Hydrogeological Conceptual Modelling of Geothermal Waters in Urganlı, Western Anatolia, Turkey

Abstract

AbstractThe study area is located in the western part of the continental rift zone of the Gediz within the Menderes Massif and consists of Paleozoic schists, intercalation of carbonate schists, mica schists, phyllites, marbles, Mesozoic carbonate rocks and ophiolites, and Cenozoic sediments such as travertine deposits and alluvium. The impermeable mica schists form the basement rocks in the area. The Paleozoic marbles constitute a reservoir for geothermal waters and, especially, an aquifer for groundwater. In the area, Pliocene to recent sedimentary rocks are of cap rocks for the formation of geothermal waters. The geothermal waters in Urganlı, with surface temperatures of 75 °C and reservoir temperatures of 180 °C, can be considered as Na-HCO3 type geothermal waters rather than Ca-Mg-HCO3 type groundwaters. The geothermal waters in the area were represented in a hydrogeological conceptual model. The Kula volcano located in the rift zone of Gediz within the Menderes Massif, with a last-eruption age of up to 18,000 years, might be considered as a heat source for the geothermal waters.KeywordsTurkeyWestern AnatoliaMenderes MassifGedizUrganlıGeothermal watersModelling