Mercury, arsenic, antimony, bismuth and boron as geochemical indicators for geothermal areas

From 1982 to 1983, 131 soil samples were collected within an area of 60 km² in known geothermal field and their vicinities in Tengchong, Yunnan Province. Distinct anomalies of Hg, As, Sb and Bi were found on the known geothermal fields. The contour of the multiplicative anomaly of Hg × As × Sb encircled the two known geothermal fields, Reshuitang and Rehai, within its extent, disclosing the interrelation between these two fields, and enlarging their future prospects. The B anomaly is related to structural features. Significant correlations among Hg, As and Sb are shown by correlation analysis. It was concluded that a geochemical survey with a density of two samples per km² could be carried out effectively to delineate promising targets of geothermal resources.