Helium and ground temperature surveys at Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Conference · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:7369488

McCarthy, K P; Been, J; Reimer, G M; Bowles, C G; Murrey, D G; Ruscetta, C A ^[1]

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1. ed.

As demonstrated in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, helium and shallow temperature surveys are quick, inexpensive geothermal exploration methods that can be used together with excellent results. Steamboat Springs, in northwestern Colorado, lies primarily upon terrace gravels and alluvium with the major structure being a north-trending normal fault passing through the western portion of the city. Work by Christopherson (1979) indicates that the Steamboat warm springs are not laterally connected at shallow depth with Routt Hot Springs, 6 km to the north, although both resource areas are fault controlled. A shallow temperature survey was conducted in the city to determine the usefulness of this method in a low temperature resource area. Several extraneous factors influencing shallow temperature measurements were dealt with by field technique or subsequent analysis. A helium survey was conducted to compare with temperature results. Sixty-two soil helium samples were taken, using an interval of .1 to .2 Km, twice the density of the 18 temperature probe stations. A mobile spectrometer allowed immediate analysis of helium samples. A direct correlation of temperature to helium value at each site is not valid due to the high solubility of this gas. The contoured data from each method does correlate well and indicates that two faults control the resource in Steamboat Springs. Although these surveys should always be used to supplement other data, their utility in this study was readily apparent.

• OSTI ID: 7369488
• Report Number(s): DOE/ID/12079-71-Vol.1; ESL-98-Vol.1; CONF-820491-Vol.1-4; ON: DE82019912
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150301* -- Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology-- Geophysical Techniques & Surveys
150302 -- Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology-- Geochemical Techniques & Surveys
CHEMISTRY
COLORADO
ELEMENTS
EXPLORATION
FEDERAL REGION IX
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUIDS
GASES
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION
Geothermal Legacy
HELIUM
NEVADA
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
RARE GASES
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
SURVEYS
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
TEMPERATURE SURVEYS
USA