Geothermal exploration in northern Jordan is in juvenile phase. North eastern basaltic desert is expected to host, with other rock formations, a shallow geothermal field. For efficient geothermal potential evaluation, a complete understanding of thermo-physical properties of deep reservoir rocks is of utmost importance. Due to the complex technical thermo-physical evalua tions of basalts in depth, surficial basalts extending to the west were evaluated . Accordingly, six basaltic sub-flows from Al Hashimiyya were examined into their thermo-physical and mechanical properties. The flows represent the western extinction of large olivine basalt eruption. Different properties were evaluated for oven dried samples: thermal conductivity, permeability, porosity, density and specific heat capacity. In addition, basalts mechanical properties were examined : compressional wave velocity, unconfined compressive strength, indirect tensile strength and point load tests. The results were correlated in proportional patterns. They indicated that thermal conductivity of the studied basalts is dependent on porosity and permeability in parallel with mineral composition. It’s found that mechanical properties are controlled by porosity and permeability, too. The studied basalt properties exhibit slight deviation from the continental basalts thermo-physical and mechanical properties reported in the region. Thermal conductivity ranges between 1.89 and 1.32 W·m -1 ·K -1 , whereas the porosity and permeability averages at 10.64% and 9.75899E - 15 m 2 , respectively. Additionally, unconfined compressive strength averages at 104.9 Mpa and it’s almost 20 times higher than indirect tensile strength which ranges from 8.73 to 2.21 Mpa. As the samples were tested under laboratory conditions, in situ conditions will not be reflected by such values. At greater depth, temperature, pressure and hydrothermal activities will certainly affect rock properties. Micro fractures, whether it will be filled or not, will affect basalts properties, too. The results of this work will be used to develop a comprehensive thermo-physico-mechanical model, and improve the ability to predict rock properties at greater depths of Jordanian basalts.
Kabariti, M. (2005) Identification of National Energy Policies and Energy Access in Jordan, Amman. National Energy Research Center/Energy Research Group/Report, 52 p.
Saudi, A. and Swarieh, A. (2015) Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2015 Melbourne, Australia, 19-25 April 2015. Geothermal Energy Resources in Jordan, Country Update Paper.
Sunna, B. (2004) Recommended Approaches to Develop the Direct Utilization of the Geothermal Energy (Hot Water) in Jordan. International Water Demand Management Conference, Amman.
Schäffer, R. and Sass, I. (2014) The Thermal Springs of Jordan. Environmental Earth Sciences, 72, 171-187. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2944-4
Al-Dabbas, M. (2011) Achievement of Geothermal Energy Using Ground Heat Exchanger in Ma’in. Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 25, 2013-2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-011-0520-y
International Geothermal Association, IGA. (2012) https://www.geothermal-energy.org/explore/our-databases/geothermal-power-database/#direct-uses-by-purpose
Swarieh, A. (2008) Geothermal Water in Jordan. United Nation University-Geothermal Training Programme, Tianjin.
Abu-Hamatteh, Z., Al-Zughoul, K. and Al-Jufout, S. (2011) Potential Geothermal Energy Utilization in Jordan: Possible Electrical Power Generation. The International Journal of Thermal & Environmental Engineering, 3, 9-14. https://doi.org/10.5383/ijtee.03.01.002
Al-Zyoud, S. (2012) Geothermal Cooling in Arid Regions: An Investigation of the Jordanian Harrat Aquifer System. Ph.D. Thesis, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, 136 p.
Abdulagatova, Z., Abdulagatov, I. and Emirov, V. (2009) Effect of Temperature and Pressure on the Thermal Conductivity of Sandstone. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 46, 1055-1071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2009.04.011
Wang, L.W., Tamainot-Telto, Z., Metcalf, S.J., Cristoph, R.E. and Wang, R.Z. (2010) Anisotropic Thermal Conductivity and Permeability of Compacted Expanded Natural Graphite. Applied thermal Engineering, 30, 1805-1811. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2010.04.014
El Sayed, A.M.A. (2011) Thermophysical Study of Sandstone Reservoir Rocks. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 76, 138-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2011.01.001
Mielke, P., Nehler, M., Bignall, G. and Sass, I. (2015) Thermo-Physical Rock Properties and the Impact of Advancing Hydrothermal Alteration—A Case Study from the Tauhara Geothermal Field, New Zealand. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 301, 14-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2015.04.007
Mielke, P., Weinert, S., Bignall, G. and Sass, I. (2016) Thermo-Physical Rock Properties of Greywacke Basement Rock and Intrusive Lavas from the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 324, 179-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2016.06.002
Kukkonen, I. and Lindberg, A. (2017) Thermal Properties of Rocks at the Investigation Sites: Measured and Calculated Thermal Conductivity, Specific Heat Capacity, and Thermal Diffusivity. Working Report. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267364193
Al-Zyoud, S. (2019) Prediction Approach for Petrothermal Properties in Al Hashimiyya Basalts-Jordan. Open Journal of Geology, 9, 43-56. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojg.2019.91004
Franzson, H., Guelaugsson, S.P. and Frieleifsson, G. (2001) Petrophysical Properties of Icelandic Rocks. Proceedings of the 6th Nordic Symposium on Petrophysics, Trondheim, 15-16 May 2001, 1-14.
