Hydrogeologic reconnaissance of the beowawe geysers geothermal area, Nevada

Olmsted, F.H.; Rush, F.E.

doi:10.1016/0375-6505(87)90077-0

Cited by 16 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Recharge to the regional groundwater fl ow systems primarily originates in mountains; the magnitude of recharge is strongly controlled by elevation within mountain blocks (Maxey and Eakin, 1949). Recharge estimates for Beowawe and Dixie Valley range between 5.5 and 0.6 cm/yr in uplands with no recharge occurring in most valleys (Harrill and Hines, 1995;Olmsted and Rush, 1987). Discharge from the regional groundwater fl ow systems is manifested by large springs and, in some areas, extensive wetlands (Thomas et al, 1986).…”

Section: Explanation Geologic Unitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2): the Battle Mountain heat fl ow high (heat fl ow >104 mW/m 2 ) and the Eureka heat fl ow low (heat fl ow <63 mW/m 2 ; Sass et al, 1971). These broad heat fl ow anomalies are overprinted with dozens of more localized geothermal fi elds (Benoit and Butler, 1983;Hulen et al, 1990) that have measured shallow heat fl ow anomalies as high as 4000 mW/m 2 (Olmsted and Rush, 1987). Blackwell (1983) called on crustal thinning and associated enhanced basal heat fl ow to explain the Battle Mountain heat fl ow high.…”

Section: Explanation Geologic Unitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Zoback (1979) used dissolved silica concentrations, geyser discharge rates, and the volume of sinter deposits to estimate that the sinter deposits were formed in ~200 k.y. Shallow (Olmsted and Rush, 1987) and deep (Smith, 1983) geothermal wells in the vicinity of the Beowawe geothermal fi eld (Fig. 4B) display a concave temperature profi le.…”

Section: Beowawe Geothermal Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hydrologic models of modern and fossil geothermal systems in the Great Basin: Genetic implications for epithermal Au-Ag and Carlin-type gold deposits

et al. 2008

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The Great Basin region in the western United States contains active geothermal systems, large epithermal Au-Ag deposits, and worldclass Carlin-type gold deposits. Temperature profi les, fl uid inclusion studies, and isotopic evidence suggest that modern and fossil hydrothermal systems associated with gold mineralization share many common features, including the absence of a clear magmatic fl uid source, discharge areas restricted to fault zones, and remarkably high temperatures (>200 °C) at shallow depths (200-1500 m). While the plumbing of these systems varies, geochemical and isotopic data collected at the Dixie Valley and Beowawe geothermal systems suggest that fl uid circulation along fault zones was relatively deep (>5 km) and comprised of relatively unexchanged Pleistocene meteoric water with small (<2.5‰) shifts from the meteoric water line (MWL). Many fossil ore-forming systems were also dominated by meteoric water, but usually exhibit δ 18 O fl uid-rock interactions with larger shifts of 5‰-20‰ from the MWL.Here we present a suite of two-dimensional regional (100 km) and local (40-50 km) scale hydrologic models that we have used to study the plumbing of modern and Tertiary hydrothermal systems of the Great Basin. Geologically and geophysically consistent cross sections were used to generate somewhat idealized hydrogeologic models for these systems that include the most important faults, aquifers, and confi ning units in their approximate confi gurations. Multiple constraints were used, including enthalpy, δ 18 O, silica compositions of fl uids and/or rocks, groundwater residence times, fl uid inclusion homogenization temperatures, and apatite fi ssion track anomalies.Our results suggest that these hydrothermal systems were driven by natural thermal convection along anisotropic, subvertical faults connected in many cases at depth by permeable aquifers within favorable lithostratigraphic horizons. Those with minimal fl uid δ 18 O shifts are restricted to high-permeability fault zones and relatively small-scale (~5 km), single-pass fl ow systems (e.g., Beowawe). Those with intermediate to large isotopic shifts (e.g., epithermal and Carlin-type Au) had larger-scale (~15 km) loop convection cells with a greater component of fl ow through marine sedimentary rocks at lower water/rock ratios and greater endowments of gold. Enthalpy calculations constrain the duration of Carlin-type gold systemsto probably <200 k.y. Shallow heat fl ow gradients and fl uid silica concentrations suggest that the duration of the modern Beowawe system is <5 k.y. However, fl uid fl ow at Beowawe during the Quaternary must have been episodic with a net duration of ~200 k.y. to account for the amount of silica in the sinter deposits.In the Carlin trend, fl uid circulation extended down into Paleozoic siliciclastic rocks, which afforded more mixing with isotopically enriched higher enthalpy fl uids. Computed fi ssion track ages along the Carlin trend included the convective effects, and ranged between 91.6 and 35.3 Ma. Older fi ssion tra...

