Heat Flow in the Vicinity of the Meager Volcanic Complex, Southwestern British Columbia

Abstract

Since 1973, twenty five diamond rill holes have been put down at the Meager Creek Geothermal Project in southwestern British Columbia. One hundred sixty six samples of core from fifteen of these holes are measured for thermal conductivity. From straight line segments of bottom hole temperature profiles, heat flow calculations are made. A large high temperature convective zone has been identified on the south flank of the volcanic complex. Heat flow values indicated a possible western extension to this southern thermal anomaly. A well defined difference in heat flow regimes between the north and south flanks of the Mount Meager is attributed to variations of thermal conductivity and a possible unseen hydrothermal system. The technique of determining heat flow values is concluded to be primarily useful as a tool for developing large scale models of entire thermal systems, as opposed to a method for detailed exploration such as may be used for targeting drill holes.