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Russian Geology and Geophysics

2008 year, number 12

Heat flow in the Altai-Sayan Area: new data

L.S. Sokolova and A.D. Duchkov
Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics, Siberian Branch of the RAS, 3 prosp. Akad. Koptyuga, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
Keywords: Heat flow; temperature log; thermal gradient; thermal conductivity; radiogenic heat flow; helium isotope ratio; Altai-Sayan Folded Area
Pages: 940-950

Abstract

Eleven new estimates of heat flow ( q ) from the southern Altai-Sayan Folded Area (ASFA) have provided update to the heat flow map of Gorny Altai. Measured heat flow in the area varies from 33 to 90 mW/m2, with abnormal values of >70 mW/m2 at four sites. The anomalies may have a deep source only at the Aryskan site in the East Sayan (q = 77 mW/m2) while high heat flows of 75-90 mW/m2 obtained for the Mesozoic Belokurikha and Kalguty plutons appear rather to result from high radiogenic heat production in granite, which adds a 25-30 W/m2 radiogenic component to a deep component of 50-60 mW/m2. The latter value is consistent with heat flow estimates derived from helium isotope ratios (54 mW/m2 in both plutons). Heat flow variations at other sites are in the range from 33 to 60 mW/m2. The new data support the earlier inferences of a generally low heat flow over most of ASFA (average of 45-50 mW/m2) and of a