Exploration for Concealed Hydrothermal Resources Using the Self-Potential Method, Escalante Desert, Utah

Abstract

A conceptual model for geothermal resource occurrence based on the Newcastle (Utah) system suggests that other concealed resources are present beneath alluvial cover in the Basin and Range. The self potential (SP) method proved very cost effective in locating the thermal fluid conduits at Newcastle. With some modifications of survey procedures, SP surveys were completed over two areas of alluvial cover along the margin of the Escalante Desert. At Wood's Ranch, the data show a large negative SP anomaly occurring between two warm wells, in an area exhibiting no surface geothermal manifestations. At Thermo Hot Springs, the data indicate weak, negative SP anomalies near two large hot spring mounds, and an interesting 100 mV negative SP anomaly situated at distance of more than one kilometer from the mounds. The relationship of the SP anomalies to up flowing thermal fluids is speculative at present.