Structure and mineralization in the Salton Trough, California

Conference · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992 · Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States)

OSTI ID:6052628

Ririe, G T ^[1]

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1. Unocal, Brea, CA (United States). Science and Technology Div.

The Salton Trough (ST) is located in southeastern California and extends into northern Baja, Mexico. Structurally the ST consists of predominantly northwest-trending, right-lateral, strike-slip faults separated by a series of down-dropped basinal areas. A variety of processing techniques were used to enhance gravity and magnetic data which were used to help define the structural styles present in the sediment-filled ST, and to define the boundaries of the basinal areas. The system of strike-slip faults and related basinal areas in interpreted to be a late Neogene style of deformation that overprints an earlier-formed extensional basin. The intrusion of Neogene intrusive rocks into the sediment-filled ST has resulted in the development of a number of geothermal systems including the Salton Sea (SS) system. A characteristic feature of the commercially productive geothermal systems in the ST is the presence of high-temperature (> 250 C) saline brines. The chemistry of these brines varies widely within the ST. Data from a large number of analyses of the SS geothermal system brines and scales document the presence of a variety of metallic elements including: Pb, ZN, Cu, Mn, Ag, and Au. A variety of mineral deposits occur within and adjacent to the ST including the large open pit Mesquite gold mine. However, none of the gold deposits along the margin of the ST formed from a fossil geothermal system analogous to the SS system. Fossil analogs to SS type systems are suggested to be present in the Proterozoic Mt. Isa block in northern Australia. Deposits in this part of Australia consist of several world-class base metal deposits including the Mt. Isa mine. Structural controls on the localization of geothermal systems in the ST may be similar to those controlling the distribution of mineralization in ancient continental rift systems such as those in northern Australia.

• OSTI ID: 6052628
• Report Number(s): CONF-921058-; CODEN: GAAPBC
• Journal Information: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States), Vol. 24:7; Conference: 1992 annual meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA), Cincinnati, OH (United States), 26-29 Oct 1992; ISSN 0016-7592
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
CALIFORNIA
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
MINERALIZATION
MEXICO
AUSTRALIA
BRINES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
PLUTONIC ROCKS
SALINITY
SALTON SEA GEOTHERMAL FIELD
AUSTRALASIA
CHEMISTRY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
EVALUATION
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
LATIN AMERICA
NORTH AMERICA
ROCKS
USA
150200* - Geology & Hydrology of Geothermal Systems