MAJOR THERNAL SPRINGS (WRB13)

As part of a study of the springs of Utah, reconnaissance data were obtained on the thermal chemical, and geologic characteristics of the major thermal springs of Utah. Only three of the springs have temperatures near the boiling point of water;
the maximum recorded temperatures of these springs range from 185 ° to 189° F. All three springs are in or near areas of late Tertiary or Quaternary volcanism.
Temperatures of the thermal springs studied ranged from 68° to 189° F. Nearly all thermal springs in Utah are in or near fault zones. Very few of these springs issue from volcanic rocks, but several springs are close to areas of late Tertiary or Quaternary
volcanic rocks.
Dissolved-solids contents of the springs range from as low as 214 ppm (parts per million) for a spring having a temperature of 80° F to as high as about 45,000 ppm for a spring having a temperature of 132° F. Most springs are sodium chloride in type,
and all springs that contain more than 3,000 ppm of dissolved solids are of the sodium chloride type. Silica concentrations exceed I 00 ppm for two of the thermal springs. Only two springs in the State, Roosevelt and Abraham Hot Springs, are in what has been designated as potentially valuable geothermal areas by the U. S. Geological Survey.
Some thermal springs in Utah have large discharges, low dissolved-solids contents. and fairly low temperatures; these springs are valuable as water supplies for irrigation and stock use. The main undesirable effect of the thermal springs in Utah is that they add significant amounts of water having high dissolved-solids contents to some streams and lakes. The inflow of La Verkin Hot Springs to the Virgin River and of many thermal springs around Utah Lake results in a deterioration of the quality of the surface-water supply.