Geochemistry and Geothermometry of the Desert Hot Springs Geothermal Resource Area

Abstract

The Desert Hot Springs Geothermal Resource Area (GRA) is about 14.5 km (9 miles) north of the City of Palm Springs, California. The northwesterly trending Mission Creek fault bordered the GRA on the southwest. Geothermal water is produced from the alluvial deposits underlying the GRA. Chemical analyses of water from 22 wells throughout the GRA indicate that geothermally heated water north of the Mission Creek fault is high in sodium and sulfate, differing from the water sampled south of the fuel, which is high in calcium and bicarbonate. The result of the study indicate that meteoric water, originating in the San Bernardino Mountain, flows southeasterly toward the GRA along the Mission Creek fault. Geothermometry indicates that the water is heated to temperatures as high as 110°C at depths between 2.7 km and 3.0 km. The geothermal water ascends along fractures near the intersection of the subsidiary Blind Canyon and Long Canyon faults. After cresting in the shallow alluvial rock, some geothermal water flows northeasterly and southwesterly. All of the water, however, eventually flows southeasterly along the direction of regional hydraulic gradient.