Reshui granitic batholith, a typical high heat production granite in the Southern China

<title>Abstract</title> <p> All natural rocks contain heat-producing elements U, Th and K, of which the granites generally exhibit relatively higher contents of these elements than other rock types. The average radioactive heat production rate (RHPR) of global average granites is 2.5µW/m ³ , however, several granites have RHPRs larger than 5.0µW/m ³ , which are two times higher than the average value and are called as high heat production granites (HHPGs). In the present study, rock density and heat-producing element contents have been determined for the Reshui granitic batholith within Nanling Range, south China. The data indicate that Reshui granite shows average RHPRs of 7.02µW/m ³ , which is a typical HHPG. The Reshui HHPG was formed in the timing of Jurassic with S-type attribution, which is different from other HHPGs in the world mainly featured by the Proterozoic formation time and A-type origin. In any case, Reshui HHPG together with other HHPGs in Nanling Range, South China can supply more heat energy and contribute more radiogenic heat flow to the surface heat flow values, which result in South China as a typical hot continent. </p>