A 3D look beneath Muruntau

Gravity, seismic and magnetotelluric surveys let geophysicists model the deep structure around Muruntau and choose well sites for a planned geothermal station.

May 2022

Map of Uzbekistan coloured by heat flow density, from below 30 to 200 mW/m², with measurement points; the highest values are in the west, near the Amu Darya — Heat flow density across Uzbekistan, in mW/m², with measurement points. Source: Sidorova, Saxobidinov & Golovko (2023), Figure 1 (CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons). Original document

From 2019 to 2021, the Institute of Geology and Geophysics in Tashkent ran a project on heat-flow anomalies across Uzbekistan. It produced a geothermal database and a new heat-flow map, with detailed surveys in three areas: Muruntau, Krasnogorsk and Bayangora.

Gravity maps revealed decompression zones and faults. Seismic sections showed low- and high-velocity zones. Magnetotelluric soundings found conductive zones that match the anomalous heat flow. Combining all three, the team built a 3D model of Muruntau’s deep structure and chose well locations for a planned geothermal station.

A 2023 paper by the same group describes what the station is for: electricity and heat for a new settlement needed as the Muruntau gold quarry expands.

Sources

Sidorova (2022). Geothermal research in UzbekistanEGU General Assembly 2022
Sidorova, Saxobidinov & Golovko (2023). Development of the renewable geothermal energy in Uzbekistan (as an example – the Muruntau area)IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1212, 012001

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