Use of water quality file WATSTORE in geothermal exploration: an example from the Imperial Valley, California

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Geology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1979)7<108:UOWQFW>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:7066154

Swanberg, C A; Alexander, S

The US Geological Survey water quality file WATSTORE contains chemical analyses for several hundred thousand ground-water samples from the United States. Nearly 100,000 of these analyses are sufficiently complete to be of use in geothermal exploration. Through examination of about 500 analyses of samples from the Imperial Valley, California, supplemented by an additional 8000 analyses from adjacent parts of the Basin and Range province, normal ranges were established for the various chemical geothermal indicators and the criteria by which a geothermal water may be recognized. For the Imperial Valley, California, the following values are proposed as signifying potential geothermal water: silica geotemperature, > 100/sup 0/C; Na-K-Ca geotemperature, > 125/sup 0/C; fluoride, >2.5 ppM; in situ temperature, > 35/sup 0/C; heat flow, > 120 mW m/sup -2/. These criteria were used to scan WATSTORE for potential geothermal prospects in the Imperial Valley. This scan outlined at least ten major anomalous areas, including all but one of the six Known Geothermal Resource Areas (KGRAs). The rediscovery of the KGRAs underscores the potential value of WATSTORE as a rapid reconnaissance tool in geothermal exploration. Anomalous areas that are not KGRAs are located east and west of the Salton Sea (Hot Mineral Well and Holly Hot Well), near Coyote Wells, near Camp Dunlap, and east of Brawley. Smaller anomalies are present throughout the study area, particularly along the Brawley fault and the southern extension of the San Andreas fault zone.

• Research Organization: New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces
• OSTI ID: 7066154
• Journal Information: Geology; (United States), Journal Name: Geology; (United States) Vol. 7:2; ISSN GLGYB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150300* -- Geothermal Exploration &amp; Exploration Technology
150600 -- Geothermal Energy-- Environmental Aspects
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
CALCIUM
CALIFORNIA
CHALCOGENIDES
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EXPLORATION
GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION
GEOTHERMOMETRY
GROUND WATER
HEAT FLOW
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IMPERIAL VALLEY
INFORMATION
KGRA
METALS
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SODIUM
USA
WATER
WATER QUALITY
WESTERN REGION