| Title | Evaluation of the Mercury Soil Mapping Geothermal Exploration Techniques |
|---|---|
| Authors | Matlick, J. S.; Shiraki, M. |
| Year | 1981 |
| Conference | Geothermal Resources Council Transactions |
| Keywords | Exploration; USA; Japan; Nevada; Utah; Kyushu; Dixie Valley; Roosevelt Hot Springs; Noya; Geochemistry; Mercury Survey; Soil Surveys; Temperature Gradient |
| Abstract | In order to evaluate the suitability of the soil mercury geochemical survey as a geothermal exploration technique, soil concentrates of mercy are compared to the distribution of measured geothermal gradients at Dixie Valley, Nevada; Roosevelt Hot Springs, Utah; and Nova, Japan. Zones containing high mercury values are found to closely correspond to high geothermal gradient zones in all three areas. Moreover, the highest mercury values within the anomalies are found near the wells with the highest geothermal gradient. Such close correspondence between soil concentrations of mercury and high measured geothermal gradients strongly suggests that relatively low cost soil mercury geochemical sampling can be effective in identifying drilling targets within high temperatures areas. |