Geology of the Gerlach--Hualapai Flat geothermal area, northwestern Nevada
Journal Article
·
· Q. Colo. Sch. Mines; (United States)
OSTI ID:6766243
The 500-square mile (1,280 square km) area around Gerlach and Hualapai Flat in northwestern Nevada includes Permo-Triassic metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks disposed as roof pendants in Cretaceous granodiorite, Late Oligocene-Early Miocene rhyolitic, andesitic, and basaltic sequences, and Pliocene (.) and Quaternary alluvial and lacustrine sediments. The volcanic activity is far too old (23 my) to act as a source of heat in the area. Metasedimentary, granitic, volcanic, and alluvial clastic rocks may act as geothermal reservoirs. Thick lacustrine clays and alluvial-fluvial sediments as well as thick tuffaceous units have strong thermal insulating or cap rock properties. The location of the Gerlach hot springs is controlled by quasiradial spreading effected by contemporaneous activity on intersecting major regional normal faults. The location of Fly Ranch hot springs is also fault controlled and in addition is associated with modern tectonic rifting. Geothermal convection systems occur in the area, not by virtue of volcanic heating, but by trapping high regional heat flow beneath thermally insulating layers and by creating and maintaining open fractures by recurrent tensional tectonic activity.
- OSTI ID:
- 6766243
- 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
Similar Records
Late quaternary tectonic controls of occurrence of geothermal systems in Gerlach--Hualapai Flat area, northwestern Nevada
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Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 UTC 1978
· Q. Colo. Sch. Mines; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:6389967
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·
Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 UTC 1975
·
OSTI ID:7209837
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OSTI ID:6883334
Related Subjects
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150201* -- Geology & Hydrology of Geothermal Systems-- USA-- (-1989)
ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS
ANDESITES
BASALT
CAP ROCK
CENOZOIC ERA
CONVECTION
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
GRANITES
GRANODIORITES
HEAT FLOW
HOT SPRINGS
HYDROLOGY
IGNEOUS ROCKS
MESOZOIC ERA
NATURAL CONVECTION
NEVADA
NORTH AMERICA
QUATERNARY PERIOD
RHYOLITES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
TERTIARY PERIOD
THERMAL SPRINGS
TRIASSIC PERIOD
USA
VOLCANIC ROCKS
WESTERN REGION
150201* -- Geology & Hydrology of Geothermal Systems-- USA-- (-1989)
ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS
ANDESITES
BASALT
CAP ROCK
CENOZOIC ERA
CONVECTION
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
GRANITES
GRANODIORITES
HEAT FLOW
HOT SPRINGS
HYDROLOGY
IGNEOUS ROCKS
MESOZOIC ERA
NATURAL CONVECTION
NEVADA
NORTH AMERICA
QUATERNARY PERIOD
RHYOLITES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
TERTIARY PERIOD
THERMAL SPRINGS
TRIASSIC PERIOD
USA
VOLCANIC ROCKS
WESTERN REGION