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Robert H. Mariner

Publications and source records attributed to Robert H. Mariner.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
USGS1987

Isotope geochemistry of minerals and fluids from Newberry volcano, Oregon

Isotopic compositions were determined for hydrothermal quartz, calcite, and siderite from core samples of the Newberry 2 drill hole, Oregon. The ??15O values for these minerals decrease with increasing temperatures. The values indicate that these hydrothermal minerals precipitated in isotopic equilibrium with water currently present in the reservoirs. The ??18O values of quartz and calcite from the andesite and basalt flows (700-932 m) have isotopic values which require that the equilibrated water ??18O values increase slightly (- 11.3 to -9.2???) with increasing measured temperatures (150-265??C). The lithic tuffs and brecciated lava flows (300-700 m) contain widespread siderite. Calculated oxygen isotopic compositions of waters in equilibrium with siderite generally increase with increasing temperatures (76-100??C). The ??18O values of siderite probably result from precipitation in water produced by mixing various amounts of the deep hydrothermal water (- 10.5 ???) with meteoric water (- 15.5 ???) recharged within the caldera. The ??13C values of calcite and siderite decrease with increasing temperatures and show that these minerals precipitated in isotopic equilibrium with CO2 of about -8 ???. The ??18O values of weakly altered (<5% alteration of plagioclase) whole-rock samples decrease with increasing temperatures above 100??C, indicating that exchange between water and rock is kinetically controlled. The water/rock mass ratios decrease with decreasing temperatures. The ??18O values of rocks from the bottom of Newberry 2 show about 40% isotopic exchange with the reservoir water. The calculated ??18O and ??D values of bottom hole water determined from the fluid produced during the 20 hour flow test are -10.2 and -109???, respectively. The ??D value of the hydrothermal water indicates recharge from outside the caldera. ?? 1987.

Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research↗
USGS1986

Flow testing of the Newberry 2 research drillhole, Newberry volcano, Oregon

A 20 hour flow test of the Newberry 2 research drillhole at Newberry Volcano produced about 33,000 kilograms of fluid. The flow rate declined from about 0.8 kilograms per sec to less than 0.3 kilograms per sec during the course of the test. The mass ratio of liquid water to vapor was about 3:2 at the separator and stayed fairly constant throughout the test. The vapor phase was about half steam and half CO2 by weight. The average enthalpy of the steam/water mixture at the separator was about 1 ,200 kilojoules per kilogram. Because of the low flow rate and the large temperature gradient into the surrounding rocks, heat loss from the wellbore was high; a simple conductive model gives overall losses of about 1,200 kilojoules per kilogram of H2O produced. The actual heat loss may have been even higher due to convective effects, and it is likely that the fluid entering the bottom of the wellbore was largely or entirely steam and CO2. (Author 's abstract)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1985

Hydrologic and geochemical monitoring in Long Valley caldera, Mono County, California, 1982-1984

The Long Valley caldera is a potentially active volcanic area on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada in east-central California. Hydrologic and geochemical monitoring of surface and subsurface features began in July 1982 to determine if changes were occurring in response to processes causing earthquakes and crustal deformation. Differences since 1982 in fluid chemistry of springs has been minor except at Casa Diablo, where rapid fluctuations in chemistry result from near surface boiling and mixing. Ratios of 3 He/ 4 He and 13 C/ 12 C in hot springs and fumaroles are consistent with a magnetic source for some of the carbon and helium discharged in thermal areas, and observed changes in 3 He/ 4 He between 1978 and 1984 suggest changes in the magmatic component. Significant fluctuations in hot spring discharge recorded at several sites since 1982 closely followed earthquake activity. Water levels in wells have been used as strain meters to detect rock deformation associated with magmatic and tectonic activity and to construct a water table contour map. Coseismic water level fluctuations of as much as 0.6 ft have been observed but no clear evidence of deformation caused by magmatic intrusions can be seen in the well records through 1984. Temperature profiles in wells, which can be used to delineate regionally continuous zones of lateral flow of hot water across parts of the caldera, have remained constant at all but two sites.

