Geothermal Potential of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation, Nevada, USA: Evidence of Previously Unrecognized Moderate-Temperature (150-170°C) Geothermal Systems (original) (raw)

At least two and possibly tbree previously unrecognized moderate-temperature (I50-165°C) geothermal areas have been identified during a geothermal exploration program on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation (PLPR) in west-central Nevada, USA. At each of these new areas -- Pyramid Rock, the southwestern Smoke Creek Desert (SWSMD), and east Astor Pass, -- as well as at the known Needle Rocks geothermal area, hot springs andlor near-surface upwellings of hot water are associated with calcium carbonate (tufa) towers forming today in Pyramid Lake or formed in late Pleistocene Lake Lahontan. The structural controls on geothermal fluid flow are still being investigated, but the intersection of Quaternary faults appears to have localized the shallow upwelling of thermal fluids. Near-surface thermal waters, where identified, have temperatures ranging up to 49-97°C, whereas quartz and Na-K -Ca-Mg geothermometers suggest reservoir temperatures on the order of -150 to 165°C. Exploration work beg...

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