Abstract
The research was conducted to seek geothermal energy potential in the Soutpansberg Basin, located in the northern part of South Africa. The depths of the potential heat sources were computed from the radially averaged power spectrum of airborne magnetic data. Shallower magnetic sources were delineated using the Euler deconvolution method. An anticline at depths of 2.0–3.5 km was delineated in the central part of the basin. Potential magnetic and basement heat sources exist between depths of 4.8 and 11.1 km. Airborne magnetic data sets with larger window sizes are preferred for depth computations, as they preserve spectral signatures of deeper sources and reduce the contribution of shallower sources. The research clearly highlighted evidence for the existence of the Soutpansberg Basin Geothermal Field.
Highlights
This research was carried out as part of a program for exploring the geothermal potential in South Africa
The computations of magnetic source depths from the radial power spectrum for blocks with square dimensions of 51 by 51 km, 103 by 103 km, and 129 by 129 km are presented (Figs. 5, 6, 7)
The magnetic source depths and heat source depths were determined for the Soutpansberg Basin from filtering and analysis of airborne magnetic data
Summary
This research was carried out as part of a program for exploring the geothermal potential in South Africa. Airborne magnetic data were filtered to determine magnetic and heat source depth information of the Soutpansberg Basin in South Africa. The Soutpansberg Basin is located in the northeastern part of South Africa and has four recorded hot springs, at Dopeni, Mphephu, Sagole, and Siloam (Fig. 1). In the central part of the basin, the Soutpansberg Formation reaches a maximum thickness of approximately 3.5 km (Barker et al 2006). A total thickness of approximately 12 km was reported for the Soutpansberg Group volcano-sedimentary formations (Bumby et al 2001). Deep-seated aquifers in faulted volcanic terrains are potential sources of geothermal energy (Banks and Schäffler 2006). The heat source is assumed to be the depth at which crustal rocks lose their ferromagnetic properties, the curie depth (Nwankwo et al 2009)
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