Geothermal studies in the Hyderabad granitic region and the crustal thermal structure of the Southern Indian Shield

Based on temperature measurements in three boreholes (one specially drilled for the purpose) and thermal conductivity determinations, heat flow density values were determined for three sites in the Archaean Hyderabad granitic batholith. A mean heat flow density value of 40± 1 (s.d.) mW m⁻² has been obtained. The heat generation in its rocks (5.57 μW m⁻³) is significantly higher than in average crustal rocks. It has been proposed that the Hyderabad batholith has a layered structure with a thin ( ≈ 1 km) surface layer of high radioactivity. These results together with the already reported data have been used to estimate the conductive steady-state temperature within and at the base of the crust of the Southern Indian Shield, yielding values of the same order as found in the Western Australian Shield.