Geochemistry of thermal waters in Long Valley, Mono County, California. [1000 to 1420, mg/l of dissolved solids, 200/sup 0/C reservoir temperature]
Thermal springs and wells in Long Valley, California, issue sodium bicarbonate-chloride waters containing 1000-1420 mg/l of dissolved solids. Thermal waters of sodium bicarbonate-chloride composition are usually associated with hot-water reservoirs. Chloride concentrations and stable isotope data indicate that the thermal waters have had varied histories. All of the thermal springs issue a mixture of fluid from the thermal reservoir and less saline, cooler water from one or more shallow aquifers. The composition of springs in Hot Creek Gorge may have been further altered by minor subsurface boiling. Thermal springs between Hot Creek and Lake Crowley issue mixtures of fresh and thermal waters which have lost heat by conductive cooling and changed composition by reaction with rock in the shallow aquifer. The silica content of water from Magma Richie 5 and mixing calculations based on the concentrations of silica in thermal waters collected from springs in Hot Creek Gorge and along Little Hot Creek indicate a temperature of at least 200/sup 0/C in the thermal reservoir. The sodium-potassium-calcium geothermometer yields a reservoir temperature estimate near 200/sup 0/C for most of the thermal springs. If geothermal energy is developed in Long Valley, the high concentrations of arsenic (up to 2.2 mg/l), boron (up to 15 mg/l), and total dissolved solids in the thermal fluids will make it necessary to isolate the effluent of production wells from freshwater system.
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA
- OSTI ID:
- 7356060
- Journal Information:
- J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 81:5; ISSN JGREA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
150302* -- Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology-- Geochemical Techniques & Surveys
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
AQUIFERS
ARSENIC
BORON
CALIFORNIA
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ELEMENTS
EXPLORATION
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION
GEOTHERMOMETERS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
INFORMATION
LONG VALLEY
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEMIMETALS
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SODIUM CARBONATES
SODIUM CHLORIDES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
TABLES
THERMAL SPRINGS
THERMAL WATERS
THERMOMETERS
USA
WELLS
WESTERN REGION