Soil Li-Rb-Cs-B as near-surface tracers of shallow-buried high-temperature geothermal systems: A case study from the Yangbajing geothermal field, Tibet Plateau

Key Points

• Geochemical analysis reveals that specific tracers in soil can indicate high-temperature geothermal systems.
• Lithogeochemistry showed significant levels of Li, Rb, Cs, and B in soil samples collected from the Yangbajing area.
• Surface mapping techniques were employed to identify shallow-buried geothermal characteristics in the geological landscape.
• These findings may enable more effective exploration of geothermal resources, aiding in clean energy initiatives.