Investigations of the Dunes geothermal anomaly, Imperial Valley, California. Part IV. Geochemical studies of water, calcite, and silicates
The Dunes geothermal system on the southeast margin of the Salton Trough exhibits a positive heat flow anomaly, a positive residual gravity anomaly, and electrical resistivity low, and a silicified cap rock emplaced in late Tertiary and Quaternary age sediments. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope studies of water samples indicate the source of the hydrothermal fluid is Colorado River water. Although not previously tested to such low temperatures, the quartz-water and alkali feldspar-water oxygen isotope geothermometers agree very well with the in situ temperature of 104C. The isotopic studies support the conclusions that silicification of the cap rock in the system occurred near the in situ temperature from Colorado River water. Two chemical geothermometers were tested. Chloride/bromide ratios were measured to determine the source of the salt in the hydrothermal fluid. The ratio Cl/Br in DWR Dunes No. 1, in the Salton Sea geothermal system, and in Colorado River water, is identical at 1600, suggesting that the salts in both of these geothermal systems are derived from the Colorado River.
- Research Organization:
- California Univ., Riverside (USA). Inst. of Geophysics and Planetary Physics
- OSTI ID:
- 7328985
- Report Number(s):
- PB-259819; IGPP-UCR-75-20
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
150301* -- Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology-- Geophysical Techniques & Surveys
150302 -- Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology-- Geochemical Techniques & Surveys
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CALCITE
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALIFORNIA
CAP ROCK
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CHEMISTRY
COLORADO RIVER
ELECTRICAL SURVEYS
EXPLORATION
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMOMETRY
GRAVITY SURVEYS
HEAT FLOW
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
IMPERIAL VALLEY
NORTH AMERICA
ORIGIN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN ISOTOPES
RIVERS
ROCKS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
THERMAL WATERS
USA
WESTERN REGION