Abstract
This study presents hydrochemical analysis and geothermal evaluation of thermal springs located in north central Algeria for possible exploitation in agriculture, greenhouses, and residential heating. The exploitation of this energy depends on geothermal water parameters such as T°, pH, flow rate, and thermal power. Thirty one thermal springs were identified in our study area including Ouarsenis, Biban, and Kabylie provinces in the Tell Atlas, northern Algeria. These thermal springs are included by hammams, baths, and spas with hot waters exhibiting a mean temperature of 60 °C. Samples were collected during March 2018 on the thirty-one sites to evaluate the hydrochemical properties of hot waters and physicochemical parameters were measured in situ. The results show that the geothermal temperature of the reservoir in the study area is of approximately 130 °C. The temperature of hot waters varied between 22 and 80 °C. The pH revealed that the hot waters are acid; the flow rate varied from 0.8 to 30 L/s. The thermal power water calculated for all sites is ranged between 40 and 5020 KWth. This study is a part of a project related to a new global mapping of thermal spring parameters with corresponding geothermal energy potential. This potential is important for sustainable development by introducing geothermal energy instead of fossil energy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arnorsson S (1983) Chemical equilibria in Icelandic geothermal systems—implications for chemical geothermometry investigations. Geothermics 12:119–128
Barzegar R, AsghariMoghaddam A, Najib M, Kazemian N, Adamowski J (2016) Characterization of hydrogeologic properties of the Tabriz plain multi-layer aquifer system, NWIran. Arab J Geosci 9(2):1–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-2229-1
Belhai M, Fujimitsu Y, Bouchareb-Haouchine FZ, Haouchine A, Nishijima J (2016) A hydrochemical study of the Hammam Righa geothermal waters in north-central Algeria. Acta Geochim 35(3):271–287. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-016-0092-8
Bouaicha F, Dib H, Belkhiri L, Manchar N, Chabour N (2017) Hydrogeochemistry and Geothermometry of Thermal Springs from the Guelma region, Algeria. Jour Geol Soc India (90) 226-232
Bouchareb-Haouchine FZ (2012) Etude Hydrochimique des Sources Thermales de l’Algérie du Nord- Potentialités Géothermiques. Thèse Doctorat en Sciences, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumedienne, Algiers Algeria
Bouchareb-Haouchine FZ, Boudoukha A (2009) Hydrogeochemical and lithostructural approach of deep circulations in the mounts of Hodna Algeria. Eur JSci Res 37, 12-20
Bouchareb-Haouchine FZ, Boudoukha A, Haouchine A (2012) Hydrogéochimie et Géothermométrie: Apports a` l’identification du réservoir thermal des sources de hammam Righa, Algeérie. H.S.J. Hydrol Sci J 57(6):1184–1195
Bouhadad Y, Benhamouche A, Bourenane H, Ait Ouali A, Chikh M, Guessoum N (2010) The Laalam (Algeria) damaging landslide triggered by a moderate earthquake (Mw=5.2). Nat Hazards. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-009-9466-0
Bracène R, Frizon D (2002) The origin of intraplate deformation in the Atlas system of western and central Algeria: from Jurassic rifting to Cenozoic-Quaternary inversion. Tectonophysics 357:207–226
Chenaker H, Houhaa B, Vincentb V (2018) Hydrogeochemistry and geothermometry of thermal water from northeastern Algeria. Geothermics 75:137–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2018.04.009
Durand-Delga M, Fonboté JM (1980) Le cadre structural de la Méditerranée occidentale, géologie des chaînes alpines issues de la Téthys, Colloque no 5, 26° Congrès Géologique International, Mem, BRGM, Paris pp. 67-85
Fekraoui A, Kedaid F (2005) Geothermal resources and uses in Algeria: a country updates report. Proceedings of the WGC, pages 1-8
Fournier RO (1977) Chemical geothermometers and mixing models for geothermal systems. Geothermics 5:41–50
Fournier RO, Truesdell AH (1973) An empirical Na-KCa geothermometer for natural waters, Geochim. Cosmochim
