Geothermal Potential of the Klamath Falls Area, Oregon A Preliminary Study

The use of the earth's natural heat in the form of steam and hot water for the generation of electrical power, for residence heating, and for other industrial uses is becoming more and more important. The successful exploitation of natural steam for generating power in Italy, New Zealand, and California is encouraging the search for other potential producing areas. Oregon's extensive Pliocene, Pleistocene, and Recent volcanism and the faulted structures associated with this volcanic activity indicate an excellent potential for large local concentrations of heat near the surface. The part played by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral In-dustries in the search for this new energy source is of a preliminary nature. So far, the general areas where favorable geologic provinces occur have been designated (Groh, 1966). As time permits, these areas will be studied to learn the general geologic setting, data on hot springs and water wells will be tabulated, and geothermal gradients will be determined. It is hoped that this preliminary information will encourage private companies to continue with detailed geologic studies and geophysical surveys in areas that show promise and will eventually lead to production of energy from Oregon's geothermal resources. The first area chosen for study is the Klamath Falls area in southern Klamath County {plate 1 L where surface indications appear favorable and where natural hot water has been used for space heating since the early 1900's. Another slightly smaller geothermal zone on the southwest side of the Klamath Hills 10 miles south of Klamath Falls occurs in a similar geologic environment and is included in this report