The Newcastle geothermal system, Iron County, Utah
- Utah Geological and Mineral Survey, Salt Lake City, UT (USA)
- Utah Univ., Salt Lake City, UT (USA). Dept. of Geology and Geophysics
Geological, geophysical and geochemical studies contributed to conceptual hydrologic model of the blind'' (no surface expression), moderate-temperature (greater than 130{degree}C) Newcastle geothermal system, located in the Basin and Range-Colorado Plateau transition zone of southwestern Utah. Temperature gradient measurements define a thermal anomaly centered near the surface trace of the range-bounding Antelope Range fault with and elongate dissipative plume extending north into the adjacent Escalante Valley. Spontaneous potential and resistivity surveys sharply define the geometry of the dominant upflow zone (not yet explored), indicating that most of the thermal fluid issues form a short segment along the Antelope Range fault and discharges into a gently-dipping aquifer. Production wells show that this aquifer lies at a depth between 85 and 95 meter. Electrical surveys also show that some leakage of thermal fluid occurs over a 1.5 km (minimum) interval along the trace of the Antelope Range fault. Major element, oxygen and hydrogen isotopic analyses of water samples indicate that the thermal fluid is a mixture of meteoric water derived from recharge areas in the Pine Valley Mountains and cold, shallow groundwater. A northwest-southeast trending system of faults, encompassing a zone of increased fracture permeability, collects meteoric water from the recharge area, allows circulation to a depth of 3 to 5 kilometers, and intersects the northeast-striking Antelope Range fault. We postulate that mineral precipitates form a seal along the Antelope Range fault, preventing the discharge of thermal fluids into basin-fill sediments at depth, and allowing heated fluid to approach the surface. Eventually, continued mineral deposition could result in the development of hot springs at the ground surface.
- Research Organization:
- Utah Geological and Mineral Survey, Salt Lake City, UT (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/CE
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG07-88ID12756
- OSTI ID:
- 6931402
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ID/12756-1; ON: DE90010574
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
HYDROLOGY
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
FLUID FLOW
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
GROUND WATER
HEAT TRANSFER
HOT SPRINGS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PROGRESS REPORT
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENERGY TRANSFER
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SURVEYS
THERMAL SPRINGS
WATER
WATER SPRINGS
Geothermal Legacy
150200* - Geology & Hydrology of Geothermal Systems