Hydrogeochemical and Biogeochemical Studies of Volcanic, Geothermal, and Selenium-Impacted Systems

Reconnaissance and chemical and isotope sampling of thermal springs in the western United States has not generally provided information of sufficient detail to permit the geothermal potential of most individual areas to be determined with any certainty. This is especially true in the Cascade Mountain Range, where the chemical geothermometers indicate much lower temperatures of water-rock equilibrium than the sulfate-isotope geothermometer and the geologic setting seem to require. This discrepancy could be due to simple mixing of thermal and fresh water or rapid equilibration of water with the surrounding country rock as the fluids rise to the surface; alternatively, the sulfate-isotopic composition could be an artifact reflecting the original source. In this project, the origin of the dissolved constituents, water, and gases discharging in the hot springs will be investigated, their relationship to the fumaroles and cold mineral springs ascertained, and recharge areas for the thermal springs and the amount of mixing of thermal and nonthermal waters will be determined. For additional informaition, see the Dynamics of Volcano-Hydrothermal Systems web site.

This project also conducts studies related to the biogeochemistry of selenium. Investigations are focused on the geologic sources of selenium, the potential discharge of selenium through anthropogenic activities such as agriculture and mining, the pathways of selenium through the environment, and exposure levels that place fish and wildlife resources at risk. For additional information, see the Linking Selenium Sources to Ecosystems web site.

REPORTS PUBLISHED 1999-2008

Evans, W.C., Bergfeld, D., McGimsey, R.G., and Hunt, A.G., 2007, Magmatic gas efflux at the Ukinrek Maars, Alaska, in Bullen, T.D., and Wang, Y., eds., Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Water-Rock Interaction, Kunming, China, 31 July - 5 August, 2007: London, Taylor and Francis, p. 65-69.

Farrar, C.D., Evans, W.C., Venezky, D.Y., Hurwitz, S., and Oliver, L.K., 2007, Boiling water at Hot Creek -- The dangerous and dynamic thermal springs in California's Long Valley Caldera: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2007-3045. (on-line abstract or on-line fact sheet in pdf format, 5 MB)

Hurwitz, S., Evans, W.C., Lowenstern, J.B., Bergfeld, D., Werner, C., Heasler, H., and Jaworowski, C., 2007, Extensive hydrothermal rock alteration in a low pH, steam-heated environment: Hot Springs Basin, Yellowstone National Park in Bullen, T.D., and Wang, Y., eds., Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Water-Rock Interaction, Kunming, China, 31 July - 5 August, 2007: London, Taylor and Francis, p. 81-85.

Abedini, A.A., Hurwitz, S., and Evans, W.C., 2006, USGS-NoGaDat -- A global dataset of noble gas concentrations and their isotopic ratios in volcanic systems: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 202. (on-line report).

Bergfeld, D., Evans, W.C., Howle, J.F., and Farrar C.D., 2006, Carbon dioxide emissions from vegetation-kill zones around the resurgent dome of Long Valley caldera, eastern California, USA: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 152, p. 140-156. (on-line abstract of journal article)

Eby, N. and Evans, W.C., 2006, Taming the killer lakes of Cameroon: Geology Today, v. 22, no. 1, p. 18-22. (on-line abstract of journal article)

Engle, M.A.,Gustin, M.S., Goff, F., Counce, D.A., Janik, C.J., Bergfeld, D. and Rytuba, J.J., 2006, Atmospheric mercury emissions from substrates and fumaroles associated with three hydrothermal systems in the western United States: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 111, D17304, doi:10.1029/2005JD006563. (on-line abstract of journal article)

Evans, W.C., Bergfeld, D., van Soest, M.C., Huebner, M.A., Fitzpatrick, J., and Revesz, K.M., 2006, Geochemistry of low-temperature springs northwest of Yellowstone caldera: Seeking the link between seismicity, deformation, and fluid flow: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 154, p. 169 – 180, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2006.01.001. (on-line abstract of journal article)

Mariner, R.H., Evans, W.C., and Young, H.W., 2006, Comparison of circulation times of thermal waters discharging from the Idaho batholith based on geothermometers temperatures, helium concentrations, and ¹⁴C: Geothermics, v. 35, no. 1, p. 3-25. (on-line abstract of journal article)

Mariner, R.H., Venezky, D.Y., and Hurwitz, S., 2006, Chemical and isotopic database of water and gas from hydrothermal systems with an emphasis on the western United States: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series Report DS-169. (on-line data-base report)

Presser, T.S. and Luoma, S.N. , 2006, Forecasting selenium discharges to the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary: Ecological effects of a proposed San Luis Drain extension: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1646, 196 p. (on-line abstract or on-line paper in pdf format, 5.5MB)

Hurwitz, S., Mariner, R.H., Fehn, U., and Snyder, G.T., 2005, Systematics of halogen elements and their radioisotopes in thermal springs of the Cascade Range, north-central Oregon, USA: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 235, p. 700-714.(on-line abstract of journal article)

Kharaka, Y.K., and Mariner, R.H., 2005, Geothermal systems, in Aggarwal, P.K., Gat, J.R., and Froehlich, K.F.O., eds., Isotopes in the Water Cycle: Past, Present, and Future of a Developing Science: Springer, Dordrecht, p. 243-270.

