Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Isotopes of deuterium and oxygen-18 in thermal groundwater in China

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Geology

Abstract

Compositions of deuterium and 18O isotopes of 90 representative samples indicate that thermal groundwater in most parts of China is meteoric in origin. Latitude, altitude, and continent effects have significant bearing on the values of δD and δ18O of the hot water samples. Oxygen-18 shift is not significant in most of the thermal groundwater, especially the hot water of low-to-moderate temperature. Slight oxygen-18 shift is only found in some hot springs of high temperature in Tibet and western Yunnan and in thermal groundwater of low-to-moderate temperature in the deep-seated carbonate aquifers in the northern North China Plain (including the Tianjin area). Near-surface boiling may causes the shift of the former and the latter may be attributed to exchange of oxygen-18 between water and carbonates in the geothermal systems of taphrogenic basin-type. Hot springs in Tibet and western Sichuan have very low contents of δD and δ18O, possibly due to recharge of precipitation and snow-melting water of extremely depleted δD and δ18O values at high latitudes of several thousands of meters.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aguilera E, Cioni R, Gherardi F, Magro G, Marini L, Pang Z (2005) Chemical and isotope characteristics of the Chachimbiro geothermal fluids (Ecuador). Geothermics 34:495–517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad M, Akram W, Hussain SD, Sajjad MI, Zafar MS (2001) Origin and subsurface history of geothermal water of Murtazabad area, Pakistan—an isotopic evidence. Appl Radiat Isot 55:731–736

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Albu M, Banks D, Nash H (1997) Mineral and thermal groundwater resources. Chapman & Hall, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Arnorsson S (2000) Isotopic and chemical techniques in geothermal exploration, development and use. International Atomic Energy, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Z (1993) An analysis of the long-time stability of the Xiaotangshan geothermal field under exploitation using a method of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes. In: Proceedings of the Second National Symposium on Isotopic Hydrogeology—advances in isotopic hydrogeology in China. Press of Tianjin University, Tianjin, pp 63–67 (In Chinese)

  • Chen M, Wang J, Deng X (1994) Geothermal resources in China—characteristics of formation and assessment of potential. Science Press, Beijing (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark ID, Fritz P (1997) Environmental isotopes in hydrogeology. Lewis Publishers, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Clayton RN, Friedman I, Graf DL, Mayeda TK, Meets WF, Shimp NF (1966) The origin of saline formation water, I isotopic composition. J Geophys Res 71:3869–3882

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook PG, Herczeg LH (2000) Environmental tracers in subsurface hydrology. Kluwer Academic Publishers, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Craig H (1961) Isotopic variations in meteoric waters. Sciences 133:1702–1703

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dilsiz C (2006) Conceptual hydrodynamic model of the Pamukkale hydrothermal field, southwestern Turkey, based on hydrochemical and isotopic data. Hydrogeol J 14:562–572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao ZY, Yin G, Fan X, Wu H, Wang Q, Hou M (2004) Distribution characteristics of geothermal resources and isotopic geochemistry of hot water in the Daocheng county, Sichuan province. Bulletin of Mineralogy. Petrol Geochem 23:134–139 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • González-Partida E, Carrillo-Chávez A, Levresse G, Tello-Hinojosa E, Venegas-Salgado S, Ramirez-Silva G, Pal-Verma M, Tritlla J, Camprubi A (2005) Hydro-geochemical and isotopic fluid evolution of the Los Azufres geothermal field, Central Mexico. Appl Geochem 20:23–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang S, Feng J, Zheng K, Xie C, Ma D (1989) Characteristics of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of waters in Beijing geothermal field and vicinity. in Institute of Geodynamics of China Academy of Geological Science (eds), Geothermal special issue (2). Geological Publishing House, Beijing, pp 155–162 (In Chinese)

  • Ingebritsen SE, Sherrod DR, Mariner RH (1989) Heat flow and hydrothermal circulation in the Cascade Range, North-Central Oregon. Science 243:1458–1461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kharaka YK, Carothers WW (1986) Oxygen and hydrogen isotope geochemistry of deep basin brines. In: Fritz P, Fontes JC (eds) Handbook of Environmental Isotope Geochemistry, Chap 2, pp 305–360

  • Lambrakis N, Kallergis G (2005) Contribution to the study of Greek thermal springs - hydrogeological and hydrochemical characteristics and origin of thermal waters. Hydrogeol J 13:506–521

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P (1982) A preliminary study of isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen in hot spring waters in the Tanglu fault zone. In: Proceedings of the Second National Symposium on Isotopic Geochemistry, pp 317–319 (Internal report) (In Chinese)

  • Li X, Shi W (1992) Isotopic hydrogeochemistry of low-to-moderate geothermal water in Jiangxi province. J East China Geol Inst 15:243–248 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Shi W, Sun Z, Zhang W (1993) Isotopic hydrogeology of natural waters in the hot spring area of Chongren-Linchuan in the central Jiangxi. In: Proceedings of the Second National Symposium on Isotopic Hydrogeology—advances in isotopic hydrogeology in China. Press of Tianjin University, Tianjin, pp 47–56 (In Chinese)

