Abstract
Analyzing the hydrochemical composition in thermal springs is an advantageous method for studying the coupling mechanism of the deep and shallow fluids in active fault zones. Here we conducted sampling in 30 thermal springs near fault zones in Fujian Province, and the major elements, trace elements, silica, stable isotopes (δD and δ18O) and strontium isotopes were tested in the laboratory. The results show that (1) the thermal springs in the study area can be divided into six types according to the content of the major elements: HCO3-Na, HCO3·SO4-Na, Cl·HCO3-Na, Cl-Na, Cl-Na·Ca and HCO3·SO4-Ca; (2) hydrogen and oxygen isotopes indicate that precipitation is the main source of recharge for thermal springs in the study area, and the recharge height is between 258 m and 1859 m; (3) the content of SiO2 in the thermal spring varies from 18.1 mg/L to 59.3 mg/L. The geothermal reservoir temperature calculated is 90~226 °C, and the circulation depth is 2.9~5.4 km, except for the W10 thermal spring, whose circulation depth is 8.4 km; and (4) the 87Sr/86Sr of the thermal springs in southwestern Fujian and eastern Fujian has obviously different characteristics, indicating the influence of different rock formations on the groundwater cycle process. Additionally, a continuous measurement of the main anions and cations was performed in five thermal springs every three days since January 2020. There were obvious abnormal changes in the hydrochemical compositions, chlorine in four of the five springs, sodium at three springs, and four ions at one spring, which all showed abnormal high-value changes by 15% to 80%, and which occurred 85~168 days prior to the M6.1 earthquake in Hualien, Taiwan. An inspiration could be provided for obtaining effective earthquake precursor anomalies by monitoring the change in ion concentration in thermal springs.
Highlights
The water temperature of the thermal springs in the study area varies from 25 ◦ C to
There are centration of sulfate ions, indicating that these thermal springs may be in the sedimentary some exceptions; for example, calcium is the main cation in the W30 thermal spring, and rock area; sulfate minerals may dissolve in the thermal springs due to the wathe milligram equivalent accounts for 79.4%
Silica functions are affected by the mixture of cold water in shallow aquifers and other effects; we use the mixing model to compute the geothermal reservoir temperature and apply to the calculation of circulation depth
Summary
The specific aims of this study are to analyze the elemental composition and isotopic characteristics of thermal springs distributed in the different faults of Fujian, and to explore the relationship between changes in the geochemical concentration in thermal springs and the occurrence of earthquakes.
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