Geothermal measurements in northern British Columbia and southern Yukon Territory

Abstract

Measurements at seven sites in the Intermontane region of northern British Columbia and southern Yukon show heat flow of 63–100 mW/m2 and heat generation, obtained from intrusive rocks at three of these sites, of 1.8–6.5 μW/m1. These few data cannot define a linear relation between heat flow and heat generation for this region, but the plotted points lie between the lines of the stable crust of the eastern United States and of the Basin and Range Province. Conductive thermal models of the crust, assuming a basalt composition for the lower crust, predict at 35 km depth a heat flow of 30 mW/m2 and temperatures between 645 and 775 °C at most sites.At two sites conductive models based on reasonable properties do not yield reasonable temperatures. The site on the axis of the Stikine Volcanic Belt shows a probable component of convectively enhanced heat flow or the presence of a young intrusion at depth. The site in the Bowser Basin shows the probable effect of water movement in the sediments.