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 – Diorite

Word of the Week – Diorite

Diorite Dark colored, coarse grained, intrusive rock that contains less silica than granite and that is mostly made of plagioclase, biotite, hornblende, pyroxene, and minor to nil quartz.

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Word of the Week – Direct Use

Word of the Week – Direct Use

Direct use The utilization of geothermal heat as an energy resource, e.g., to heat (or cool) a building such as a greenhouse, for drying, for manufacturing.

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Word of the Week – Directional Drilling

Word of the Week – Directional Drilling

Directional Drilling The practice of steering the trajectory of a well during drilling from vertical to a deviated angle, including horizontal drilling used for oil and gas production from...

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Advancing innovative technologies to unlock Earth’s limitless geothermal energy.