  • Ma ZM, He JT, Zhang XM (2000) Hydrogeochemical characteristics of thermal water in the Heze Uplift and its origin analysis. Geol Shandong 16:24–30 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Öztekin Okan Ö, Çetindag B (2005) Hydrogeochemical and isotopic investigation of the Kolan geothermal field, southeastern Turkey. Environ Geol 48:179–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tao S (1995) Formation of thermal groundwater near Xi’an. Hydrogeol Eng Geol 5:6–11 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Truesdell AH, Hulston JR (1980) Isotopic evidence of environments of geothermal systems, Chap 5. In: Fritz P, J-Ch Fontes (eds) Handbook of environmental isotope geochemistry. The terrestrial environment, vol 1. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 179–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang H (1991) Isotopes in hydrogeology. Geological Publishing House, Beijing (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang D, Wang J (1996) Genetic characteristics and basic types of geothermal water in China. Quaternary Sci 2:139–146 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Xiong L, Pang Z (1993) Low-to-medium temperature geothermal system of convective type. Science Press, Beijing (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang W, Zhang J, Hu G, Yang F, Yu Z (1995) Modern geochemistry of hot springs in the northwestern Hunan. Sci China Ser B) 25:427–433 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Lin Y, Liu C, Liu W (2000) Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes and gas components as evidence for the formation of hot springs in the southern area of Zhangjiakou. Hydrogeol Eng Geol 4:30–33 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang GC, Zhang ZC, Wang M, Wang JH, Liu WZ, Yi LX, Sun ML (2003) Geochemistry of geothermal water and noble gases in Yanhuai Basin, China. Seismol Geol 25:421–429 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei K, Lin R, Wang Z (1982) Deuterium and oxygen-18 concentrations in the rain of Beijing. Sci China Ser B 8:754–757 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang B (1999) Studies of hydrochemical and isotopic characteristics of waters in the Ruili geothermal field. Coal Geol China 11:47–50 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu J, Li Y (1997) Studies of isotopic geochemistry of china. Science Press, Beijing (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu J, Yu F, Liu D (1987) The oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions of meteoric waters in the eastern part of China. Geochemistry 1:22–26 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W (1993) Isotopic studies of the formation of the Linchuan hot spring water in Jiangxi. In: Proceedings of the Second National Symposium on Isotopic Hydrogeology—advances in isotopic hydrogeology in China. Press of Tianjin University, Tianjin 57–62 (In Chinese)

  • Zhang W (2001) Application of hydrogeochemical methods to the analyses of the formation of thermal groundwater in the Hengjing region in southern Jiangxi. Hydrogeol Eng Geol 4:45–48 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng S, Zhang Z, Ni B, Hou F, Shen M (1982) Hydrogen and oxygen isotopic studies of thermal waters in Xizang. Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Pekinensis 1:99–106 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng S, Hou F, Ni B (1983) Hydrogen and oxygen isotopic studies of meteoric water in China. Chinese Scientific Bulletin 28:801–806 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng K, Ma D, Xie C, Huang S, Feng J, Wu J (1989) A primary analysis of the isotopes of thermal groundwater in the Beijing geothermal field. In: Institute of Geodynamics of China Academy of Geological Science (eds), Geothermal special issue (2). Geological Publishing House, Beijing, pp 163–170 (In Chinese)

  • Zhou X, Li C (1993) Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of subsurface bines in sedimentary basins and their application. In: Proceedings of the Second National Symposium on Isotopic Hydrogeology—advances in isotopic hydrogeology in China. Press of Tianjin University, Tianjin, pp 85–90 (In Chinese)

  • Zhou W, Sun Z, Li X, Shi W (1993) Studies of Geothermal Background and Isotopic Geochemistry of Thermal Waters in Jiangxi Province(internal report) (In Chinese)

  • Zhou X, Li C, Ju X, Du Q, Tong L (1997) Origin of the subsurface brines in the Sichuan Basin. Ground Water 35:53–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou X, Chen M, Zhao W, Li M (2001) Modeling of a deep-seated geothermal system near Tianjin, China. Ground Water 39:443–448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou X, Fang B, Shen Y, Zhang H, Lin L, Lin J (2004) Hydrogeochemistry and origin of thermal groundwater in bedrock aquifers in Tianjin, China. J China Univ Geosci 15:110–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou X, Zhou H, Fang B, Fan Y, Li J, Wang X (2006) Evolution of thermal groundwater resources under the conditions of exploitation: a preliminary analysis. Geol Bull China 25:482–486 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu H (1993) Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of shallow wells and hot springs in the Tanglu Fault zone and vicinity in the eastern China. In: Proceedings of the Second National Symposium on Isotopic Hydrogeology—advances in isotopic hydrogeology in China. Press of Tianjin University, Tianjin, pp 42–46 (In Chinese)

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was cooperatively supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40572147), the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (8083030, 8042019) and the Key Project of Science and Technology from the Ministry of Education of China (No. 02026). Thanks are given to Zhang Hua, Shen Ye, Zhao Liang, Wang Wei, Yu Yuan, Fan Youli, Yang Yanyan, Chai Rui, Liu Chunhui, Yu Lan, Dai Weiyu, Liu Yongtao, Liu Yaping, Deng Zijuan and Miao Huishuai for their help in the work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Xueyuan Road 29, Beijing, 100083, People’s Republic of China

    Zhou Xun, Fang Bin, Zhou Haiyan, Li Juan & Wang Ying

Authors
  1. Zhou Xun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fang Bin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhou Haiyan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Li Juan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wang Ying
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhou Xun.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Xun, Z., Bin, F., Haiyan, Z. et al. Isotopes of deuterium and oxygen-18 in thermal groundwater in China. Environ Geol 57, 1807–1814 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1468-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1468-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation