Abstract
Southeast Asia contains significant natural geothermal resources. However, the mechanism for generating geothermal anomalies by the crust–mantle structure still needs to define. In this study, we focused on Guangdong Province, China. We conducted three magnetotelluric profiles to interpret the crust and upper mantle structure beneath the Guangdong Province and its geothermal implications. Based on data analysis results, a two-dimension inversion was conducted on the dataset. The inversion model revealed that there is a presence of upwelling channels, and some channels are connected with shallow crustal fault zone; the thickness of crust and lithosphere in Guangdong Province is relatively thin. Such a special crust and upper mantle structure form high surface heat flow. Merged with previous research, our results imply that massive Late Mesozoic granites, which contain high radioactive heat generating elements, are distributed on the surface and underground of Guangdong Province. Based on the correlation between high radioactive Late Mesozoic granites, crust-upper mantle structure, surface heat flow, and locations of natural hot springs, we established a geothermal conceptual model to visualize the origin of a current geophysical and geothermal anomaly in Guangdong Province.
Highlights
Southeast Asia straddles the boundary between the Pacific/Philippine Plate and Eurasia Plate and locates in the South China fold belt
Another study based on heat flow data and tectonic setting stated that the high surface heat flow values correspond to the lithosphere’s thinning [17]
We focused on the crust and upper mantle structure and its geothermal implications in Guangdong Province
Summary
The predominant feature in Guangdong Province is the widespread exposure of Mesozoic granite with an exposed area of 60,000 km , accounting for about one-third of the area, considered the result of the multi-stage emplacement of magmatic rocks [3] Such spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of the Mesozoic granites have been attributed to the dynamic mechanism associated with subduction and interaction with multiple plates [5,6]. Another study based on heat flow data and tectonic setting stated that the high surface heat flow values correspond to the lithosphere’s thinning [17] These results do not fully explain the crust structure, geothermal anomalies, and their interrelationships. The heat flow values and “hot” basin are modified from Jiang et al [17]
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