Bonneville Salt Flats: A Possible Geothermal Area?

Abstract

In his paper on the hydrogeology of the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, L. J. Turk (1973) noted indications of an abnormally high geothermal gradient in several brackish water wells, several deep brine wells, and two warm springs in the Bonneville Salt Flats area. From Turk's data, Whelan noted both sets of wells are on essentially north-south lines and that water and brine temperatures are consistently higher to the south. In the Utah Geological and Mineral Survey's program of developing and publishing data on potential geothermal areas, it was considered appropriate to expand on the data furnished by Turk.