The Songwe geothermal prospect is situated in western Tanzania in the Rukwa Rift of the western branch of the East African Rift System. Thermal springs discharge along NW–SE oriented fracture zones in two separate areas: in the main Songwe graben (Iyola, Main springs, Rambo and Kaguri) and eastern Songwe graben (Ikumbi). Lithologies forming and filling the Songwe graben are metamorphic gneiss and shist as basement rocks, overlain by the Karoo sandstones, and Red sandstones, both silt- and sandstones with a carbonatic matrix. In some areas of the graben, volcanic rocks intruded these formations forming basalt outflows. The discharge temperatures of springs are between 37 and 85 °C with Na-HCO3 type fluids. Carbonate deposits surround most of the springs. Using previous geophysical, geological studies and historical fluid geochemical data and mineral data, the Songwe geothermal system interpretation was updated, including new reservoir fluid temperature, fluid flow pathway and water–rock interaction models. The classical geothermometers of K-Mg and Na-K-Ca (Mg correction) were used to predict the reservoir fluid temperature and show that fluid emerging in the Songwe area reaches temperatures between 125 and 148 °C. Reservoir fluid characteristics are reconstructed based on the geothermometer calculation and a PHREEQC model in which the deep fluid reacts with certain lithologies. Minerals precipitating at the surface and reservoir depth were used to calibrate the models. The models run at surface temperature were calibrated with minerals precipitating around the springs and suggest that Songwe thermal fluids interact with Red sandstone only, while Ikumbi spring water is the only spring that interacts with all lithologies (simplified referred to as: metamorphic rocks, Karoo and Red sandstone). The model run at reservoir temperature indicates that rising water is also in contact with Karoo sandstones and Ikumbi spring water composition is again influenced by the contact with all lithologies in the graben. Our conceptual model summarizes all data showing the meteoric origin of the fluids, the travel through the basement, rising along the Mbeya fault and the main reaction with sandstones through a lateral travel towards the hot springs. The proposed models reinforce the idea that carbonate dissolution from the sandstone layers is the most common water–rock interaction. Our model is supported by carbonate deposition observed in all springs, dominated by HCO3 and Na.

<p>A geothermal area with only bicarbonate thermal water discharges at medium temperature requires a more integrated analysis than used in classical geochemical exploration. This signature is typical for steam-heated water, which commonly occurs at the margins of a geothermal system. However, these waters can also rise from carbonate rich layers in the central part of the field. Our study shows that fluid flow modeling can identify the exact source, flow pathways and temperatures of reservoir fluids based on water-rock interaction. For the first time, we present a conceptual geothermal fluid flow model based on geochemical data for the Songwe geothermal system in Tanzania.</p><p>Thermal springs discharge along NW-SE fracture zones in two separate areas: the central Songwe graben (Iyola, Main springs, Rambo and Kaguri) and eastern Songwe graben (Ikumbi). The discharge temperatures of springs range between 37 and 85 <sup>o</sup>C with Na-HCO<sub>3</sub> type, and carbonate deposits surrounding most of the springs. We estimated fluid temperatures for a depth of 2.5km by applying K-Mg and Na-K-Ca <sub>(Mg correction) </sub>geothermometers, suggesting that reservoir fluids reach temperatures between 125 and 148 <sup>o</sup>C. We reconstructed reservoir fluid characteristics for that temperatures and propose oversaturated minerals (volcanics, clays, carbonates, apatites, weathered metamophics and hydrothermal minerals) as a model result of interaction between the deep fluids and certain lithologies. Comparison between the modeled oversaturated minerals with minerals in the springs (calcite, aragonite, analcime, muscovite, and smectite) suggests that Kaguri spring water is a result of interaction between deep reservoir fluids with all lithologies, passed on the way to the surface (Metamorphics, Karoo group and Red Sandstone). The fluid signature of Kaguri springs suggest an upflow zone of the geothermal system. Further, our model with oversaturated minerals shows that the thermal water from the reservoir flows laterally along the Red Sandstone layer to the eastern part of study area. It appears as Rambo springs, south of Kaguri springs, and as Main springs and Iyola to the west. The outflow zone might be continuing towards Ikumbi springs, where the fluids also interact with volcanic units. The proposed model shows that carbonate dissolution from the Red sandstone layer is the most common water-rock interaction. The carbonate is embedded in pores and fractures and occurs as matrix in the sandstone. The water-rock interaction is dominated by HCO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> and Na and seen in carbonate depositions at all springs.</p>