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Geophysical Investigation of the Geothermal Potential Under the Largest Volcanic Cover in Anatolia: Kars Plateau, NE Turkey

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Abstract

In this study, Curie-point depth (CPD), geothermal gradient, radiogenic heat production, and heat flow maps were constructed based on different thermal conductivity coefficients using magnetic anomaly data for the Kars Plateau, which has the largest volcanic cover in Turkey. The bottom depths of the magnetic crust in the research area were revealed by the CPD map for the first time in this investigation. There are two apparent magnetic anomaly trends in the study area: the first is the Horasan–Senkaya–Sarikamis–Selim–Arpacay trend in the NE–SW direction, and the other is the Hanak–Ardahan–Arpacay trend in the NW–SE direction. Two other prominent elongations extend into the Ardahan–Gole–Senkaya and Kars–Digor axes. All these trends represent mountain chains and/or stratovolcanoes in the region, and no anomalies are observed around the non-volcanic outcrops. Curie depths are shallow, up to 14 km between Horasan and Kagizman towns, and 12 km in the northwestern part of the study area. Gradient values can reach 50 °C km−1 in the northwestern sector, together with the high heat flows represented by the 150 Wm−1 K−1 contours. The deepest CPD region lies between Gole and Susuz towns, where the geothermal gradient decreases to 27 °C km−1. Heat flows decrease 60 Wm−1 K−1 in the same area. An apparent gap around the Kars Plateau was observed in previous regional heat flow maps of Turkey by other authors (who used the bottom hole temperatures of boreholes and hot springs temperatures). This gap has been accurately filled from the results of this study, and geothermal exploration areas and the geothermal potential of the Kars Plateau have thus been determined for future exploration activity on the basis of the tectonic elements and earthquake data.

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modified from Aydemir (2010, 2011a, 2011b)

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Acknowledgements

This research was awarded and supported by the Turkish Scientific Research Council (TUBITAK). The authors are grateful to TUBITAK for support of the research project (Project Code: 116Y369). All potential field data were purchased from the General Directorate of Mining Research and Exploration (MTA) with the support of TUBITAK. This work constitutes a partial section of the M. Sc. thesis undertaken by Birgul AVCI at the Cumhuriyet University-Sivas. The authors are grateful to anonymous reviewers and Dr. Mikhailov, the handling editor, for their constructive critiques and suggestions.

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  1. Turkiye Petrolleri A.O, Sogutozu Mahallesi, 2180 Cad. No: 10, 06530, Cankaya, Ankara, Turkey

    Attila Aydemir

  2. Energy Systems Engineering Department, Atılım University, Ankara, Turkey

    Attila Aydemir

  3. Geophysical Engineering Department, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey

    Funda Bilim, Birgul Avci & Sinan Kosaroglu

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Aydemir, A., Bilim, F., Avci, B. et al. Geophysical Investigation of the Geothermal Potential Under the Largest Volcanic Cover in Anatolia: Kars Plateau, NE Turkey. Pure Appl. Geophys. 177, 919–939 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-019-02317-x

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