand; Geochemistry; Geothermometer



ENIVRONMENT ASIA


Published by : Thai Society of Higher Education Institutes on Environment
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