Exploration for geothermal energy in Arizona Basin and Range, a summary of results and interpretation of heat flow and geochemistry studies in Safford Basin, Arizona

Numerous artesian wells in the Safford basin, southeast Arizona, discharge thermal water (30 to 500 degrees C) contained in sand and gravel aquifers stacked within and below an extensive silt and clay aquaclude. The artesian geothermal resource appears to be characterized chiefly by a conductive thermal regime in basin fill sediments, although hydrothermal convective systems apparently exist below the silt and clay in a few areas. A probable hydrothermal system is located 18 km south of Safford adjacent to U.S. 666 (Fig. 1). This system, the Artesia anomaly, is characterized by high soil mercury and high apparent heat flow (>167 mW/m 2) in a 3 km2) area. The Artesia anomaly is the subject of this report. (51 pages)Documents in the AZGS Document Repository collection are made available by the Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS) and the University Libraries at the University of Arizona. For more information about items in this collection, please contact azgs-info@email.arizona.edu