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Procedia Engineering 00 (2015) 000000

The International Conference on Science and Technology 2015 (ICST2015)

Geothermal Exploration Using Geochemical Data; Study Case:

Parang Wedang Geothermal Field, Indonesia
Bella Restu Juliarkaa, Sintia Windhi Niasarib1
a

Geological Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, UGM, Yogya, 55281, Indonesia

Physics Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, UGM, Yogya, 55281, Indonesia

Abstract
Along Java Island, there are more than 20 geothermal areas, including the Parang Wedang geothermal field. This field is classified
as a non-volcanic geothermal system, because it is not associated with any active volcano. Permeable fault zones play an
important role in fluid pathway occurrences. However, what is the source of the fluid is still debatable.
Here we show results of geochemistry data analysis to determine the characteristics of Parang Wedang geothermal fluid. ClHCO3-SO4 ternary diagram of the Parang Wedang geothermal fluids reveal that the fluids contain high choride. Additionally, NaK-Mg ternary diagram of the fluid samples show a character of partial equilibrium. It is possible that the geothermal fluids
originate from magmatic activity related to the subduction process upward and mix with meteoric water. And then, these mixed
water move upward further to the surface before the water reach full equilibrium. Our interpretation is consistent with seismology
tomography studies that indicate magmatic fluid pathway from the subduction of Eurasian and Australian plates.
Keywords: geochemistry, geothermal exploration, fluid source, Parang Wedang.

1. Introduction
Along an active volcanic arc, through Sumatra, Java and Celebes islands, there are more than 200 locations of
potential geothermal fields [1]. These geothermal fields are associated with geothermal surface manifestations, such
as hot springs [1]. As of 2013, only volcanic geothermal fields have been drilled [2]. There is a lot of unused
geothermal potential in Indonesia, particularly the non-volcanic fields, including the Parang Wedang geothermal
field.
Parang Wedang is a small village located close to the Parangtritis beach, Yogyakarta. The closest volcano is
located 60 km to the north from the Parang Wedang area. There are two warm springs in close distance, having
temperatures 37 and 45 C. There is temperature difference between fluid temperatures of the warm springs. This
indicates that there is a geothermal potential below the surface.
The aim of this study is to develop a conceptual model of the Parang Wedang geothermal system based on
chemical data of warm springs. This study will serve as a basic study for further geothermal exploration of the area.
The approach was to collect field data to constrain a conceptual model of the Parang Wedang geothermal field.
1.1. Geochemical study for geothermal exploration
The geochemical method has been used for geothermal exploration since 1970s [3]. The pioneering countries are
Italy, Iceland, Japan, and New zealand where recent volcanism took place [3]. Geothermal fluids have diverse
chemical compositions which reflect their geologic setting. Many of this chemical differences depend on sources of
recharge water and the contibution of volatiles from magmatic or metamorphic sources. A better understanding of
1

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +62-274-545183; fax: +62-274-545185.

E-mail address: sintia_windhi@ugm.ac.id

Juliarka and Niasari/ Procedia Engineering 00 (2015) 000000

physical and chemical processes occuring in geothermal system may be obtained through an appreciation of the
properties of water and water solutions at elevated temperature. Thus, geochemical method can be applied for
geothermal exploration to determine the characteristics of the geothermal fluid in a geothermal prospect area.
1.2. Geological background
The Java island is located in an active subduction zone between the Australian oceanic plate and the Eurasian
continental plate. Thus, pattern of geological structures are mostly related to the tectonic event in the Java Trench,
including a major NE-SW normal fault, called Opak normal fault. Additionally, there are also SE-NW Bantul normal
fault and NE-SW Parangkusumo strike slip fault around the Parang Wedang, see Fig.1 [4]. The Parangkusumo fault,
showing strike of N 300W and dip of 80, may control the warm springs occurrences [5,6].
The Sunda Arc volcanism, taking place since Miocene, resulted in volcanic breccia [4]. Pliocene limestone rocks
occur to the east of the Parang Wedang warm springs. The youngest rocks in this area are the Quaternary tuffs and
lava flow of Merapi volcano and also Quaternary alluvium [4,5].

The Parang Wedang

warm spring locations

Fig. 1. Surface geological map of the Parang Wedang area showing the distribution of lithologies, faults and warm springs. Quaternary tuff of the
Merapi volcano and Pliocene limestone cover most of the study area (modified from [4]).

