Propylitic Alteration

Propylitic Alteration

A term borrowed from studies of hydrothermal ore deposits that refers to an assemblage of secondary hydrothermal minerals which forms in igneous rocks. This assemblage is made up of chlorite, illite, feldspar (both Na and K-rich varieties), epidote, calcite and pyrite, imparting a dark green tint to the appearance of altered rocks. It is commonly developed in volcanic-plutonic sequences that host high-temperature geothermal reservoirs.

Geothermal Glossary

Word of the Week – Adularia

Word of the Week – Adularia

Adularia Hydrothermal potassium bearing feldspar that forms in volcanic hosted geothermal reservoirs and is a favorable indicator of boiling and permeable conditions.

Word of the Week – Aquifer

Word of the Week – Aquifer

Aquifer Porous and permeable rock unit or unconsolidated layer in the subsurface in which all the pores and voids are filled with water. Water supply for wells comes from aquifers.

Word of the Week – Basalt

Word of the Week – Basalt

Basalt Dark grey fine grained volcanic rock composed of plagioclase, pyroxene and olivine, with relatively low silica (45-52 wt %). The composition reflects an upper mantle origin. Basalt is the most common type of volcanic rock on Earth, and it erupts from mid-ocean...

Utah FORGE

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