| Abstract |
The Precambrian basement underlying sedimentary strata in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin consists of crystalline rocks that are hot, dry, and tight, with heat derived from primordial sources, mantle conduction, and radiogenic decay. In Alberta, the basement is highly heterogeneous, comprising at least 17 distinct domains with varying ages and tectonic histories. Core samples from well intercepts indicate diverse lithologies including granitoids, gneisses, granulites, and supracrustal rocks. Although these rocks lack natural fluid flow, zones with temperatures above 180°C and favourable thermal and mechanical properties may be viable targets for advanced geothermal technologies. This study presents a multidisciplinary assessment of the geothermal potential of Alberta’s Precambrian basement. Thermal conductivity of basement core samples ranges from 2.0 to 6.1 W/m·K under dry and saturated conditions, decreases with temperature and aligns with mineralogical mixing models. Curie Point Depth, derived from aeromagnetic data using spectral methods, ranges from 8 to 32 kilometres, corresponding to geothermal gradients up to 60°C/km and heat flow values reaching 148 mW/m². Triaxial tests at elevated temperatures indicate uniaxial compressive strengths above 200 MPa, cohesion up to 50 MPa, and friction coefficients from 0.38 to 0.91. Linear thermal expansion coefficients, measured under in situ confining pressure, range from 4.6 × 10⁻⁶ to 7.9 × 10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹. Geomechanical models is planned to simulate failure behaviour and stress response under thermal cycling. Ongoing work includes estimating radiogenic heat production and integrating isotopic and geochronological data to map thermal domains. This integrated approach supports geothermal assessment in a stable cratonic setting. |