A new approach for simulating heat transfer and groundwater flow in the Leach Hot Springs hydrothermal system, Pershing County, Nevada
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Authors
Pottorff, Edward J
Issue Date
1988
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Leach Hot Springs , Grass Valley , Nevada , geothermal reservoir temperatures , heat transfer , groundwater flow , geology , hydrology , surface water , groundwater , Leach Hot Springs Hydrothermal System , Pershing County , Mackay Science Project
Alternative Title
Abstract
The average spring discharge temperature at Leach Hot Springs in southern Grass Valley, Nevada is 76.8° C. Geothermal reservoir temperatures, estimated from silica and Na-K-Ca geothermometers, range from 155 ° to 176 ° C. Heat transfer and groundwater flow within the Leach system are analyzed numerically with a Discrete State Compartment model using subsurface temperature as a tracer. Average discharge and reservoir temperatures are reproduced by a conceptual model of fluid circulation to a 5 km depth along a fault plane; the mean fluid residence time is 3070 years. These temperatures are simulated for conceptual models of horizontal groundwater flow toward the fault plane at a 4 km depth of circulation; the mean fluid residence time approaches 17,200 years. A model sensitivity analysis reveals that system discharge temperature is influenced most by changes in basal heat flux while the mean age of the discharging fluid is most sensitive to changes in the recharge mass heat capacities.
Description
Online access for this thesis was created in part with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). To obtain a high quality image or document please contact the DeLaMare Library at https://unr.libanswers.com/ or call: 775-784-6945.
Citation
Publisher
University of Nevada, Reno
License
In Copyright(All Rights Reserved)