Recently, the “Comprehensive Study on the Metallogenic Regularities of Geothermal Resources in Xinjiang and Target Area Selection Project,” undertaken by the No. 1 Hydrogeological and Engineering Geological Team of the Bureau of Geological and Mineral Exploration and Development of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, passed the field acceptance by an expert panel, confirming the discovery of 69 geothermal distribution areas across the entire Xinjiang region.
　　Based on a thorough summary of ore-forming patterns, exploration personnel have preliminarily identified the distribution and thermal reservoir characteristics of geothermal resources in the study area. They have also conducted research into methods for constructing neural network models for geothermal resources and comprehensively delineated 21 geothermal prospecting target areas.
　　The research findings of the project show that geothermal resources in Xinjiang are widely distributed, with discoveries made in 12 prefectures and cities including the Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture and the Aksu Region. According to their genesis types, these geothermal resources can be primarily categorized into fault-controlled type, sedimentary basin type, and coal seam spontaneous combustion type. Among them, those located in fault structural zones account for the majority, totaling 54 sites. The temperatures of the exposed geothermal waters are predominantly in the range of 25 to 40 degrees Celsius for visible warm water and 40 to 60 degrees Celsius for warm-hot water, accounting for 45.3% and 35.8% respectively.
　　On December 1, 2023, staff from the No. 1 Hydrogeological and Engineering Geological Team of the Autonomous Region Bureau of Geological and Mineral Exploration and Development were conducting geothermal drilling operations in Shuanghe City.
　　According to Qi Zhilong, Director of the First Water Geothermal Office, since 2022, the First Water has completed a series of key tasks using various methods, including comprehensive data collection and analysis, thermal infrared remote sensing interpretation, geothermal geological route surveys, well and spring verification, and geochemical exploration. Specifically, they have conducted thermal infrared remote sensing interpretation at a scale of 1:500,000 over an area of 750,000 square kilometers; carried out geothermal geological route surveys at a scale of 1:50,000 (preliminary survey) covering 300 kilometers; verified 69 geothermal wells (springs); and completed 72 sets of full analyses as well as individual element, isotope, and rock-mineral radioactivity tests. These efforts have provided strong support for the comprehensive study of geothermal resource metallogenic patterns in Xinjiang and the implementation of targeted exploration area selection projects.
　　It is reported that, at present, geothermal exploration efforts have achieved breakthroughs in Bohu County’s Wenquan County, the Fifth Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps’ Shuanghe City, and Chabuchar Xibe Autonomous County in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. In Wenquan County, a newly discovered geothermal well at a depth of 1,000 meters has a water temperature of 65 degrees Celsius and a daily flow rate of 1,500 cubic meters. In Shuanghe City, a newly discovered geothermal well at a depth of 390 meters has a bottom water temperature of 60 degrees Celsius and a daily flow rate of 750 cubic meters, providing a resource guarantee for the diversified development and utilization of local geothermal water.