| Title | Exploring Eastern Tasmania: a Novel Geothermal Province |
|---|---|
| Authors | Fiona L. Holgate, Hilary K.h. Goh, Graeme Wheller and Roger J.g. Lewis |
| Year | 2009 |
| Conference | Australian Geothermal Energy Conference |
| Keywords | Tasmania, heat flow, magneto-telluric |
| Abstract | Over the past two years KUTh Energy Limited has undertaken geothermal exploration across its tenements in eastern Tasmania. The initial phase of this program is now nearing completion and has yielded a variety of results. Although not previously recognised as geothermally prospective, a program of systematic heat flow mapping has now revealed the presence of a significant surface heat flow anomaly in the central Midlands area. Values of high (>90mWm- 2) heat flow are found to be spatially associated with the sub-cropping extension of high-heatproducing granite bodies. A series of sedimentary units, extensively intruded by dolerite sills, lie above the granite and combine to provide the insulation necessary for a classic Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) target. Bisecting the northern portion of the heat flow anomaly is the Tamar Conductivity Zone (TCZ), a region of high crustal electrical conductivity that has been mapped in detail by recent magneto-telluric survey work. This feature, which may indicate the presence of large-scale fracture permeability in the crust, remains open directly along strike from the region of highest recorded heat flow. |