Chemical and isotopic characteristics of thermal fluids in the Long Valley caldera lateral flow system, California
Chemical and isotopic data of thermal waters in Long Valley caldera have been used to identify both the origins and characteristics of the fluids and to evaluate mixing and boiling processes occurring within the lateral flow system of the caldera. Recharge to the Long Valley geothermal system occurs in the western part of the caldera with the water being heated at depth and flowing laterally eastward in the subsurface. The lateral flow system was recently intersected by the Shady Rest Continental Scientific Drilling Program (CSDP) corehole at 335 m (1100 ft) with fluids in this 202/sup 0/C zone being more concentrated than non-boiled fluids to the east. As the Na-K-HCO/sub 3/-Cl thermal fluids flow eastward, they are increasingly mixed with isotopically depleted, dilute groundwaters similar to cold waters east of Lake Crowley. Near surface boiling of Casa Diablo well fluids at 100/sup 0/C forms waters with the compositions of Colton and Casa Diablo hot springs. Waters to the east of the Casa Diablo area are mixtures of meteoric water and boiled thermal fluids with a composition close to that of Colton Hot Spring. There is no correlation between /sup 3/H and /sup 36/Cl in thermal fluids or between these components and conservative species, and it appears that cold fluids involved in mixing must be relatively old waters, low in both meteoric /sup 3/H and /sup 36/Cl.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA); Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6268046
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-87-1918; CONF-871024-4; ON: DE87011788
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Annual meeting of the Geothermal Resources Council, Sparks, NV, USA, 12 Oct 1987; Other Information: Paper copy only, copy does not permit microfiche production
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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