Assessment of geothermal resources of Caliente, Nevada

Technical Report · Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5304041· OSTI ID:5304041

Trexler, D T; Flynn, T; Koenig, B A; Bruce, J

An assessment of the geothermal resources of Caliente, Nevada was made to provide information on resource characteristics and to site 2 (two) 500 ft (152 m) test wells to confirm the resource. The strategy used in the resource assessment employed a logical sequence of work elements that included 1) baseline data collection, 2) field investigations, 3) laboratory analyses and 4) data interpretation and synthesis. Airphoto interpretation indicated that a series of normal faults produced a stepped arrangement in the canyon walls on the west side of Meadow Valley Wash north of downtown Caiente. This area coincides with the area of known geothermal occurrences. Temperature measurements in existing wells indicate a rapid cooling of the geothermal waters as they mix with cold groundwater flows in Meadow Valley Wash. Soil mercury analyses range from 15 ppB to as high as 120 ppB. Trends in soil mercury content may indicate the presence of buried faults. Temperature measured in 2-meter deep auger holes indicated temperatures as high as 40/sup 0/C in an area north of the Lincoln County Medical Facility. Interpretation of chemical analyses, both major and minor, of waters collected from wells and streams in the area failed to conclusively show any mechanisms for the mixing of thermal and nonthermal waters. The selection of sites for the 2 (two) 500 ft (152 m) reservoir confirmation wells was made using the results of temperature surveys, geologic structure and historic observations.

• Research Organization: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Reno (USA); Nevada Univ., Reno (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC08-79NV10039
• OSTI ID: 5304041
• Report Number(s): DOE/NV/10039-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
NEVADA
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DATA ANALYSIS
DATA COMPILATION
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
SITE SELECTION
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
TEMPERATURE SURVEYS
THERMAL WATERS
DATA
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
INFORMATION
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
RESOURCES
SURVEYS
USA
WESTERN REGION
Geothermal Legacy