Giggenbach WF (1988) Geothermal solute equilibria. Derivation of Na-K-Mg-Ca geo indicators. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 52:2749–2765
Harbi A, Maouche S, Ayadi A (1999) Neotectonics and associate seismicity in the Eastern Tellian Atlas of Algeria. J Seismol 3:95–104
Issaadi A (1992) Le thermalisme dans son cadre géostructural, apports à la connaissance de la structure profonde de l’Algérie et de ses ressources géothermales. Thèse Doctorat en Sciences, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumedienne Algiers, Algeria
Kedaid F (2002) Algerian geothermal country report. Geothermal and Volcanological, Research Report of Kyushu University (11) 4-6
Kedaid FZ (2007) Data base of the geothermal resources of Algeria. Geothermics 36:265–275
Machane D (2009) Fracturation néotectonique dans les Kabylies, potentiel sismique des failles actives et effets géologiques induits. Thèse de Doctorat d’Etat, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, Algiers
Maouche S, Abtout A, Merabet N-E, Aïfa T, Lamali A, Bouyahiaoui B, Bougchiche S, Ayache M (2013) Tectonic and hydrothermal activities in Debbagh, Guelma Basin, Eastern Algeria. In: EGU General Assembly Journal of Geological Research. Doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/409475
McKenzie D (1972) Active tectonics of the Mediterranean region. Geophys J. Royal Astronomical Society (30)109–185
Meghraoui M (1988) Géologie des zones sismiques du nord de l’Algérie, paléo-sismologie, Tectonique active et synthèse sismotectonique. Thèse de Doctorat d’état, Université de Paris Sud, Orsay, Paris, FranceNicholson K (1993) Geothermal fluids chemistry and exploration techniques. 253 pp. Book: Springer
Nicholson K (1993) Geothermal fluids chemistry and exploration techniques. 253 pp. Book: Springer
Saibi H (2009) Geothermal resources in Algeria. Renew Sust Energ Rev 13(9):2544–2552
Saibi H (2015) Geothermal resources in Algeria. Proceedings of the WGC, Australia-New Zealand pages: 31–34
Sajil Kumar PJ, Elango L, James EJ (2014) Assessment of hydrochemistry and groundwater quality in the coastal area of South Chennai. India Arab J Geosci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-013-0940-3
Signorelli S (2004) Geoscientific investigations for the use of shallow low-enthalpy systems. Dissertation, Nr. 15-519. ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
Singh CK, Shashtri S, Rina K, Mukherjee S (2012) Chemometric analysis to infer hydro-geochemical processes in a semi-arid region of India. Arab J Geosci 6:2915–2932. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-012-0597-3
Takherist D, Lesquer A (1989) Détermination du flux de chaleur en Algérie. Can J Earth Sci 26:615–626
Verdeil P (1982) Algerian thermalism in its geostructural setting—how hydrogeology has helped in the elucidation of Algeria’s deep seated structure. J Hydrol 56:107–117
Vila JM (1980) La chaine alpine d’Algérie orientale et des confins algéro-tunisiens. Thèse de Doctorat, Université de Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
Wessel P, Smith WHF (1998) New, improved version of the generic mapping tools released. Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union, 79, 579.
Wildi JW(1983) La chaîne tello-rifaine (Algérie, Maroc, Tunisie): struc-ture, stratigraphie et évolution du Trias au Miocène. Rev Geol Dyn et Geogr Phys24:201–297
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Prof. N. Yassaa, the Director of CDER to have supported our study. We are in debt to Dr. Farida Ousadou for her help to use GMT software. Some maps were prepared using the public domain Generic mapping Tool (GMT) software.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This article is part of the Topical Collection on Current Advances in Geology of North Africa
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ait Ouali, A., Issaadi, A., Maizi, D. et al. Geothermal potential in the Ouarsenis-Biban-Kabylie (North Central Algeria): hot spring catalogue. Arab J Geosci 12, 741 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4945-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4945-4