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Geochemical prediction of aquifer temperatures in the geothermal system at Long Valley, California. [160/sup 0/ to 219/sup 0/C]

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7307110· OSTI ID:7307110

Temperatures of aquifers feeding thermal springs and wells in Long Valley, California were estimated using silica and Na--K--Ca geothermometers and warm spring mixing models. The results ranged from 160 to 219/sup 0/C. This information was then used to construct a diagram showing enthalpy-chloride relationships for the various thermal waters in the Long Valley region. The enthalpy-chloride information suggests that a 282/sup 0/C aquifer with water containing about 375 milligrams chloride per kilogram of water is present somewhere deep in the system. That deep water would be related to 219/sup 0/C Casa Diablo water by mixing with cold water, and to 201/sup 0/C Hot Creek water by boiling and steam loss. Oxygen and deuterium isotopic data are consistent with this interpretation. An aquifer at 282/sup 0/C with 375 mg/kg chloride allows the estimated convective heat flow in Long Valley to be increased from 4.3 x 10/sup 7/ to 6.6 x 10/sup 7/ cal/sec.

Research Organization:
Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
7307110
Report Number(s):
USGS-OFR-76-469
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English