Kling, G. W., Evans, W.C., Tanyileke, G., Kusakabe, M., Ohba, T., Yoshida, Y., and Hell, J. V., 2005, Degassing Lakes Nyos and Monoun – Defusing certain disaster: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, v. 102, p. 14,185-14,190. (on-line abstract)

Lewicki, J.L., Bergfeld, D., Cardellini, C., Chiodini, G., Granieri, D., Varley, N., and Werner, C., 2005, Comparative soil CO₂ flux measurements and geostatistical estimation methods on Masaya volcano, Nicaragua: Bulletin of Volcanology, , v. 68, no. 1, p. 76-90. (on-line abstract of journal article)

Bergfeld, D., Howle, J.F., and Schmidt, M.E., 2004, Diffuse CO2 degassing from summit areas on Mt. Hood, Oregon, USA, in Wanty, R.B., and Seal, R.R., II, eds., Water-Rock Interaction,Proceedings of the Eleventh International Symposium on Water-Rock Interaction, Saratoga Springs, New York, July 2004: New York, A.A. Balkema, v. 1, p. 83-86.

Evans, W.C., Lorenson, T.D., Sorey, M.L., and Bergfeld, D., 2004, Transport of injected isobutane by thermal groundwater in Long Valley caldera, California, USA, in Wanty, R.B., and Seal, R.R., II, eds., Water-Rock Interaction, Proceedings of the Eleventh International Symposium on Water-Rock Interaction, Saratoga Springs, New York, July 2004: New York, A.A. Balkema, v. 1, p. 125-129.

Evans, W.C., van Soest, M.C., Mariner, R.H., Hurwitz, S., Ingebritsen, S.E., Wicks, C.W., Jr., and Schmidt, M.E., 2004, Magmatic intrusion west of Three Sisters, central Oregon, USA: The perspective from spring chemistry: Geology, v. 32, p. 69-72. (on-line abstract)

Presser, T.S., Hardy, M.A., Huebner, M.A., and Lamothe, P., 2004, Selenium loading through the Blackfoot River watershed: linking sources to ecosystems, in Hein, J., ed., Life Cycles of the Phosphoria Formation: From Deposition to the Post-Mining Environment: Elsevier, New York, p. 437-466.

Presser, T.S., and Luoma, S.N., 2004, Linking Selenium Sources to Ecosystems: San Francisco Bay-Delta Model: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2004-3091. (on-line fact sheet and on-line fact sheet in pdf format, 1 MB)

Presser, T.S., Piper, D.Z., Bird K.J., Skorupa, J.P., Hamilton, S.J., Detwiler, S.J., and Huebner, M.A., 2004, The Phosphoria Formation: a model for forecasting global selenium sources to the environment, in J. Hein, ed., Life Cycle of the Phosphoria Formation: From Deposition to the Post-Mining Environment: Elsevier, New York, p. 299-319.

Skorupa, J.P., Presser, T.S., Hamilton, S.J., Lemly, A.D., and Sample, B.E., 2004, EPA's draft tissue-based criterion: a technical review: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Report.

van Soest, M.C., Evans, W.C., Mariner, R.H., and Schmidt, M. E., 2004, Chloride in hot springs of the Cascade volcanic arc - The source puzzle, in Wanty, R.B., and Seal, R.R., II, eds., Water-Rock Interaction,Proceedings of the Eleventh International Symposium on Water-Rock Interaction, Saratoga Springs, New York, July 2004: New York, A.A. Balkema, v. 1, p. 209-213.

Hurwitz, S., Goff, F., Janik, C.J., Evans, W.C., Counce, D.A., Sorey, M.L., and Ingebritsen, S.E., 2003, Mixing of magmatic volatiles with groundwater and interaction with basalt on the summit of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 108, no. 1, p. 8-1 to 8-12. (on-line abstract)

Lewicki, J.L., Evans, W.C., Hilley, G.E., Sorey, M.L., Rogie, J.D., and Brantley, S.L., 2003, Shallow soil CO2 flow along the San Andreas and Calaveras Faults, California: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 108, no. B4 (on-line abstract)

Mariner, R.H., Evans, W.C., Presser, T.S., and White, L.D., 2003, Excess nitrogen in selected thermal and mineral springs of the Cascade Range, in northern California, Oregon, and Washington - sedimentary or volcanic in origin?: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 121, no. 1-2, p. 99-114. (on-line abstract)

Symonds, R.B., Janik, C.J., Evans, W.C., Ritchie, B.E., Counce, D., Poreda, R.J., and Iven, M., 2003, Scrubbing masks magmatic degassing during repose at Cascade Range and Aleutian arc volcanoes: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03-435, 22 p. (on-line abstract or on-line report in pdf format - 1.9MB)

