Geochemical Studies of Springs in a Volcanic Area, Case of Virunga and Kahuzi Bienga, DRC
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Proceedings, 8th African Rift Geothermal Conference Nairobi, Kenya: 2 – 8 November 2020 Geochemical Studies of Springs in a volcanic area, Case of Virunga and Kahuzi Bienga, DRC 1Kambale Kavyavu W., 2Makabu Kayembe G. 1 Assistant /Université de Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Goma Town, +243999154269, 2Professor / Université de Lubumbashi Email: [email protected] Keywords: Kivu-Volcano-Energy-Geochemistry-Geology-Structural ABSTRACT The best practice in making geothermal development decisions is to integrate all the sciences to develop a comprehensive model, provide simulations on how to make high-value geothermal decisions to improve well targeting using time data, William B . Cumming 2018, Geothermal data integration and modeling helps in enhancing precise good targeting, Data sets from resources similar to the eastern and western branches are separately integrated using on key criteria when making decisions for each unique resource to help understand , how to develop conceptual models for target wells and assess resource capacity of volcano hosted system and a deep circulation system. A review of geologic map data, developing conceptual models, and targeting wells will precede drilling, Geochemistry of springs will guide the understanding of a reservoir and the future geophysical feature in the future will show the stratigraphy, of the bottom and top of the reservoir. Surface temperatures range from 30ºC to 100ºC and the springs are neutral to alkaline (pH 6,2 8,9). Chemical analysis of all samples shows strikingly high bicarbonate content relative to the common major anions in hot springs. Their calculated reservoirs temperature ranges from 150 to 270ºC in North Kivu geothermal areas and ranges from 277 to 369ºC in South Kivu. Rwindi hot springs in Virunga National Park are mature while others are immatures water and are peripheral bicarbonate waters. 1. Introduction The main role of geochemical surveys in all geothermal exploration phases is to obtain information on the origin of the geothermal fluid and to understand the subsurface flow directions using subsurface characteristics such as temperatures and chemical concentrations analysis. The Democratic Republic of Congo geothermal reservoirs in the rift zone is only manifested by the presence of thermal springs. Geothermal exploration reveals hidden reservoirs and locates geothermal sites in an economically feasible way. Many East African countries are looking at their indigenous geothermal resources as a source of electricity and heat, to date the main focus has been on power production from high- temperature geothermal resources which is understandable, considering the shortage of electricity in the region and the promising availability of resources. the region also has low- temperature geothermal resources, the potential of which has not been well evaluated limiting utilization. This does not only apply to the East part of East African Rift, where the potential for electricity is high, but even more to its West part, which is not endowed the same type and Kambale & Makabu the number of volcanic systems providing a heat source from historically high- temperature geothermal systems ( Pre-ARGeo C7, 2018) except for Kenya, all African ARGeo’s members countries are exploring geothermal reservoir including DRC which is the focus of this paper. Energy use statistics in Africa reveal a worrying scenario, with 13% of the global population, consuming only a 3% share of global electricity Furthermore, just 25% of Africans have access to electricity, with more than 70% of Africa is dependent on traditional biomass fuels (African Rift Geothermal, 2018) The Democratic Republic of Congo is located in the western branch of the East African, Rift System (EARS); its entire eastern border runs North to South Kivu beside Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and a part of Tanzania, For all Africa, eastern branches of EARS has geothermal energy but has yet to harvest and conduct research in the area within the land occupied by Kenya and Ethiopia, geothermal power has already been developed. Rwanda and Uganda have a certain expertise in geothermal located in Africa. From reports over the last two years. The DRC is still in prospection and identification of springs and many of them are located in areas boarding the rift valley in Maniema-South and North Kivu, however, some springs are identified in the west of the country with origins connected to old volcanoes. In the central Democratic Republic of Congo is blessed with an abundance of hydropower. Although the distribution of populations and cities don’t allow all to use Inga hydroelectricity due to its western location in the nation, So it's necessary to explore alternative energy sources that are geographically proximate such as geothermal sites such located near the spring in Kivu, besides, the environment questions must be taken in the center of all solutions of actual society. The use of