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

Technical Report · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 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 Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
• 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
150302* -- Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology-- Geochemical Techniques & Surveys
ABUNDANCE
ALKALI METALS
ARSENIC
BORON
CHLORINE
ELEMENTS
FLUORINE
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
GROUND WATER
Geothermal Legacy
HALOGENS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE RATIO
LITHIUM
LOS ALAMOS
METALS
METEORIC WATER
MINERAL SPRINGS
NEW MEXICO
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
RIO GRANDE RIFT
SEMIMETALS
SOUTHWEST REGION
SURVEYS
THERMAL SPRINGS
THERMAL WATERS
USA
WATER
WATER SPRINGS
WELLS