Chemical analyses of ground water related to geothermal investigations in the Teton River area, eastern Idaho

Open-File Report 79-687
Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy
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Abstract

Water samples were collected from 31 wells and springs in eastern Idaho and western Wyoming to help evaluate the potential geothermal resources in the Teton River area, Idaho. The water analyses included the common anions and cations, oxygen-18, deuterium, and several minor elements. Actual temperatures of the sampled thermal waters ranged from 23° to 49°C. Estimated aquifer temperatures, as derived from geochemical thermometers, ranged from 45° to 145°C based on silica concentrations and 45° to 205°C based on sodium-potassium-calcium ratios. Using the cation thermometer, two analyses indicated aquifer temperatures that were lower than the actual measured temperatures. Estimated temperatures using a mixing-model method ranged from 205° to 320°C, the higher temperature being of questionable value. The different methods used to estimate aquifer temperatures showed little correlation. On the basis of isotope data, the warm waters may be of local meteoric origin and have not been heated enough to react significantly with the aquifer rocks, or they originated as precipitation at high altitude and great distance from the area.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Chemical analyses of ground water related to geothermal investigations in the Teton River area, eastern Idaho
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 79-687
DOI 10.3133/ofr79687
Year Published 1979
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s) Idaho Water Science Center
Description i, 14 p.
Country United States
State Idaho
Other Geospatial Teton River
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