geothermal energy in the case of generation involves no combustion on the ground because it uses magma heat energy from the inside the earth. It emits very little carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which is effective against in the context of global warming. Differentiating itself from hydropower, it's not affected by water deficiency; making geothermal generation advantageous (Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, 2018). As geothermal steam contains corrosive gases and impurities such as silica, salt, solid particles, steam turbine design for geothermal plants has to be not only highly efficient but also highly corrosive resistant (Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, 2018). The present paper is dedicating firstly an identification to springs chemical analysis. At the end of the paper, some points of potential views can be taken in the North-Kivu and South Kivu. 2. Location The Albertine graben is a part of the Western branch of the East African Rift System (EARS) commonly known as the Western Rift Valley (Godfrey Bahati, 2006). The D.R.C's geology consists of an exposed pre-Cambrian basement around the central cuvette and the western branch of the East African Rift System in the Eastern part of the country. In the Rift graben, the basement is overlain by intercalating tertiary sediments. The region of the Rift has a markedly higher heat flow than the surrounding Pre-Cambrian terrain. Within the Rift Valley, there are thick layers of late Tertiary and Quaternary sediments; freshwater and saline crater lakes; volcanic; and plutonic bodies have been identified beneath L. Albert and L. Edward (EDICON, 1984) Kambale & Makabu The DRC geothermal areas are mostly located in three axes Kahuzi-Biega area, Virunga volcanic field, and Rwenzori area with some small points of lesser value in the country. These areas are given priority because of their volcanic and tectonic features indicated a strong heat source and permeability. The South Kivu geothermal prospect is located in the Kahuzi-Biega Volcanic Field between Lakes Tanganyika and Lake Kivu and around Bukavu town, (Figure 1). The geology is dominated by basaltic flows craters in correlation with granitic and gneissic rock below. The age of the volcanic activity has been estimated at Pleistocene to Holocene (Musisi, 1991). Geothermal surface manifestations are typically hot springs. The volcanism is essential of alkalic type and comprises all classic terms such as ankaratrites, basanites, hawaiites, mugearites, benmoreites, trachytes, and phonolites. Tholeiitic have been mentioned as well. More than 500 and 3,000 m of sediments are known located in the northern deep part of Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika, suggesting respective Pliocene and lower Miocene (20 M.A.) ages. Both lakes were probably closed till recently Eocene. The first important outflow of Lake Kivu is dated 9,500 BP and the Tanganyika more recent one would be of historical age and probably from 1878 till recent time. More than 1,500 m of sediments are known in the Ruzizi plain (ILUNGA Lutumba, 1991). D.R.Congo is one of the central and great African countries, it contains part of the African Rift in its West branch, the geothermal area is a father distance from the Northern area part around Albert Lake from Rwenzori Mountain in North Kivu to the South around Tanganyika Lake over 1500Km longer. The center of this zone is a location of volcanic fields with two active, Nyirangongo and Nyamulagira both in DRC. This area is boarded by Rwanda- Burundi-Uganda in East and DRC in West Fig1. The center of the Congo Geothermal field is exposed to Seismic activity with the epicenter located in Kivu Lake, while in the North of Kivu lake basin to volcanic activity last occurred in 2002. All of the geologic terrains described above exhibit hydrothermal activity, except for the fumaroles of Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira volcanoes, all other known hydrothermal features in D.R.C, are thermal springs. All of the features are found in the Eastern part of the country. None are reported to occur to the West of 24OE longitude. A part volcanic origin, the distribution of most of the thermal springs large-scale tectonic affiliation to the highlands of Eastern DRC. 3. Samples and sampling Referring to table N°1, the highest percentage of known springs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are located in North Kivu. The geothermal of the country is deduce from the hot water because fumaroles were rare. Some of them are located not far from the Kivu Lake, in Masisi and Kabare,, and long the fault as seen in the geological field. The heatThe heat from the ground can be used as an energy source and is found in many regions of the world, especially along tectonic plate boundaries or at places where the crust is thin enough to let heat through. The most common way of capturing energy from geothermal resources is to tap into naturally occurring hydrothermal convection systems, where cooler water seeps into the earth's crust heated up within a reservoir (TURBODEN S.P.A).