Trace element geochemistry of high-temperature geothermal waters in the Yunnan-Tibet geothermal province, Southwest China

• Published in: Applied geochemistry Vol. 162; p. 105910
• Main Authors: Shang, Jianbo, Liu, Mingliang, Cao, Yuanyuan, Shi, Hongjie, Wei, Xing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2024
• Subjects: carbonates; chemical composition; China; geochemistry; Magmatic heat source; solubility; Trace element; trace elements; Water–rock interaction; Yunnan-Tibet geothermal province; China; Yunnan-Tibet geothermal province; Trace element; Magmatic heat source; Water–rock interaction
• ISSN: 0883-2927; 1872-9134
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2024.105910

To investigate the origins of the trace elements and related geochemical processes, seven representative geothermal systems in southern Tibet and one in western Yunnan were selected. The geothermal waters were divided into acidic and neutral-to-alkaline in magmatic geothermal systems and neutral-to-alkaline in non-magmatic geothermal systems. Acidic geothermal waters exhibit low concentrations of most trace elements. In the neutral-to-alkaline geothermal waters in magmatic geothermal systems, the composition of most trace elements is determined by the water–rock interactions, along with the solubility of secondary minerals, with magmatic fluids contributing to other trace elements (e.g., B, As, Sb, Mo and W). As for the geothermal waters of non-magmatic geothermal systems, trace elements are primarily derived from carbonate reservoir rock dissolution. Trace elements of magmatic origin are more abundant in the Tibetan geothermal waters than in those of Yunnan, which results from the varied chemical composition of their underlying magma chambers. Our findings indicate that the trace element geochemistry has the potential to identify the genesis of geothermal systems. •The geochemical behaviors of trace elements in geothermal waters vary greatly.•Magmatic-origin trace elements are more abundant in Tibet than in Yunnan.•Trace element geochemistry has the potential to identify geothermal system geneses.