Mercury--Its Role in the Exploration of Vapor-Dominated Geothermal Systems
- Key words
- Exploration; USA; California; The Geysers; Mercury Survey; Lithology; Vapor Dominated; Temperature
- Location
- The Geysers, California
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 1982
- Session
- Exploration; Geochemical surveys; Vapor dominated reservoirs
- Language
- English
Abstract
Geothermal wells drilled to depths of up to 3 km in the Geysers steam field have provided an opportunity to examine, laterally and vertically, the distribution of Hg in an active vapor dominated hydrothermal system. Mercury is concentrated primarily in the outer, cooler portions of the thermal system. Heating experiments indicate that Hg is contained primarily in silicate minerals and that tit is heat labile at reservoir temperatures of 240°C. The relative depletion of Hg within the reservoir suggests that the distribution of this element can be used to guide exploration in poorly known portions of the field.
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