Geothermal occurrences in Truckee Meadows, Washoe County, Nevada
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Authors
Scheibach, Robert Bruce
Issue Date
1975
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Hot Springs , Truckee Meadows , Nevada , Carson Range , Virginia Range , Thermal Occurrences , Thermal Areas , Shallow Geothermal Gradients , High Temperature Upper Mantle , Thin Upper Crust , Meteoric Waters , Thermal Waters , Fault Zones , Steamboat Springs , Washoe County , Mackay Theses and Dissertations Grant Collection
Alternative Title
Abstract
Hot springs are numerous within Truckee Meadows area of northwestern Nevada. Mast occur along the flanks of the Carson and Virginia Ranges. This study examines these thermal occurrences and looks at various aspects of each thermal area. A shallow geothermal gradient of 52°C/Km has been established for Truckee Meadows. The high gradient could be related to a combination of high temperature upper mantle and a thin upper crust. It is possible that deep circulation of meteoric waters and the high geothermal gradient produce thermal waters. Surface occurrences then result from localization of the heated waters along fault zones. Observed temperatures range from 180°C at Steamboat Springs, to 50°C at Lawton Hot Springs. Estimated reservoir temperatures, based upon SiC^/ Na-K, and Na-K-Ca geothernometers, are 201°C, 134°C, and 130°C for Steamboat, Moana and Lawton Hot Springs, respectively. Available data indicates an estimated heat discharge for Moana to be 1.96 BTU/sec. Assuming a steady state system exists for Moana, a conservative estimate of between 300 and 400 individual dwellings could make use of the thermal waters.
Description
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Citation
Publisher
University of Nevada, Reno
License
In Copyright(All Rights Reserved)