Borax Lake Research Articles

Silica Sinter and the Evolution of Hot Springs in the Alvord/Pueblo Valleys, Southeast Oregon, USA

Hot springs in the Alvord/Pueblo valleys in southeastern Oregon are analogous to Basin-and-Range hydrothermal systems where heat source and permeable pathways are met through crustal thinning. Silica sinter deposition at Mickey Springs, Alvord Valley, predates the late Pleistocene high stand of pluvial Lake Alvord. At Borax Lake, Pueblo Valley, sinter deposition occurred during the Holocene. This study examines the evolution of springs at Mickey Springs, where three morphologies of sinter are present: (1) basalt clasts surrounded by sinter in interbedded conglomerate and sandstone, (2) pool-edge and aprons of sinter surrounding depressions (12–32 m diameter), and (3) quaquaversal sinter mounds with pool-edge sinter. The oldest sinter occurs in silica-cemented conglomerate and sandstone, where deposition occurred prior to 30 kya. Deposition around broad depressions and mounds occurred after 30 kya but before water levels began to rise in pluvial Lake Alvord. Thermoluminescence dates suggest sinter deposition ceased before 18 kya when silt and clay filled inactive vents and buried aprons. A few mounds hosted active springs after sinter deposition ceased but while submerged in pluvial Lake Alvord. Now, high-temperature springs, steam vents, and mud pots are concentrated in a 50 × 50 m area near the southern edge of the spring area.

Genetic structure and the history of chub in the Alvord Basin

Knowledge of the distribution of genetic resources within and among taxa is prerequisite for development of management strategies which facilitate conservation of those resources. We used restriction-site associated DNA (RAD) sequencing to survey genetic variation in Alvord Chub and Borax Lake Chub from the Alvord Basin in southeastern Oregon and northern Nevada, USA. Our specific goals were to gain an understanding of the population genetic structure of Alvord Chub and the relationship between this species and Borax Lake Chub. Despite the fact that our collections were taken from ponds and streams, isolated from one another by kilometers of desert, our results revealed that diversity in Alvord Chub was primarily distributed among two regional groupings, which we hypothesize to be related to habitat changes following the end of the most recent glaciation event, approximately 10 thousand years ago. Our results further revealed that Alvord Chub and Borax Lake Chub shared common ancestors during that glaciation event, and that divergence between the two may have been sympatric. Finally, we observed evidence that the clade containing Alvord Chub and Borax Lake Chub was isolated from its closest extant relative, the Tui chub, during the Miocene Epoch, when volcanic flows were forming the mountains surrounding what became the Alvord Basin. These results will be useful for informing conservation strategies for Alvord Chub, and provide new insights regarding the role of these species in the evolutionary legacy of the region.

An Evaluation of the Efficiency of Minnow Traps for Estimating the Abundance of Minnows in Desert Spring Systems

AbstractDesert springs are sensitive aquatic ecosystems that pose unique challenges to natural resource managers and researchers. Among the most important of these is the need to accurately quantify population parameters for resident fish, particularly when the species are of special conservation concern. We evaluated the efficiency of baited minnow traps for estimating the abundance of two at‐risk species, Foskett Speckled Dace Rhinichthys osculus ssp. and Borax Lake Chub Gila boraxobius, in desert spring systems in southeastern Oregon. We evaluated alternative sample designs using simulation and found that capture–recapture designs with four capture occasions would maximize the accuracy of estimates and minimize fish handling. We implemented the design and estimated capture and recapture probabilities using the Huggins closed‐capture estimator. Trap capture probabilities averaged 23% and 26% for Foskett Speckled Dace and Borax Lake Chub, respectively, but differed substantially among sample locations, through time, and nonlinearly with fish body size. Recapture probabilities for Foskett Speckled Dace were, on average, 1.6 times greater than (first) capture probabilities, suggesting “trap‐happy” behavior. Comparison of population estimates from the Huggins model with the commonly used Lincoln–Petersen estimator indicated that the latter underestimated Foskett Speckled Dace and Borax Lake Chub population size by 48% and by 20%, respectively. These biases were due to variability in capture and recapture probabilities. Simulation of fish monitoring that included the range of capture and recapture probabilities observed indicated that variability in capture and recapture probabilities in time negatively affected the ability to detect annual decreases by up to 20% in fish population size. Failure to account for variability in capture and recapture probabilities can lead to poor quality data and study inferences. Therefore, we recommend that fishery researchers and managers employ sample designs and estimators that can account for this variability.Received September 29, 2014; accepted January 29, 2015