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Section: Explanation Geologic Unitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Explanation Geologic Unitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Beowawe Geothermal Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hydrologic models of modern and fossil geothermal systems in the Great Basin: Genetic implications for epithermal Au-Ag and Carlin-type gold deposits

et al. 2008

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“…1B). Both have elevated shallow heat fl ow (1000 to >2000 mW/m 2 ; Olmsted and Rush, 1987;Combs, 1980;Adams et al, 2000;Fournier and Thompson, 1980;Zoback, 1979) and fault-controlled groundwater discharge. Both of these geothermal systems are fed by meteoric water and are episodic in nature such that the rate and locus of fl uid discharge varied over time (Person et al, 2008;Adams et al, 2000).…”

Section: Coso and Beowawe Hydrothermal Systemsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Deep permeable fault–controlled helium transport and limited mantle flux in two extensional geothermal systems in the Great Basin, United States

Banerjee

Person

Hofstra

et al. 2011

Geology

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This study assesses the relative importance of deeply circulating meteoric water and direct mantle fl uid inputs on near-surface 3 He/ 4 He anomalies reported at the Coso and Beowawe geothermal fi elds of the western United States. The depth of meteoric fl uid circulation is a critical factor that controls the temperature, extent of fl uid-rock isotope exchange, and mixing with deeply sourced fl uids containing mantle volatiles. The infl uence of mantle fl uid fl ux on the reported helium anomalies appears to be negligible in both systems. This study illustrates the importance of deeply penetrating permeable fault zones (10 −12 to 10 −15 m 2 ) in focusing groundwater and mantle volatiles with high 3 He/ 4 He ratios to shallow crustal levels. These continental geothermal systems are driven by free convection.

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“…4) Olmsted and Rush (1987), who suggested groundwater from the Beowawe geothermal system fl ows southeast-ward into Crescent Valley, as well as eastward into the Humboldt River basin. While northern Crescent Valley is quite shallow, southern Crescent Valley has basin depths greater than 5 km in two distinct subbasins.…”

Section: Depth To Pre-cenozoic Basementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three-dimensional geologic model of the northern Nevada rift and the Beowawe geothermal system, north-central Nevada

Watt¹,

Glen²,

John³

et al. 2007

Geosphere

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A three-dimensional (3D) geologic model of part of the northern Nevada rift encompassing the Beowawe geothermal system was developed from a series of two-dimensional (2D) geologic and geophysical models. The 3D model was constrained by local geophysical, geologic, and drill-hole information and integrates geologic and tectonic interpretations for the region. It places important geologic constraints on the extent and confi guration of the active Beowawe geothermal system. The geologic framework represented in this model facilitates hydrologic modeling of the Beowawe geothermal system and evaluation of fl uid fl ow in faults and adjacent rock units.Basin depths were determined using an iterative gravity-inversion technique that calculates the thickness of low-density, basin-fi lling deposits. The remaining subsurface structure was modeled using 2D potential-fi eld modeling software. Crustal cross sections from the 2D models were generalized for use in the 3D model and consist of six stratigraphic layers defi ned as low-density basin sediments, volcanic rocks, basalt-andesite rocks of the northern Nevada rift, Jurassic and Cretaceous intrusive rocks, and Paleozoic siliceous and carbonate sedimentary rocks of the upper and lower plates of the Roberts Mountains allochthon, respectively. This simplifi ed stratigraphy was combined with mapped surface geology and was extrapolated across the 3D model area. Features along the northern Nevada rift depicted by the model may represent preexisting crustal structures that controlled the locations and character of Ter-tiary tectonic and magmatic events related to Basin and Range extension and emplacement of the middle Miocene northern Nevada rift. Several of the geologic features represented are important components of the Beowawe geothermal system. Prominent ENE-trending faults (e.g., Malpais fault) that bound the southern edge of Whirlwind Valley, and older NNW-striking faults (e.g., Dunphy Pass and Muleshoe faults) that form major features of the model, are likely important pathways for geothermal fl uids and groundwater fl ow from the Humboldt River, which may recharge the Beowawe system.

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Hydrogeologic reconnaissance of the beowawe geysers geothermal area, Nevada

Cited by 16 publications

References 20 publications

Hydrologic models of modern and fossil geothermal systems in the Great Basin: Genetic implications for epithermal Au-Ag and Carlin-type gold deposits

Hydrologic models of modern and fossil geothermal systems in the Great Basin: Genetic implications for epithermal Au-Ag and Carlin-type gold deposits

Deep permeable fault–controlled helium transport and limited mantle flux in two extensional geothermal systems in the Great Basin, United States

Three-dimensional geologic model of the northern Nevada rift and the Beowawe geothermal system, north-central Nevada

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