Date of Award:

5-2012

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Geosciences

Department name when degree awarded

Geology

Committee Chair(s)

John W. Shervais

Committee

John W. Shervais

Committee

Thomas E. Lachmar

Committee

James P. Evans

Abstract

The Snake River Plain is located in the southern part of the state of Idaho. The eastern plain, which this study focuses on, is a trail of volcanics from the Yellowstone
hotspot. Three exploratory geothermal wells were drilled on the Snake River Plain. This project studies basaltic core from the first well at Kimama, north of Burley, Idaho. The objectives of this project are to establish zones of geothermal alteration and analyze the potential for geothermal power production near the center of the Snake River Plain. Thirty samples from 1,912 m of core were sampled and analyzed. Mineral data, temperature data, and physical characteristics of the core suggest that the base of the Snake River Plain aquifer is located 960 m below the surface, much deeper than previously suspected. Swelling clay clogs pore spaces to create a natural base to the aquifer. Below 1,020 m the core shows signs of alteration including color change, formation of clay, and filling of other secondary minerals in vesicles and fractured zones of the core. Geothermal power generation may be a reasonable option using a hot water low temperature geothermal system if the thermal fluids can be accessed below the base of the Snake River Plain aquifer.

Checksum

16936d4de7fdd6524385a2701f1fe95f

Comments

This work made publicly available electronically on February 15, 2013.

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