Hydrogeochemical Evolution, Isotopic Insights, and Genetic Models of Geothermal Water in Anhui Province, China.

Anhui Province is rich in geothermal water resources, making the study of its hydrochemical evolution and genetic models essential for scientific development and sustainable utilization. This study combines hydrochemical and hydrogen–oxygen isotopic data from different regions of Anhui Province to analyze the hydrogeochemical evolution characteristics and recharge mechanisms of basin-type and mountainous-type geothermal waters. The results show that basin-type geothermal water is predominantly of the Cl–Na type, with water–rock interactions mainly including halite dissolution, gypsum dissolution, dedolomitization, and silicate hydrolysis. The groundwater system is relatively closed off, with slow flow rates. In contrast, mountainous geothermal water is mainly of the HCO₃–Na·Ca, SO₄–Na·Ca, and SO₄–Na types, with water–rock interactions primarily involving calcite dissolution, dolomite dissolution, and gypsum dissolution. Enhanced precipitation infiltration due to fault structures leads to stronger recharge and an open-system characteristic. The genetic models of the two types of geothermal water reveal the structural and recharge mechanisms of thermal reservoirs under different geological settings, highlighting the significant control of geological background on geothermal water formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]