Abstract
The silica concentrations from 130 hot spring measurements were calculated and used to indicate the heat flow distribution in the active Taiwan orgenic belt. The heat flow spatial distribution seems to be controlled by the Taiwan arc-continent collision zone tectonic development. Two abnormally high silica heat flow regions, 160 and 190 mW m^(-2), are identified in northeastern and southeastern Taiwan, respectively. In northeastern Taiwan, the Chingshui area, the data suggests that the anomalous heat flow distribution may be controlled mainly by hot fluids and faults. The highest heat flow in southeastern Taiwan may be generated by heat advection caused by a rapidly uplifting hot crust with a decreasing mature arc-continent collision zone exhumation rate. In addition, we estimated the exhumation rate in different tectonic zones in Southern Taiwan by applying fission track ages and silica heat flow values. The exhumation rates are 1.33, 1.72-3.87, and 0.51-1.74 mm yr^(-1) in the tectonic zones around Taiwan for advanced, initial arc-continent collision and accretionary wedge deformation, respectively.
Highlights
It is well-known that a surface heat flow map is a useful tool for constructing regionally thermal regimes and revealing lithosphere and tectonic evolution thermal structure, especially for an active collision orogen
Two prominent peaks appear in the Chingshui area with value of 160 mW m-2 and in the Chihpen area with the value of 190 mW m-2, respectively (Fig. 4b)
A lower silica heat flow area, about 80 mW m-2 was found in Eastern Taiwan around the Haulien area, which is the location of a bended subducted slab of the Philippine Sea Plate (Lee et al 2008)
Summary
It is well-known that a surface heat flow map is a useful tool for constructing regionally thermal regimes and revealing lithosphere and tectonic evolution thermal structure, especially for an active collision orogen. A conventional heat flow map is derived from measuring subsurface rock temperatures and thermal conductivity. This method is common, direct and precise. Drilling is time consuming and extremely costly. The silica geothermometry provides an inexpensive and quick alternative in comparison. Even though it is not as precise as the former method, it could produce sufficient information for understanding regional surface heat flow. Several studies have successively applied this technique in the USA, Egypt, Mexico, Anatolia, Fujian, and Australia (Swanberg and Morgan 1980; Prol-Ledesma and Juarez 1986; Vugrinovich 1987; Wan et al 1989; Ilkişik 1995; Pirlo 2002)
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