Research on the Genetic Mechanism of High-Temperature Groundwater in the Geothermal Anomalous Area of Gold Deposit—Application to the Copper Mine Area of Yinan Gold Mine

[Image: see text] Geothermal energy is new, environmentally friendly, and clean energy, which is of great significance to realize energy saving and emission reduction. The study of the genesis mechanism of geothermal water is the key to its rational development and utilization. In this study, based on 14 sets of water samples from the eastern section of the copper well mining area of Yinan Gold Mine, mineral saturation index, isotope analysis (δ(18)O, δD), Si-enthalpy mixing equation, and geochemical geothermal temperature scale were used to analyze the thermal storage temperature, recharge characteristics, mixing ratio, circulation depth, and fluid passage to reveal the geothermal water fugitive transmission pattern and genesis mechanism in the study area and to propose a geothermal water genesis model. The study shows that the water supply elevation in the area is between 687.22 and 1164.15 m and a large amount of cold water recharged it. It is inferred that the recharge area is the precipitation in the Northwest Mountain range and surrounding atmosphere. Groundwater flows along the fracture zone in a south-easterly direction. It receives heating from the surrounding rocks, where the water level rises at the fracture zone intersection and is stored in the lower and middle Cambrian thermal reservoirs and continues to receive heating from deeper heat sources. Based on this study and previous regional research data, the fault structure in this area is within the influence range of the energy field of the Yishu fault zone. Yishu fault zone becomes the heating source under the background of cold water. It is inferred that the east–east Yishu fault zone in the study area may also be the recharge area.