California↗
USGS1983

Selected data for low-temperature (less than 90 degrees C) geothermal systems in the United States; reference data for U.S. Geological Survey Circular 892

Supporting data are presented for the 1982 low-temperature geothermal resource assessment of the United States. Data are presented for 2072 geothermal sites which are representative of 1168 low-temperature geothermal systems identified in 26 States. The low-temperature geothermal systems consist of 978 isolated hydrothermal-convection systems, 148 delineated-area hydrothermal-convection systems, and 42 delineated-area conduction-dominated systems. The basic data and estimates of reservoir conditions are presented for each geothermal system, and energy estimates are given for the accessible resource base, resource, and beneficial heat for each isolated system.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1982

Chemical and isotopic composition of water from thermal springs and mineral springs of Washington

Water from thermal springs of Washington range in chemical composition from dilute NaHC03, to moderately saline C02-charged NaHC03-Cl waters. St. Martin 's Hot Spring which discharges a slightly saline NaCl water, is the notable exception. Mineral springs generally discharge a moderately saline C02-charged NaHC03-Cl water. The dilute Na-HC03 waters are generally associated with granite. The warm to hot waters charged with C02 issue on or near the large stratovolcanoes and many of the mineral springs also occur near the large volcanoes. The dilute waters have oxygen isotopic compositions which indicate relatively little water-rock exchange. The C02-charged waters are usually more enriched in oxygen-18 due to more extensive water-rock reaction. Carbon-13 in the C02-charged thermal waters is more depleted (-10 to -12 permil) than in the cold C02-charged soda springs (-2 to -8 permil) which are also scattered throughout the Cascades. The hot and cold C02-charged waters are supersaturated with respect to CaC03, but only the hot springs are actively depositing CaC03. Baker, Gamma, Sulphur , and Ohanapecosh seem to be associated with thermal aquifers of more than 100C. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1979

Sulfate geothermometry of thermal waters in the western United States

Sulfate geothermometry recently gained acceptance as a geothermal exploration tool when it was adopted as one of the geothermometers in the Assessment of Geothermal Resources of the United States-1978 (Muffler 1979). Over 120 samples, 75 of which are from Known Geothermal Resource Areas, were used in the assessment. Data required for calculation of the sulfate geothermometer temperatures, along with Na-K-Ca, quartz, and chalcedony geothermometer temperatures for comparison, are listed in table 1. For greater accuracy data from new or better samples have occasionally supplemented or replaced data used in the 1978 assessment. Samples from Yellowstone National Park has been omitted because they were discussed by McKenzie and Truesdell (1974).

Open-File Report↗
USGS1979

Chemical and isotopic prediction of aquifer temperatures in the geothermal system at Long Valley, California

Temperatures of aquifers feeding thermal springs and wells in Long Valley, California, estimated using silica and Na-K-Ca geothermometers and warm spring mixing models, range from 160/dg to about 220??C. This information was used to construct a diagram showing enthalpy-chloride relations for the various thermal waters in the Long Valley region. The enthalpy-chloride information suggests that a 282 ?? 10??C aquifer with water containing about 375 mg chloride per kilogram of water is present somewhere deep in the system. That deep water would be related to ??? 220??C Casa Diablo water by mixing with cold water, and to Hot Creek water by first boiling with steam loss and then mixing with cold water. Oxygen and deuterium isotopic data are consistent with that interpretation. An aquifer at 282??C with 375 mg/kg chloride implies a convective heat flow in Long Valley of 6.6 ?? 107 cal/s. ?? 1979.

Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research↗
USGS1977

Hot springs of the central Sierra Nevada, California

Thermal springs of the central Sierra Nevada issue dilute to slightly saline sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, or sodium mixed-anion waters ranging in pH from 6.4 to 9.3. The solubility of chalcedony appears to control the silica concentration in most of the spring waters. Fales Hot Springs may be associated with a higher temperature aquifer, 150 degrees Celsius or more, in which quartz is controlling the silica concentration. Carbon dioxide is the predominant gas escaping from Fales Hot Springs, the unnamed hot spring on the south side of Mono Lake, and the two thermal springs near Bridgeport. Most of the other thermal springs issue small amounts of gas consisting principally of nitrogen. Methane is the major component of the gas escaping from the unnamed spring on Paoha Island in Mono Lake. The deuterium and oxygen isotopic composition of most of the thermal waters are those expected for local meteoric water which has undergone minor water-rock reaction. The only exceptions are the hot spring on Paoha Island in Mono Lake and perhaps the unnamed warm spring (south side of Mono Lake) which issues mixtures of thermal water and saline lake water. (Woodard-USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1977

Chemical, isotopic, and gas compositions of selected thermal springs in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah

