Exploring a long distance, amagmatic, across-suture orogenic geothermal system: Sri Lanka's foreland hot springs.
| Title: | Exploring a long distance, amagmatic, across-suture orogenic geothermal system: Sri Lanka's foreland hot springs. |
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| Authors: | Bandara D; Institute of Geology, Mineralogy and Geophysics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany.; Smit J; Institute of Geology, Mineralogy and Geophysics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany.; Wohnlich S; Institute of Geology, Mineralogy and Geophysics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany.; Heinze T; Institute of Geology, Mineralogy and Geophysics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany. |
| Source: | IScience [iScience] 2025 Apr 08; Vol. 28 (5), pp. 112370. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Apr 08 (Print Publication: 2025). |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Cell Press Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101724038 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2589-0042 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 25890042 NLM ISO Abbreviation: iScience Subsets: PubMed not MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: [Cambridge, MA] : Cell Press, [2018]- |
| Abstract: | Hot springs in orogenic geothermal systems are usually within 5-15 km of the recharge zone, either within the mountain range or along the mountain front. However, in Sri Lanka, hot springs are in the foreland up to 100 km away from their recharge zones in the Highland Complex. The absence of a sedimentary cover provides the opportunity to study fluid pathways along basement faults and fractures. We identify a fracture network that connects the recharge and discharge zones oriented 015°-090°. Its orientation to the regional stress field indicates that the majority of the faults and fractures are permeable to allow fluid transport. With a geothermal gradient of ∼20°C/km obtained from 1D modeling, the estimated maximum circulation depth of the hot spring water is 3.5-5 km. Such foreland geothermal systems may also occur in other parts of the world hidden under a sedimentary cover, which could provide an immense geothermal resource.; (© 2025 The Author(s).) |
| Competing Interests: | The authors declare no competing interests. |
| References: | Nature. 2000 Feb 17;403(6771):756-8. (PMID: 10693801); Sci Rep. 2017 Sep 12;7(1):11439. (PMID: 28900236); Sci Rep. 2022 Oct 29;12(1):18251. (PMID: 36309533) |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Earth sciences; Geology; Geophysics; Geothermal gradient; Heat flow; Structural geology |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20250507 Latest Revision: 20250509 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC12053636 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112370 |
| PMID: | 40330879 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article