2. Methodology
2.1. Geochemical data collection
Chemical data collection in the field was done by sampling the fluids in the warm springs following the procedure
of geochemical sampling [7]. The sampling poles and sterile bottle samples were used for collecting the geothermal
fluid. Anion concentrations (Cl, SO42 and HCO3) were collected with an Inductively Coupled Plasma AtomicEmission Spectrometer (ICP-AES; Thermo iCap 6300. The cations (Mg 2+, K+, Na+) were measured by Atomic
Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The sampling was carried out twice (i.e. August and September). Each
measurement of the sampling was repeated three times. Furthermore, the temperatures were also measured using
thermometer.
2.2. Geochemical data analysis
Ternary diagram of Cl - SO4 - HCO3 used to determine the characteristics of a reservoir. Chemical data required in
the determination of reservoir fluid type is relative content of chloride (Cl), bicarbonate (HCO3) and sulfate (SO42-).

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Data calculations were done by dividing concentration of each elements Cl, HCO3 and SO4 with the total
concentration. To determine the water reaches equilibrium in lithology, concentration of Na-K-Mg were also
measured and analyzed using geochemical data analysis procedure [7]. Geo-thermometer Na-K were also used to
know the reservoir temperature [8]. To confirm whether the fluids contain sea water or not, ratio Na/Cl was also
calculated [9].
3. Results and discussion
Major cation and anion concentration of thermal waters (ppm) of Parang Wedang (Prwd) warm spring 1 and 2 are
listed in Tables 1 and 2, from August and September measurement, respectively.
Table 1. Major cation and anion concentration of thermal water (ppm) from Measurement on August, 2015
Sample

Na

Mg

Cl-

HCO3-

SO42-

Prwd 1

32

1284

7177

315

Prwd 2

33

1303

7124

312

Table 2. Major cation and anion concentration of thermal water (ppm) from Measurement on September, 2015
Sample

Na

Mg

Cl-

HCO3-

SO42-

Prwd 1

334

766

6750

76

78

Prwd 2

876

730

7550

142

The Giggenbach ternary diagrams (see Fig. 2) show that both warm springs contain small concentrations of SO 42and HCO3-, but high concentration of Cl-. Based on calculation of Na+ and Cl- values and ratios, both warm springs
have a Na/Cl ratio between 0.05 and 0.18. This value confirms that the water from the Parang Wedang warm springs
is not mixed with sea water. Furthermore, the cation values are located in partial equilibrium area (see Fig. 2 right).

Fig. 2. Left: ternary plot of the major anion Cl, SO42, HCO3 where the relative % of the anion in the solution is plotted. The fluid samples in
Parang Wedang indicate mature waters with chloride domination. Right: ternary plot of the major cation where the cation values are located in
partial equilibrium area. Red circles indicate Prwd 1and blue triangles represent Prwd 2.

Juliarka and Niasari/ Procedia Engineering 00 (2015) 000000

There are several geothermal setting similar to Parang Wedang, where the surface manifestation is located close
to sea. One of them is Jeju geothermal field [10]. The lithology on the Jeju area are porous pyroclastic overlain by
less porous lavas. Similarly, the lithologies on the Parang Wedang area are porous Quaternary tuffs overlain by less
porous Miocene Breccia.
Based on the geochemical data, combining with all existing geophysics and geological data, a conceptual model
of the Parang Wedang geothermal system can be developed. First, meteoric waters flow into the underground.
Simultaneously, magmatic waters flow upward from the subsurface, and mix with meteoric water in the reservoir.
From the calculation of geothermometer Na-K, the reservoir can have temperature between 63 and 133 oC. And then,
these mixed waters flow upward again to the surface as warm spring.
4. Conclusion
From geochemical data, it can be concluded that fluids of both warm springs are chloride water in partial
equilibrium state. The ratio of Na/Cl show that the fluids are not mixed with sea water. Finally, we show that rather
than high temperature system, the Parang Wedang geothermal system is a low to moderate geothermal system. Our
interpretation is consistent with seismology tomography studies that indicate magmatic fluid pathway from the
subduction of Eurasian and Australian plates [11].
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the Physics Department, Universitas Gadjah Mada for financial support
under the project Penelitian Kecil. This work would not have been possible without field support of numerous
colleagues.
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