Mielke, P., Bignall, G. and Sass, I. (2010) Permeability and Thermal Conductivity Measurements of near Surface Units at the Wairakei Geothermal Field. World Geothermal Congress, Bali, 25-29 April 2010.
Popov, Y., Pribnow, D., Sass, J., Williams, C. and Burkhardt, H. (1999) Characterization of Rock Thermal Conductivity by High-Resolution Optical Scanning. Geothermics, 28, 253-267. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0375-6505(99)00007-3
Giannakopoulou, P.P., Petrounias, P., Rogkala, A., Tsikouras, B., Stamatis, P.M., Pomonis, P. and Hatzipanagiotou, K. (2018) The Influence of the Mineralogical Composition of Ultramafic Rocks on Their Engineering Performance: A Case Study from the Veria-Naousa and Gerania Ophiolite Complexes (Greece). Geosciences, 8, 251. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8070251
Arafin, S. (2019) Thermophysical Properties of Reservoir Rocks. Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 129, 99-110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpcs.2018.12.034
Vedanti, N., Lakshmi, K.J.P., Dutta, S., Malkoti, A. and Pandey, O.P. (2015) Investigation of Petrophysical Properties and Ultrasonic P-and S-Wave Attenuation in Deccan Flood Basalts, India. SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2015, 3274-3278. https://doi.org/10.1190/segam2015-5858683.1
Abu Qudaira, M. (2004) The Geology of Zarqa Area, Bulletin 58. Natural Resources Authority, Amman, 47 p.
Al-Malabeh, A. (1993) The Volcanology, Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Selected Pyroclastic Cones from NE-Jordan and Their Evolution for Possible Industrial Applications. PhD Thesis, Erlangen University, Erlangen.
Van den Boom, G. and Sawwan, O. (1966) Report on Geological and Petrological Studies of the Plateau Basalts in NE Jordan. Germ. Geol. Missionin, Amman, 42.
Ilani, S., Harlavan, Y., Tarawneh, K., Rabba, I., Weinberger, R., Ibrahim, K.M., Peltz, S. and Steinitz, G. (2001) New KAr Ages of Basalts from the Harrat Ash Shaam Volcanic Field in Jordan: Implications for the Span and Duration of the Upper Mantle Upwelling beneath the Western Arabian Plate. Geology, 29, 171-174. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029 2.0.CO;2
Al-Zyoud, S. (2005) Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Physico-Mechanical Evaluations of Al-Hashimiyya Basaltic Rocks-Jordan. MSc Thesis, Hashemite University, Jordan.
Goggin, D. (1988) Geologically Sensible Modelling of the Spatial Distribution of Permeability in Eolian Deposity: Page Sandstone (Jurassic), Northern Arizona. University of Texas, Austin, 417 p.
Micromeritics (2012) Combining Skeletal and Envelope Volume Measurement. https://www.micromeritics.com/Pressroom/Press-Release-List/Combining-Skeletal-and-Envelope-Volume-Measurements-to-Determine-Total-Pore-Volume-and-Percent-Porosity.aspx
Brock, E. and Franklin, J.A. (1972) The Point Load Strength Test. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, 9, 669-697.
Humidi, H. (1993) Engineering Properties of Some Selected Basalt Rocks in Northern Jordan. M.Sc. Thesis, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Ramtha, 133.
Touloukian, Y.S., Judd, W.R. and Roy, R.F. (1981) Physical Properties of Rocks and Minerals. McGraw-Hill, New York.
Karakus, A. and Akatay, M. (2013) Determination of Basic Physical and Mechanical Properties of Basaltic Rocks from P-Wave Velocity. Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation, 28, 342-353. https://doi.org/10.1080/10589759.2013.823606
Fortes, A.P.P., Anastasio, S., Kuznetsova, E. and Danielsen, S.W. (2016) Behaviour of Crushed Rock Aggregates Used in Asphalt Surface Layer Exposed to Cold Climate Conditions. Environmental Earth Sciences, 75, 1414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-6191-3
Santos, A.R., Veiga, M.R., Santos Silva, A., de Brito, J. and Alvarez, J.I. (2018) Evolution of the Microstructure of Lime Based Mortars and Influence on the Mechanical Behaviour: The Role of the Aggregates. Construction and Building Materials, 187, 907-922.
