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Article Navigation >  CARSOLOGICA SINICA  > 2026  > Accepted Manuscript
LIU Yuanqing, LI Yingwu, LI Jinxiu, MA Xuejun, FENG Jianhua, GUO Yanwei. Characteristics and Genesis of an Exceptionally Large Sinter Group in the Duolong Metallogenic Belt, Northern Xizang[J]. CARSOLOGICA SINICA. doi: 10.11932/karst2026y026
Citation: LIU Yuanqing, LI Yingwu, LI Jinxiu, MA Xuejun, FENG Jianhua, GUO Yanwei. Characteristics and Genesis of an Exceptionally Large Sinter Group in the Duolong Metallogenic Belt, Northern Xizang[J]. CARSOLOGICA SINICA. doi: 10.11932/karst2026y026
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Characteristics and Genesis of an Exceptionally Large Sinter Group in the Duolong Metallogenic Belt, Northern Xizang

doi: 10.11932/karst2026y026
  • 1.

    Centre for Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology Survey, CGS, Dongli 300309, Tianjin, China

  • 2.

    Chinalco (Yunnan) Exploration Co., Ltd., Kunming 650224, Yunnan, China)

  • Received Date: 2026-02-01
  • Accepted Date: 2026-06-16
  • Rev Recd Date: 2026-05-18
    • Available Online: 2026-06-30
    Abstract
  • A giant hot spring sinter covering an area of 25×104 m2 was newly discovered in the Duolong ore concentration area, northern Xizang Research on the hydrochemical characteristics of thermal springs and the genetic mechanism of travertine in this newly identified sinter can provide a reference for the sustainable development of geothermal resources and the protection of geological relics in the Duolong area, and also supply data support for studies on hydrothermal systems and tectonic evolution at different stages on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Based on field geological surveys, this study performed hydrochemical analysis on water bodies including thermal springs, rivers, and springs within and around the sinter group, with a total of 10 hydrochemical sampling sites. δ13C and δ18O isotopic analyses were carried out on travertine samples, collecting 16 sets of isotopic data.The results showed as follows. (1) The newly discovered sinter group in the Duolong ore concentration area covers 25×104 m2 and is vertically divided into upper and lower terraces. The water temperature ranges from 19.2 to 37.9 ℃, belonging to low-temperature thermal water. Various spring vents developed on Terrace Ⅰ and Terrace Ⅱ directly record the morphological features of springs at different evolutionary stages, representing three types corresponding to the early (continuous upwelling), middle (declining), and late (blocked and extinct) stages of hot spring activity. (2) Thermal springs of the sinter group have moderate cation and anion contents, with total dissolved solids (TDS) ranging from 1625 to 1870 mg/L. The hydrochemical type is HCO3·SO4-Na·Ca, with relatively high concentrations of Li, B, and As, indicating a deep high-temperature thermal water origin. The hydrochemical characteristics are distinctly different from those of other thermal springs, rivers, springs, and lakes in the Rongriazangbo Basin. (3) The Na-K-Mg triangular diagram shows that all thermal waters, including those from the sinter group, fall in the unbalanced domain, indicating that water-rock interactions have not reached equilibrium. Quartz and chalcedony in the thermal waters are saturated or near-saturated, suggesting that they are the dominant silica phases in the geothermal reservoir. The reservoir temperatures estimated by the quartz geothermometer with steam loss, quartz geothermometer without steam loss, and revised SiO2 geothermometer are 99.06−119.50 ℃, 97.76−121.58 ℃, and 91.85−117.71 ℃, respectively. (4) For travertine from TerraceⅡ, δ13C ranges from 5.69‰ to 8.83‰ with a mean of 7.54‰, and δ18O ranges from -13.58‰ to -8.50‰ with a mean of -11.76‰. For travertine from TerraceⅠ, δ13C ranges from 4.80‰ to 7.01‰ with a mean of 6.10‰, and δ18O ranges from -17.34‰ to -14.00‰ with a mean of -15.15‰. This indicates that travertine in TerraceⅠ was more strongly affected by shallow cold water during its formation. (5) NE- and NW-trending faults along the Rongriazangbo act as conductive geothermal faults connecting the Jienilasuo-Lagala deep fault, providing pathways for the upwelling of thermal water and the mixing of meteoric freshwater. During geological history, deep thermal water continuously ascended along these faults. Driven by CO2 degassing and evaporative concentration, calcium carbonate precipitated continuously and blocked spring vents, forming drumlin-like spring mounds. The accumulated pressure forced thermal water to break through weak zones and form new springs. Multi-stage superimposition and lateral connection eventually formed the large-scale sinter group observed today.

     

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