Twenty-seven thermal springs in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah were sampled for detailed chemical and isotopic analysis. The springs issue sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, or sodium mixed-anion waters of near neutral (6.2) to alkaline (9.2) pH. High concentrations of fluoride, more than 8 milligrams per liter, occur in Arizona in waters from Gillard Hot Springs, Castle Hot Springs, and the unnamed spring of Eagle Creek, and in New Mexico from springs along the Gila River. Deuterium compositions of the thermal waters cover the same range as those expected for meteoric waters in the respective areas. The chemical compositions of the thermal waters indicate that Thermo Hot Springs in Utah and Gillard Hot Springs in Arizona represent hydrothermal systems which are at temperatures higher than 125 deg C. Estimates of subsurface temperature based on the quartz and Na-K-Ca geothermometer differ by up to 60 deg C for Monroe, Joseph, Red Hill, and Crater hot springs in Utah. Similar conflicting estimates of aquifer temperature occur for Verde Hot Springs, the springs near Clifton and Coolidge Dam, in Arizona; and the warm springs near San Ysidro, Radium Hot Springs, and San Francisco Hot Springs, in New Mexico. Such disparities could result from mixing, precipitation of calcium carbonate, or perhaps appreciable concentrations of magnesium. (Woodard-USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1976

Geochemical prediction of aquifer temperatures in the geothermal system at Long Valley, California

This paper was written to (1) illustrate a process of evaluating a geothermal energy prospect from a geochemical point of view, and (2) present a geochemical evaluation of the hydrothermal system at Long Valley, California. Temperatures of aquifers feeding thermal springs and wells in Long Valley, California were estimated using silica and Na-K-Ca geothermometers and warm spring mixing models. The results ranged from 160° to 219°C. This information was then used to construct a diagram showing enthalpy-chloride relationships for the various thermal waters in the Long Valley region. The enthalpy-chloride information suggests that a 282°C aquifer with water containing about 375 milligrams chloride per kilogram of water is present somewhere deep in the system. That deep water would be related to 219°C Casa Diablo water by mixing with cold water, and to 201°C Hot Creek water by boiling and steam loss. Oxygen and deuterium isotopic data are consistent with this interpretation. An aquifer at 282°C with 375 mg/kg chloride allows the estimated convective heat flow in Long Valley to be increased from 4.3 x 10 7 to 6.6 x 10 7 cal/sec.

California↗
USGS1976

Chemical characteristics of the major thermal springs of Montana

Twenty-one thermal springs in western Montana were sampled for chemical, isotope, and gas compositions. Most of the springs issue dilute to slightly saline sodium-bicarbonate waters of neutral to slightly alkaline pH. A few of the springs issue sodium-mixed anion waters of near neutral pH. Fluoride concentrations are high in most of the thermal waters, up to 18 milligramsper litre, while F/Cl ratios range from 3/1 in the dilute waters to 1/10 in the slightly saline waters. Most of the springs are theoretically in thermodynamic equilibrium with respect to calcite and fluorite. Nitrogen is the major gas escaping from most of the hot springs; however, Hunters Hot Springs issue principally methane. The deuterium content of the hot spring waters is typical of meteoric water in western Montana. Geothermal calculations based on silica concentrations and Na-K-Ca ratios indicate that most of the springs are associated with low temperature aquifers (less than 100?C). Chalcedony may be controlling the silica concentrations in these low temperature aquifers even in 'granitic' terranes.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1976

Chemical composition data and calculated aquifer temperature for selected wells and springs of Honey Lake Valley, California

Major element, minor element, and gas composition data are tabulated for 15 springs and wells in Honey Lake Valley, California. Wendel and Amedee hot springs issue Na-S04-C1 waters at boiling or near boiling temperatures; the remaining springs and wells issue Na-HC03 waters at temperatures ranging from 14 to 33 deg C. Gases escaping from the hot springs are principally nitrogen with minor amounts of methane. The geothermometers calculated from the chemical data are also tabulated for each spring. (Woodard-USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1974

The chemical composition and estimated minimum thermal reservoir temperatures of the principal hot springs of northern and central Nevada

Fifty-five of the principal hot springs in northern and central Nevada have been sampled for chemical analyses. Major element constituents, sodium, potassium, calcium, and silica suggest minimum thermal-aquifer temperatures of 140°C or more at 16 of the hot spring complexes. At least five of the hot springs issue mixed waters which may indicate thermal-aquifer temperatures significantly lower than the true thermal-aquifer temperature. Sodium is the principal cation in almost all the spring waters. Four springs in northern Nye County and adjacent Eureka County have approximately equal amounts of sodium and calcium. Bicarbonate is the principal anion in most of the spring waters. However, the sampled hot springs on the western edge of the State have chloride as the principal anion. A diffuse zone of bicarbonate chloride waters with or without sulfate separates the chloride and bicarbonate regions.

Nevada↗