Geothermal investigation of spring and well waters of the Los Alamos Region, New Mexico

Technical Report · Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5380197· OSTI ID:5380197

Goff, F E; Sayer, S

The chemical and isotopic characters of 20 springs and wells in the Los Alamos area were investigated for indications of geothermal potential. These waters were compared with known hot and mineral springs from adjacent Valles Caldera and San Ysidro. All waters in the Los Alamos area are composed of meteoric water. Isotopic data show that the two primary aquifers beneath the Los Alamos region have different recharge areas. Relatively high concentrations of lithium, arsenic, chlorine, boron, and fluorine in some of the Los Alamos wells suggest these waters may contain a small fraction of thermal/mineral water of deep origin. Thermal water probably rises up high-angle faults associated with a graben of the Rio Grande rift now buried by the Pajarito Plateau.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5380197
• Report Number(s): LA-8326-MS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
NEW MEXICO
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
THERMAL SPRINGS
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
WELLS
ABUNDANCE
ARSENIC
BORON
CHLORINE
FLUORINE
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
ISOTOPE RATIO
LITHIUM
LOS ALAMOS
METEORIC WATER
MINERAL SPRINGS
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RIO GRANDE RIFT
THERMAL WATERS
ALKALI METALS
ELEMENTS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GROUND WATER
HALOGENS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METALS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESOURCES
SEMIMETALS
SOUTHWEST REGION
SURVEYS
USA
WATER
WATER SPRINGS
Geothermal Legacy
150302* - Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology- Geochemical Techniques & Surveys