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Chemical and isotopic composition of water from thermal springs and mineral springs of Washington

Open-File Report 82-98
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr8298

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Abstract

Water from thermal springs of Washington range in chemical composition from dilute NaHC03, to moderately saline C02-charged NaHC03-Cl waters. St. Martin 's Hot Spring which discharges a slightly saline NaCl water, is the notable exception. Mineral springs generally discharge a moderately saline C02-charged NaHC03-Cl water. The dilute Na-HC03 waters are generally associated with granite. The warm to hot waters charged with C02 issue on or near the large stratovolcanoes and many of the mineral springs also occur near the large volcanoes. The dilute waters have oxygen isotopic compositions which indicate relatively little water-rock exchange. The C02-charged waters are usually more enriched in oxygen-18 due to more extensive water-rock reaction. Carbon-13 in the C02-charged thermal waters is more depleted (-10 to -12 permil) than in the cold C02-charged soda springs (-2 to -8 permil) which are also scattered throughout the Cascades. The hot and cold C02-charged waters are supersaturated with respect to CaC03, but only the hot springs are actively depositing CaC03. Baker, Gamma, Sulphur , and Ohanapecosh seem to be associated with thermal aquifers of more than 100C. (USGS)

Suggested Citation

Mariner, R.H., Presser, T.S., Evans, W.C., 1982, Chemical and isotopic composition of water from thermal springs and mineral springs of Washington: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 82-98, 20 p.: 2 maps ; 28 cm., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr8298.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Chemical and isotopic composition of water from thermal springs and mineral springs of Washington
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 82-98
DOI 10.3133/ofr8298
Year Published 1982
Language ENGLISH
Description 20 p.: 2 maps ; 28 cm.
Additional publication details