Helium Isotopes

Helium gas is a trace constituent of groundwater and thermal fluids, and the ratio of 3He to 4He can be measured with a high-precision mass spectrometer to determine whether it is derived from air, from the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium in the crust, or from the mantle. The latter is a characteristic feature of volcanic and geothermal gases.

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Word of the Week – Epidote

Word of the Week – Epidote

Epidote Alumino-silicate hydrothermal mineral having a distinctive yellow-green color that is used a mineral geothermometer, forming at temperatures above ~230°C. The first down hole...

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Word of the Week – Flowback

Word of the Week – Flowback

Flowback Return flow of slickwater that was injected during a stimulation. This is a highly controlled process in which well head pressure is reduced to allow managed fluid recovery. Fluids...

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