Geochemistry of the Colado geothermal area, Pershing County, Nevada

Technical Report · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5034919· OSTI ID:5034919

Christensen, O D

Multielement geochemical analysis of drill cuttings from 18 shallow and 2 intermediate-depth temperature gradient holes outlines an area of anomalous geochemistry related to the fluid flow and temperature distribution within the Colado geothermal area. The concentrations of Hg, As, Li, and Be belong to more than one statistical population and provide the clearest expression of hydrothermal processes. Enrichments of these four elements define anomalous zones which are spatially coincident with a measured temperature anomaly. The spatial distribution suggests that thermal fluid rises into alluvium in the vicinity of a major Basin and Range fault to depths of 200 to 400 feet (60 to 120 m), then flows laterally within shallow alluvial aquifers down the local hydrologic gradient. As the fluid cools, Li, Be, As, and Hg are deposited in response to changing physical and chemical conditions. As and Be appear to be deposited early in higher temperature zones; Li begins to deposit early but forms a rather dispersed geochemical anomaly; Hg is anomalous throughout the entire geothermal area but is concentrated in a shallow halo above the As and Be anomalies. The distributions suggest that the entry of thermal fluids from depth into the alluvium is spatially restricted to a small area and that the larger area of the observed thermal anomaly is due to the flow of warm fluid within shallow aquifers.

• Research Organization: Utah Univ., Salt Lake City (USA). Earth Science Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-79ID12079
• OSTI ID: 5034919
• Report Number(s): DOE/ID/12079-9; ESL-39
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
AQUIFERS
ARSENIC
BERYLLIUM
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
DRILL CORES
ELEMENTS
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL GRADIENTS
Geothermal Legacy
LITHIUM
MERCURY
METALS
NEVADA
NORTH AMERICA
SEMIMETALS
SURVEYS
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
USA
WESTERN REGION