Reviewed research on the hot springs in Chongqing

The relevant literatures on hot springs in Chongqing have been reviewed to summarize the current research situation of their geological background, distribution, types and geochemical characteristics and analyze the existing problems arisen from the development and utilization of the hot springs. The numbers of hot springs which have been artificially exposed are more than those that are naturally occurred. The temperature of these hot springs mainly ranges from low to medium. The discharge rates vary in 10~50 L/s with low water chromaticity and turbidity. Affected by the properties of surrounding rock, the water types of hot springs are mainly SO4-Ca. Its genetic mechanism could be summarized as: 1) at the anticline tip of the Daba Mountain and East Sichuan Fold Belt, rainwater infiltrates via the carbonate outcrops to reach the deep ground and gets heated by geotherm; and 2) the heated groundwater then migrates along the axis of the anticline towards the south and emerges as hot spring where the deep valley has been undercut or a fault is present. There have been some issues related to development of hot springs, such as environmental pollution, irrational use of resources, inefficiency of development, and so on. It is proposed that further research may be focused on the formation mechanism, numerical simulation of the geothermal system, evaluation and protection of the hot spring resources, and the dispose of waste water to ensure the sustainable development of hot spring resources.