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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.
Geothermal Glossary
Word of the Week – Magnetotelluric (MT) Geophysical Method
Magnetotelluric (MT) Geophysical Method Makes use of naturally occurring electromagnetic waves to image the resistivity structure of the subsurface. The results can reveal the locations of hot geothermal fluids, blankets of clay alteration, and highly saline water. MT...
Word of the Week – Microseismicity
Microseismicity Tiny earthquakes that result from slip or shear along a fracture caused by an uneven distribution of stress. The displacements are very small scale and unfelt at the surface. They can only be detected with sensitive equipment such as geophones and...
Word of the Week – Mineral Geothermometer
Mineral Geothermometer A secondary mineral phase whose stability is defined by a lower and sometimes an upper temperature threshold. Common mineral geothermometers comprise clays, zeolites and epidote, with crystal structures that contain a hydroxyl (OH-) or water...