Hydrology and geochemistry of thermal springs of the appalachians

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6741577· OSTI ID:6741577

Hobba, Jr, W A; Fisher, D W; Pearson, Jr, F J; Chemerys, J C

Thermal springs in nine areas in the Appalachians from Georgia to New York were studied in 1975 and 1976 using satellite imagery, local well and spring data, and results of current and early studies by other investigators. All the springs investigated discharge from folded and faulted sandstone or carbonate rocks in valley areas. Where geologic structure is relatively uncomplicated, ground water discharging from thermal springs probably has circulated to great depths roughly parallel to the strike of the bedding and has moved upward rapidly where a fault or faults cross the bedding. Hydrologic and chemical data suggest that most of the water discharging from warm springs in the Devonian Oriskany Sandstone is derived from recharge entering and circulating through that formation. The discharge at springs where temperature fluctuates very little is primarily water from deep circulation. The discharge at springs where temperature fluctuates widely is warm water mixed with variable proportions of shallow-circulating cool water. Observed temperatures of the warm springs range from 18/sup 0/ to 41/sup 0/C; the highest chemical thermometer temperature is 84/sup 0/C. Agreement among observed, chalcedony, and cation temperatures of the warmest springs suggests reservoir temperatures of 30/sup 0/ to 50/sup 0/C. Dissolved helium, arsenic, potassium, and delta/sup 18/O are considered as geothermal indicators. Tritium analyses are used to calculate fractions of old and modern components of mixed waters. Computer calculations of carbonate saturation indices show (1) considerable undersaturation in silica-rock warm spring waters and (2) carbonate equilibrium in the limestone and dolomite thermal waters. Better values of saturation indices are obtained when analyzed carbon dioxide rather than field pH is used in the computer input data. A method is described for adjusting delta/sup 13/C to correct for carbon dioxide outgassing from water samples.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6741577
• Report Number(s): USGS-PP-1044E; ON: DE83900375
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS
HOT SPRINGS
GEOCHEMISTRY
HYDROLOGY
CARBONATE ROCKS
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGY
GEOTHERMAL GRADIENTS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
SANDSTONES
SILICA
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
TOPOGRAPHY
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
MINERALS
MOUNTAINS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
THERMAL SPRINGS
WATER SPRINGS
WELLS
Geothermal Legacy
150201* - Geology & Hydrology of Geothermal Systems- USA- (-1989)