Thermal Conductivity, Thermal Diffusivity, and Radiogenic Heat Production of Core Samples from the Precambrian Basement in Alberta (tabular data, tab-delimited format)

This digital data release presents laboratory measured thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and radiogenic heat production data for core samples from the Precambrian crystalline basement in Alberta. Thermal conductivity measurements were obtained for 42 Precambrian basement samples using two methods: the steady-state divided bar method and the transient optical scanning (thermal conductivity scanner) method.

Thermal conductivity and diffusivity measurements for some samples were conducted under both dry and water-saturated conditions and in multiple orientations to assess directional anisotropy. Directional thermal conductivity was measured using both the steady-state divided bar method and the transient optical scanning method, depending on samples conditions. Thermal diffusivity was measured for 18 samples analyzed using the optical scanning method. The divided bar method was used to measure thermal conductivity only under water-saturated conditions and does not provide thermal diffusivity measurements or thermal conductivity values under dry conditions.

Radiogenic heat production for 90 samples was estimated using standard empirical formulations based on uranium, thorium, and potassium concentrations derived from whole-rock geochemical analyses, and reflects substantial variability associated with basement lithology and tectonic domain.

Together, these measurements provide a comprehensive dataset capturing the effects of anisotropy, fluid saturation, and compositional variability on subsurface thermal properties. The dataset supports geothermal resource assessment, heat flow modelling, and regional to crustal scale thermal structure analyses in Alberta.

This work was completed under the Mineral Grant provided by the Government of Alberta, dated June 22, 2021.