ANTARCTICA. By

• Main Author: Lara Bevan Owens
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Krafla; Antarc*; Antarctica; Iceland
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.433.677; http://www.ees.nmt.edu/outside/alumni/papers/2013d_owens_lb.pdf

Four studies are presented using various petrologic, gaseous and aqueous geochemical methods to investigate volcanic and hydrothermal systems in different geologic settings. Each study contributes to aspects of geothermal exploration: from the theoretical in investigating the occurrence of water-rock interaction at Erebus volcano (Antarctica), to the practical in locating the depths of acidic feed zones in the Krafla (Iceland) production wells as well as testing new low-temperature geothermal exploration methods in Socorro, New Mexico. The Socorro Geothermal Area in New Mexico represents a low-temperature, geothermal system demonstrated by several hot springs and an exploration slim hole drilled at the base of Socorro Peak. Low temperature reservoirs typically lack surface manifestations and equilibrated sample fluids necessary to assess the extent and economic potential of the resource. Extensive past work performed on Socorro Peak, including temperature gradient drilling and heat flow model (Barroll and Reiter, 1991; Mailloux et al., 1999), allows us to test alternative methods for exploring similar blind, low temperature resources. Two methods tested here included soil mapping by selective extraction and a multi-isotope fluid chemistry survey. Selective extraction soil mapping, a method common in mineral exploration, applies two distinct biosynthetic leaches