Assessment of hydrothermal resource development by RS techniques (a case study: convey of water by tunnel from the Safa dam to Golzar City and the neighboring regions, Kerman Province, Iran)

The study area is located between Baft and Golzar cities in Kerman Province, Iran. In terms of major sedimentary-structural units of Iran, the study area is situated in the southern part of Central Iran continent and the Urumieh-Bazman Magmatic Belt and contains hydrothermal resources. With regards to the decision made by the water authorities on drilling a tunnel to convey water in the study area and probability of water contamination by hydrothermal resources a rigorous investigation was undertaken. The main aim was to understand the subterranean development rate of hydrothermal resource. In this study Remote Sensing (RS) techniques were adopted to prepare geology, structural geology, siderite mineral distribution, and Land Surface Temperature (LST) maps. Then, their overlay maps along with geological and field observations were applied to analyze and recognize the development of the underground hydrothermal resources to predict the locations of the upward-running flows and probable hypogene karst in the passage of the tunnel and surrounding regions.Good overlaying of geological and structural elements, the siderite mineral distribution and the LST maps all indicated desirable results which include; the development of hydrothermal resources is further under the influence of tectonics e.g. intense fracturing & faulting rather than lithology.Hence, in some parts of the water conveyance tunnel, where thrust faults, densely-packed joints and the limestone rocks, the lining practice has to be undertaken with due care and attention to protect water quality against contaminated waters, especially in the southern portal and on 10-14 km intervals of the tunnel.