Thermal infrared survey of Sunlight Basin, Park County, Wyoming
Thermal infrared surveys were flown over the Sunlight mining region and Sulphur Camp area of the Sunlight Basin to substantiate whether reported fumaroles are indicative of contemporary geothermal activity in the area. Thermal infrared imagery shows areas of warm ground along and warm water discharge into Sunlight Creek and Sulphur Lake. Sulphur deposits are found on north- and south-facing hill slopes associated with a second warm ground anomaly adjacent to Gas Creek. Warming is also manifested in the thermal characteristics of vegetation, and several fumaroles are identifiable. Aeromagnetic data show a 200 gamma low at Sulphur Camp which cannot be explained topographically. Major northeast-trending lineaments provide potential conduits for thermal fluids from the magma plume in Yellowstone National Park, 50 km (30 mi) to the southwest. The floor of the Yellowstone caldera is topographically higher and could provide the necessary hydraulic head to move the fluids outward. Other geothermal resources may exhibit the same characteristics. This example suggests that geothermal resources may occur at considerable distances from a heat source.
- OSTI ID:
- 6516419
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8309274-
- Journal Information:
- Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Vol. 67:8; Conference: AAPG Rocky Mountain Section meeting, Billings, MT, USA, 18 Sep 1983
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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