National Geothermal Data System Geochemical Data for Exploration

Abstract

The Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology has been compiling data on geochemistry of geothermal resources in Nevada since 2002, and as part of the National Geothermal Data System (NGDS), the Bureau is checking data reliability, collecting data to fill gaps, and evaluating the data for use in exploration and better understanding of known geothermal systems. A key use of these data is the calculation of chemical geothermometers, which has long been a standard in early-stage exploration methods. This work shows that these calculations can provide useful insight into the presence of high temperature systems even when sampled water discharges at the surface are not thermally anomalous, or are minimally anomalous. All data and calculations are being cataloged for inclusion into the NGDS and for existing map services at the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. These data and functions will be fully operational and publicly available by the time of this publication.