Geothermal regime and geochemistry of hot springs in Mount Sabalan (Northwest of Iran)
Abstract
The district of the Mount Sabalan is regarded as the best place to investigate geothermal activity within the northwest Iran. Since the last episode of volcanic activity in the Plio-Quaternary time, hot springs and surficial steam as a conspicuous manifestation of geothermal activity around slopes of the Mount Sabalan. Hot fluids circulating in this geothermal field contain anions chiefly of HCO3– and Cl–; however, SO42– content in some water samples is relatively high, imparting sulfate characteristics to such fluids. Geothermometric studies provided compelling evidence for estimation of the reservoir temperature (~150 °C) in the study areas. In this respect, the geothermal systems in the eastern slope of the Mount Sabalan were categorized as hightemperature ones. Hot springs within the Sarein area contain the highest Na+ content. The highest Ca2+ content belongs to hot springs in the Sardabeh and Yeddiboloug areas. The maximum concentration values for K and Mg are 40 and 20 mg/dm3, respectively. The information on the dissolved silica concentration in a water solution could be used as a geothermometer. The fracturing provided a suitable secondary permeability and facilitated the upward migration of high-temperature geothermal fluids.
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For citations:
Mansouri-Far S. Geothermal regime and geochemistry of hot springs in Mount Sabalan (Northwest of Iran). Natural resources. 2019;(2):23-33.
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