| Abstract |
Turkey is located on an active tectonic belt which is called Alp Himalayan organic belt, with many tectonic structures such as, Grabens, Fault, Acidic volcano Hydrothermal alteration zones and Geothermal areas. The investigation area is located in the eastern part of Anatolia where geological and hydrogeological conditions are favorable for the formation of geothermal systems. The area shows cold and terrestrial climate. Here, summers are short and warm while winters are hard and long. Paleozoic and Senozoic rocks are exposed around the Diyadin area. Paleozoic metamorphic rocks (e.g. micaschist, quartzite and marbles) comprise the basement in the area. The metamorphics are unconformably overlain by a Neogene tuffite, conglomerate, clayey limestone, marl and thick volcanic lava and tuff sequence. The upper most part is represented by Quaternary alluvium and travertines that are indicative of old hot water manifestations. The Diyadin geothermal field is located on an active Neotectonic zone. Strike slip faults and tensional cracks were developed due to the N-S compression in the region. Therefore, thermal water and gases come out from most of the cracks to the surface. Duyring the last years there has been rather limited geothermal research activity in the area even though exploitation has increased considerably. Drilling studies in the Diyadin area were started in 1998 by General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration of Turkey MTA. As a result of drilling of 6 wells with a depth of 77–215 m, thermal water with a discharge of 560 l/sec and with a temperature of 62–78ºC was produced. Yılanlı kireçli, Köprü, Davutlu, Kuşburnu, Tazekent, Dibekli and Molakır thermal springs are observed at the Diyadin geothermal field. A total of 7 water samples were collected in May 2008; 5 samples from the thermal springs, 2 samples from thermal water wells, and 1 from the surface water. The chemical analysis of the water samples was performed at the Hacettepe University Water Chemistry Laboratories and Canada Acme Laboratories. The tritium (3H) isotope analyses were conducted at the Hacettepe University Water Chemistry Laboratories, and stable isotope analyses (18O, 2H, and 13C) were carried out at Ottawa University G.G. Hatch Stable Isotope Laboratories. Temperature, pH and EC measurements were done with YSI brand pH-meter at sampling sites. The area has a touristic attraction for its thermal and mineralized water. Thermal waters are used for district heating, agriculture, industrial process and for the purpose of bath and treatment. The aim of this study is to examine the origin, recharge, and physiochemical characteristics of the Diyadin thermal springs. Also to investigate the environmental problems around the Diaydin geothermal field that formed by uncontrolled use of thermal waters in this area and bring up its possible environmental threats. |