Geothermal study of the southwest part of the Black Rock Desert and its geothermal areas; Washoe, Pershing, and Humboldt Counties, Nevada

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Q. Colo. Sch. Mines; (United States)

OSTI ID:6531959

Anderson, J P

Several hydrothermal systems were explored in northwestern Nevada in parts of Washoe, Pershing, and Humboldt Counties. These hydrothermal systems included the Great Boiling springs and Mud springs at Gerlach, the Fly Ranch hot springs in Hualapai Flat, Double Hot and Black Rock springs at the southern end of the Black Rock Range, Trego hot spring, Soldier Meadows hot springs, and hot springs at Pinto Mt., at Pyramid Lake Needles region, and in the San Emidio and Smoke Creek Deserts. Thermal and nonthermal groundwater was analyzed to determine the water quality of the various hot spring regions. Water discharged from the hot springs of Trego, Gerlach, San Emidio and Smoke Creek Deserts, and Pyramid Lake Needles area is classified as Na--Cl. This water is characterized by high values of Na/sup +/, Cl/sup -/, HCO/sub 3//sup -/, and SiO/sub 2/ and is neutral in pH. Water discharged from the hot springs of Soldier Meadows, Pinto Mt., Double Hot springs, and Fly Ranch hot springs is classified as Na--HCO/sub 3/. This water is similar to the nonthermal water of these areas, and probably represents circulation of meteoric water near a heat source, with very little addition of magma-derived fluids. The similarities of the trilinear plots of the chemical quality of nonthermal and thermal waters suggest the origin of the thermal waters is deep circulation of meteoric water with the addition of some connate water. Based on the use of the silica, Na/K, and Na--K--Ca geothermometers, the Great Boiling springs at Gerlach appears to be the most promising geothermal prospect in the study area. The sub-surface temperature calculated for this area was 175 to 200/sup 0/C. The springs along the eastern edge of the San Emidio Desert have the greatest potential for yielding commercial geothermal fluids based on a geochemical temperature of 216/sup 0/C. Hualapai Flat (Fly Ranch) contains a large number of hot springs, but temperatures of the reservoir based on geochemistry ranged from 125 to 155/sup 0/C.

• OSTI ID: 6531959
• Journal Information: Q. Colo. Sch. Mines; (United States), Journal Name: Q. Colo. Sch. Mines; (United States) Vol. 73:3; ISSN QCSMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150302* -- Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology-- Geochemical Techniques & Surveys
ACID CARBONATES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMOMETRY
GROUND WATER
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HOT SPRINGS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
METEORIC WATER
MINERALS
NEVADA
NORTH AMERICA
ORIGIN
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
THERMAL SPRINGS
THERMAL WATERS
USA
WATER
WESTERN REGION