Fournari, R. and Ioannis, I. (2019) Correlations between the Properties of Crushed Fine Aggregates. Minerals, 9, 86. https://doi.org/10.3390/min9020086
Bauer, S.J. and Handin, J. (1983) Thermal Expansion and Cracking of Three Confined Water Saturated Igneous Rocks to 800°C. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 16, 181-198. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01033279
Chaki, S., Takarli, M. and Agbodjan, W.P. (2008) Influence of Thermal Damage on Physical Properties of a Granite Rock: Porosity, Permeability and Ultrasonic Wave Evolutions. Construction and Building Materials, 22, 1456-1461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2007.04.002
David, C., Menéndez, B. and Darot, M. (1999) Influence of Stress-Induced and Thermal Cracking on Physical Properties and Microstructure of La Peyratte Granite. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 36, 433-448. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0148-9062(99)00010-8
Fortin, J., Stanchits, S., Vinciguerra, S. and Guéguen, Y. (2011) Influence of Thermal and Mechanical Cracks on Permeability and Elastic Wave Velocities in a Basalt from Mt. Etna Volcano Subjected to Elevated Pressure. Tectonophysics, 503, 60-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2010.09.028
Homand-Etienne, F. and Houpert, R. (1989) Thermally Induced Microcracking in Granites: Characterization and Analysis. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, 26, 125-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(89)90001-6
Siratovich, P.A., Heap, M.J., Villenueve, M.C., Cole, J.W. and Reuschlé, T. (2014) Physical Property Relationships of the Rotokawa Andesite, a Significant Geothermal Reservoir Rock in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand. Geothermal Energy, 2, 313. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40517-014-0010-4
Heap, M.J., Lavallée, Y., Petrakova, L., Baud, P., Reuschlé, T., Varley, N.R. and Dingwell, D.B. (2014) Microstructural Controls on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Edifice-Forming Andesites at Volcán de Colima, Mexico. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 119, 2925-2963. https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JB010521
Clauser, C. and Huenges, E. (1995) Thermal Conductivity of Rocks and Minerals. In: Ahrens, T.J., Ed., Rock Physics and Phase Relations—A Handbook of Physical Constants, American Geophysical Union, Washington DC, Vol. 3, 105-126. https://doi.org/10.1029/RF003p0105
Vosteen, H.-D. and Schellschmidt, R. (2003) Influence of Temperature on Thermal Conductivity, Thermal Capacity and Thermal Diffusivity for Different Types of Rock. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 28, 499-509. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-7065(03)00069-X
Walsh, J.B. and Decker, E.R. (1966) Effect of Pressure and Saturating Fluid on the Thermal Conductivity of Compact Rock. Journal of Geophysical Research, 71, 3053-3061. https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ071i012p03053
Milsch, H.H., Spangenberg, E., Kulenkampff, J. and Meyhöfer, S. (2008) A New Apparatus for Long-Term Petrophysical Investigations on Geothermal Reservoir Rocks at Simulated In-Situ Conditions. Transport in Porous Media, 74, 73-85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-007-9186-4
Pei, L., Rühaak, W., Stegner, J., Bär, K., Homuth, S., Mielk, P. and Sass, I. (2014) Thermo-Triax: An Apparatus for Testing Petrophysical Properties of Rocks under Simulated Geothermal Reservoir Conditions. Geotechnical Testing Journal, 38, 20140056. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ20140056
Pola, A., Crosta, G., Fusi, N., Barberini, V. and Norini, G. (2012) Influence of Alteration on Physical Properties of Volcanic Rocks. Tectonophysics, 566-567, 67-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2012.07.017
Wyering, L.D., Villeneuve, M.C., Wallis, I.C., Siratovich, P.A., Kennedy, B.M., Gravley, D.M. and Cant, J.L. (2014) Mechanical and Physical Properties of Hydrothermally Altered Rocks, Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 288, 76-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2014.10.008
Song, X., Jiang, M. and Xiong, P. (2018) Analysis of the Thermophysical Properties and Influencing Factors of Various Rock Types from the Guizhou Province. E3S Web of Conferences, 53, Article ID: 03059. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20185303059
Mordensky, S., Villeneuve, M., Kennedy, B., Heap, M.J., Gravley, D., Farquharson, J. and Reuschlé, T. (2017) Physical and Mechanical Property Relationships of a Shallow Intrusion and Volcanic Host Rock, Pinnacle Ridge, Mt. Ruapehu, New Zealand. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 359, 1-20.