| Title | GEOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT OF GEOTHERMAL WATERS IN THE PRODUCTIVE CARBONIFEROUS FORMATION IN THE UPPER SILESIAN COAL BASIN (USCB) |
|---|---|
| Authors | Andrzej ROZKOWSKI |
| Year | 2001 |
| Conference | Geothermal Energy in Underground Mines, Ustron, Poland |
| Keywords | Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) |
| Abstract | For determination of geothermal waters occurrence conditions in the productive Carboniferous formation in the Upper Silesian basin there were analyzed: geological structure of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB), forming of geothermal field in rock mass, forming of hydrodynamic and hydrochemical zonation as well as hydrogeological parameters. There is shown in this paper that hydrogeological environment of the productive Carboniferous formation is being formed under influence of geogenic factors as well as mining exploitation. The analysis carried out shows that geothermal waters in the Carboniferous formation occur within the zone of the little active groundwater circulation and the zone characterized by very sluggisch groundwater flow. The depth of occurrence could be even 700 m below the surface in the north - eastern part of the USCB and about 400 m in the southern part of it. These waters are mainly highly mineralized brines. Results of investigation of chemical and isotopic composition of discussed geothermal waters indicate generally a long time of water stay in rock mass. In the stagnancy zone there occur paleoinfiltrational waters of the Permian age and subordinately of the Tertiary age. In the areas of active and deep and long lasting mining exploitation geothermal waters within the upper interval of their occurrence are mixed infiltrational - relict waters. The observed tendency of diminishing values of hydrogeological properties of rocks with depth under conditions of rock mass isolation causes that the water-bearing capacity of Carboniferous sandstones is generally low and it is diminishing with depth. |