Geothermal play fairway analysis, Phase 3: A provisional conceptual model of the Camas Prairie, Snake River Plain, Idaho

John W. Shervais, Jonathan M. Glen, Drew Siler, Lee M. Liberty, Dennis L. Nielson, Sabodh Garg, Patrick Dobson, Erika Gasperikova, Eric Sonnenthal, Dennis L. Newell, Ghanashyam Neupane, Jacob DeAngelo, Brent Ritzinger, Jared Peacock, Neil Snyder, Leland L. Mink

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Snake River Plain (SRP) Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis team identified two regions of interest during Phase 2 studies: the western SRP near Mountain Home, Idaho and Camas Prairie, Idaho. New geological, geochemical, and geophysical (gravity, magnetic, MT, seismic) studies of both areas led to a focus on Camas Prairie for validation during Phase 3. Camas Prairie is an EW-trending half-graben bounded on the north by the Idaho Batholith and on the south by the Mount Bennett Hills. Camas Prairie is bisected by a major NW-trending fault system (The Pothole fault) that separates NW-trending faults to east from ENE-trending faults to the west. The Camas Prairie geothermal system is indicated by warm springs and wells, geophysical evidence of buried faults and basins, mapped faults, elevated 3 He/ 4 He ratios, moderate calculated reservoir temperatures, and the occurrence of young basalt vents and lava flows along the range front. High permeability is suggested by the confluence of intersecting faults, including the range front system and the Pothole fault system, the presence of springs along mapped structural features, and dilational stress along major NW-trending fault systems. Basaltic vents as young as 692 ka along the range front are offset by late Pleistocene faults, indicating relatively recent magmatic flux and tectonic activity. Prolonged heat flux is inferred to result from mid- to shallow crustal sills, similar to those observed farther south. Magnetotelluric studies suggest the presence of a clay seal over the prospective target area that may result in part from hydrothermal alteration. Our model is similar to that proposed for the western SRP but is less energetic due to the smaller volume of magma inferred. It is also similar to Basin-and-Range geothermal systems, but differs by including a distinct magmatic heat component.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationGeothermal's Role in Today's Energy Market - Geothermal Resources Council 2018 Annual Meeting, GRC 2018
Pages553-563
Number of pages11
ISBN (Electronic)0934412235
StatePublished - 2018
EventGeothermal Resources Council 2018 Annual Meeting: Geothermal's Role in Today's Energy Market, GRC 2018 - Reno, United States
Duration: 14 Oct 201817 Oct 2018

Publication series

NameTransactions - Geothermal Resources Council
Volume42
ISSN (Print)0193-5933

Conference

ConferenceGeothermal Resources Council 2018 Annual Meeting: Geothermal's Role in Today's Energy Market, GRC 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityReno
Period14/10/1817/10/18

Keywords

  • Basaltic heat source
  • Camas Prairie
  • Conceptual model
  • Snake River Plain

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