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Robert H. Mariner

Publications and source records attributed to Robert H. Mariner.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

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

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

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

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

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

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

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