Geothermometry At Salt Wells Area (Coolbaugh, Et Al., 2006)

From Open Energy Information

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Exploration Activity: Geothermometry At Salt Wells Area (Coolbaugh, Et Al., 2006)

Exploration Activity Details
Location Salt Wells Geothermal Area
Exploration Technique Geothermometry
Activity Date 2005 - 2005
Usefulness useful
DOE-funding Unknown

 
Exploration Basis
Geochemical water sampling, mineral distribution mapping, and shallow (30 cm) temperature probe measurements were conducted to expand on a previous field mapping study of surface geothermal features at Salt Wells, in order to evaluate the relationship between these features and structures that control geothermal fluid flow.
 
Notes
Water from six hot springs/seeps (out of some 20 seasonal discharges identified, with hot spring temperatures ranging from 39.1-81.6°C and cold seep temperatures between 5-7°C) and playa groundwaters were sampled and analyzed for their major and trace element constituents by standard Induced Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS), using ICP emission and atomic absorption methods for cations and ICP emission for anions. The hottest sampled spring appears to match the location and temperature of the Borax Spring, first described in 1885, but reportedly inactive in 1981 and in the summer of 2002. This and similar spring/seep occurrences led the authors to conclude that all geothermal surface discharges in the Salt Wells Basin are seasonal. The Quartz (no steam loss), Chalcedony, and Na-K-Ca-mg geothermometers were applied to the analyzed water samples, and averaged together showed temperatures between 164.5-198.9°C, similar to temperatures calculated for the early Anadarko geothermal wells.

 
References


Additional References


Retrieved from "https://openei.org/w/index.php?title=Geothermometry_At_Salt_Wells_Area_(Coolbaugh,_Et_Al.,_2006)&oldid=686562"