Chemical analyses of geothermal waters and Strategic Petroleum Reserve brines for metals of economic importance

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Geothermics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0375-6505(84)90049-X· OSTI ID:5463645

Harrar, J E; Raber, E

Waters from seven hydrothermal-geothermal, one geopressured-geothermal, and six Strategic Petroleum Reserve wells have been surveyed for 12 metals of economic importance using trace chemical analysis techniques. The elements sought were Cr, Co, Mn, Ta, Sn, V, Nb, Li, Sr, Pt, Au and Ag. Platinum was found at a concentration of approx. 50 ppb in a brine from the Salton Sea geothermal area. Brine from this region, as has been known from previous studies, is also rich in Li, Sr and Mn. Higher concentrations (approx. 900 ppm) of Sr are found in the high-salinity geopressured brines. None of the fluids contained interesting concentrations of the other metals. Good recovery of precious metals at sub-ppm concentrations from synthetic high salinity brines was achieved using Amborane reductive resin, but similar recovery in the laboratory using real brines could not be demonstrated. Several analytical techniques were compared in sensitivity for the determination of the precious metals; neutron activation analysis with carrier separation is the best for gold and platinum in geothermal brines. 26 references, 7 tables.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5463645
• Journal Information: Geothermics; (United States), Journal Name: Geothermics; (United States) Vol. 13:4; ISSN GTMCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150700 -- Geothermal Energy-- Products & By-Products
152004* -- Geothermal Data & Theory-- Isotope & Trace Element Studies
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
BRINES
CALIFORNIA
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHROMIUM
COBALT
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EXTRACTION
FEDERAL REGION IX
FEDERAL REGION VI
FEDERAL REGION X
FLUIDS
GEOPRESSURED SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
GOLD
HAWAII
IDAHO
LITHIUM
LOUISIANA
MANGANESE
METALS
NIOBIUM
NORTH AMERICA
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLATINUM
PLATINUM METALS
POLYMERS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
QUANTITY RATIO
RESERVES
RESINS
RESOURCES
SALTON SEA GEOTHERMAL FIELD
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SILVER
STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE
STRONTIUM
TANTALUM
TESTING
TEXAS
TIN
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
VANADIUM
WELLS