Geochemical Evidence of a Geothermal Power Resource in the Canadian Rockies: Canoe Hot Springs, British Columbia

Abstract

Canoe hot springs geothermal permit area includes a series of high-temperature geothermal manifestations spread over 1.5 kilometres along the Kinbasket Lake in the west of the Canadian Rockies. The temperature of the hot spring fluids as they appear at the surface reaches 70°C to 80°C. These thermal issues are among the highest-temperature hot springs discovered in British Columbia. The Canoe hot springs exceed in both flow and temperature other hot springs in the Rockies such as Radium and Fairmont. Geochemical geothermometers of Canoe hot springs indicate that the deep undiluted geothermal waters in the prospect may have temperatures above 200°C. No recent volcanic activity has been so far discovered in the vicinity of Canoe hot springs. The origin of heat remains therefore controversial. One possible source for the heat can be the old basement gneiss (rich in natural radioactive elements) which may be considered as a plausible candidate for radiogenic heat source in the area. A more plausible heat source may be related to the rising mantle in the Southern Rocky Mountain Trench (SRMT). Whatever the source, data on Canoe hot springs suggest the presence of high temperature geothermal fluids at depth which may be used for power generation. This paper presents geochemical and geological evidence on the geothermal power potential of the Canoe Reach Geothermal permit area.