Geothermal study of the southwest part of the Black Rock Desert and its geothermal areas; Washoe, Pershing, and Humboldt Counties, Nevada
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), Vol. 73:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Geothermal resources of the western Black Rock Desert, northwestern Nevada: hydrology and aqueous geochemistry
Colorado School of Mines Nevada geothermal study. Progress report No. 4, 1 February--31 October 1975
Related Subjects
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
HOT SPRINGS
GEOTHERMOMETRY
NEVADA
ACID CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHLORIDES
GROUND WATER
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
METEORIC WATER
ORIGIN
PH VALUE
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
SILICA
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SULFATES
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
THERMAL WATERS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
THERMAL SPRINGS
USA
WATER
WESTERN REGION
150302* - Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology- Geochemical Techniques & Surveys