Structural Controls on the Geothermal System at Gerlach, Washoe County, NV
- Key words
- Nevada; Basin and Range; Black Rock Desert; structural setting; Gerlach; Granite Range; fault termination
- Location
- Gerlach, Nevada; Black Rock Desert
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 2013
- Session
- Exploration; Geological surveys; Faults
- Language
- English
Abstract
The Gerlach geothermal system, located at the southern end of the Granite Range in the southwestern Black Rock Desert in northwestern Nevada, is characterized by boiling springs and siliceous sinter. This high-temperature system is associated with the termination of an east-dipping, range-bounding fault system. However, upwelling may be controlled by additional structures locally. Detailed geologic mapping and shallow temperature surveys for this study suggest at least two zones of upwelling that may be attributed to fault intersections and/or a small step in the range front. Integration of more data will further constrain the specific structural controls on this geothermal system.
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