Geothermal brine well: Mile-deep drill hole may tap ore-bearing magmatic water and rocks undergoing metamorphism

D. E. White; E.T. Anderson; D.K. Grubbs

doi:10.1126/science.139.3558.919

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Geothermal brine well: Mile-deep drill hole may tap ore-bearing magmatic water and rocks undergoing metamorphism

D. E. White·E.T. Anderson·D.K. Grubbs

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Abstract

A deep geothermal well in California has tapped a very saline brine extraordinarily high in heavy metals and other rare elements; copper and silver are precipitated during brine production. Preliminary evidence suggests that the brine may be pure magmatic water and an active ore-forming solution. Metamorphism of relatively young rocks may also be occurring within accessible depths.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 32.503385963168625° to 42.03687795072952° latitude; -124.82267524623933° to -114.11681520286865° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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D. E. White, E.T. Anderson, D.K. Grubbs. 1963. Geothermal brine well: Mile-deep drill hole may tap ore-bearing magmatic water and rocks undergoing metamorphism. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.139.3558.919

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