Symonds, R.B., Poreda, R.J., Evans, W.C., Janik, C.J., and Ritchie, B.E., 2003, Mantle and crustal sources of carbon, nitrogen, and noble gases in Cascade Range and Aleutian arc volcanic gases: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03-436, 25 p. (on-line abstract or on-line report in pdf format - 2.9MB)

Evans, W.C., Mariner, R.H., Ingebritsen, S.E., Kennedy, B.M., van Soest, M.C., and Huebner, M.A., 2002, Report of hydrologic investigations in the Three Sisters area of central Oregon, summer 2001: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4061, 13 p. (on-line report)

Evans, W.C., Sorey, M.L., Cook, A.C., Kennedy, B.M., Shuster, D.L., Colvard, E.M., White, L.D., and Huebner, M.A., 2002, Tracing and quantifying magmatic carbon discharge in cold groundwaters: lessons learned from Mammoth Mountain, USA, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 114, p. 291-312. (on-line abstract)

Presser, T.S., and Luoma, S.N., 2002, Beyond the San Luis Drain: understanding the present and understanding the linkages, in Borgonovo, R., ed., Proceedings of the Beyond the Drain Conference, Sustaining Agriculture and Improving Water Quality in California's San Joaquin Valley, March 27, 2001, Sacramento, California: San Francisco Bay Estuary Project, Oakland, California, 13p.

Cook. A.C., Hainsworth, L.J., Sorey, M.L., Evans, W.C., Southon, J.R.., 2001, Radiocarbon studies of plant leaves and tree rings fro Mammoth Mountain, CA: A long-term record of magmatic CO₂ release: Chemical Geology, v. 177, p. 117-131. (on-line abstract)

Evans, W.C., Sorey, M.L., Kennedy, B.M., Stonestrom, D.A., Rogie, J.D., Shuster, D.I., 2001, High CO₂ emissions through porous media: Transport mechanisms and implications for flux measurement and fractionation: Chemical Geology, v. 177, p. 15-29. (on-line abstract)

Evans, W.C., Sorey, M.L., Michel, R.L., Cook, A.C., Kennedy, B.M., and Busenberg, E., 2001, Tracing magmatic carbon in groundwaters at Big Springs, Long Valley caldera, USA, in Cidu, R., ed., Proceedings of the tenth international symposium WRI-10, Villasimius, Italy, 10-15 June 2001: A.A. Balkema, v. 1, p. 803-806.

Ingebritsen, S.E., Galloway, D.L., Colvard, L.M., Sorey, M.L., and Mariner, R.H., 2001, Time-variation of hydrothermal discharge at selected sites in the western United States: Implications for monitoring: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 111, p. 1-23. (on-line abstract)

Luoma, S.N., and Presser, T.S., 2000, Forecasting selenium discharges to the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary: Ecological dffects of a proposed San Luis Drain extension: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-416, 359 p. (on-line abstract and to download pdf file)

Piper, D.Z., Skorupa, J.P., Presser, T.S., Hardy, S.J. Hamilton, M.A., Huebner, M.A., Gulbrandsen, R.A., 2000, The Phosphoria Formation at the Hot Springs Mine in southeast Idaho: a source of trace elements to ground water, surface water, and biota: U. S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-050, 73 p. (on-line abstract)

Sorey, M.L., Werner, C., McGimsey, R.G., and Evans, W.C., 2000, Hydrothermal activity and carbon-dioxide discharge at Shrub and Upper Klawasi Mud Volcanoes, Wrangell Mountains, Alaska: U.S. U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 00-4207, 18 p. (on-line abstract or on-line report in pdf format, 3804 KB)

Kharaka, Y.K., Thordsen, J.J., Evans, W.C., and Kennedy, B.M., 1999, Geochemistry and hydromechanical interactions of fluids associated with the San Andreas faulty system, California, in Haneberg, W.C., Goodwin, L.B., Mozley, P.S., and Moore, J.C., eds., Faults and Subsurface Fluid Flow in the shallow crust: GSA Geophys. Monogram 113, p. 129-148.

Mariner, R.H. and Lowenstern, J.B., 1999, The geochemistry of water from springs, wells, and snowpack on and adjacent to Medicine Lake volcano, Northern California: Transactions of the 1999 Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting, v. 23, p. 319-326. (on-line abstract)

Sorey, M.L., Evans, W.C., Kennedy, B.M., Rogie, J., and Cook, A., 1999, Magmatic gas emissions from Mammoth Mountain: California Geology, v. 52, n. 5, p. 4-16.

For bibliographic citations for Theresa Presser prior to 2000, see Geochemical Reactions Between Water and Mineral Substrates.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFOMATION ABOUT THIS PROJECT, CONTACT
Robert H. Mariner
U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Rd, MS434, Menlo Park, CA 94025
email: rmariner@usgs.gov
Telephone: 650-329-4507

William C Evans
U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Rd, MS434, Menlo Park, CA 94025
email: wcevans@usgs.gov
Telephone: 650-329-4514

Theresa S. Presser
U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Rd, MS434, Menlo Park, CA 94025
email: tpresser@usgs.gov
Telephone: 650-329-4512

For information on additional projects in the National Research Program, see Indexes to NRP projects and bibliographies