Borax Lake, a thermal lake confined within a biomorphic mound, Pueblo Valley, Oregon, USA

Relations among geothermal system dynamics, evolution of an 8-m thick biomorphic mound, and requirements to protect critical habitat of Gila boraxobius, a fish protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, were explored at Borax Lake, a shallow thermal lake in the tectonically active northwestern Basin-and-Range Province. Neutral pH, thermal water at ~ 105 °C discharges within a carrot-shaped vent at a depth of 29 m and rapidly mixes within the vent and lake which is mostly < 1 m deep. The 14 hectare thermal lake lies at the crest of a biomorphic mound composed of diatoms, silt-size opal-A silica particles, silica encrusted and permineralized vascular plant fragments, sinter fragments, and discontinuous carbon-rich plant and charcoal layers. Siliceous sinter lines the vent, part of the lake bed, and forms a discharge apron that caps the mound and gently dips (< 3°) away from the shore. The hydrothermal deposit unconformably overlies lacustrine deposits of Pleistocene Lake Alvord and began to accumulate prior to BC 3775 to 3655, the age of a charcoal layer near the mound crest. Slope degradation occurs primarily from rilling, gullying, and solifluction as the result of seasonal seepage, overland flow and freeze/thaw cycles. Winter seepage on the flanks of the mound ceases as the water table drops (~ 1.5 m) during the summer dry season. Piping from an upward seepage gradient also degrades slopes. Stability analysis indicates that the mound is stable under current static stress conditions, however, high water table and cohesionless diatomaceous silt with shear wave velocities less than 164 m s − 1 and proximity of seismic sources indicates the mound may be susceptible to liquefaction and slope failure during dynamic earthquake loading. Borax Lake is the unique product of the geothermal system and the biological communities it supports. Portions of the mound may have failed in the past during seismic loading, eroded, and been rebuilt by processes similar to those active today.

Modeling fluid flow in a heterogeneous, fault‐controlled hydrothermal system

AbstractPrevious studies have shown that most hydrothermal systems discharging at the land surface are associated with faulting, and that the location, temperature and rate of discharge of these systems are controlled by the geometry and style of the controlling fault(s). Unfortunately, the transport of heat and fluid in fault‐controlled hydrothermal systems is difficult to model realistically; although heterogeneity and anisotropy are assumed to place important controls on flow in faults, few data or observations are available to constrain the distribution of hydraulic properties within active faults. Here, analytical and numerical models are combined with geostatistical models of spatially varying hydraulic properties to model the flow of heat and fluid in the Borax Lake fault of south‐east Oregon, USA. A geometric mean permeability within the fault of 7 × 10−14 m2with 2× vertical/horizontal anisotropy in correlation length scale is shown to give the closest match to field observations. Furthermore, the simulations demonstrate that continuity of flow paths is an important factor in reproducing the observed behavior. In addition to providing some insight into possible spatial distributions of hydraulic properties at the Borax Lake site, the study highlights one potential avenue for integrating field observations with simulation results in order to gain greater understanding of fluid flow in faults and fault‐controlled hydrothermal and petroleum reservoirs.

Diversity of aerobic and facultative alkalitolerant and halotolerant endospore formers in soil from the Alvord Basin, Oregon

Many proteins produced by Bacillus species isolated from extreme environments have been utilized for industrial purposes, as these extreme environments often promote evolution of unique protein properties. The Borax Lake area is unusual due to its geothermal activity, elevated pH, and high arsenic and salt concentrations in its soils. Soils from this region are likely to harbor alkalitolerant, halotolerant, endospore-forming strains that may be of potential ecological and/or commercial interest. The objectives of this study were to develop new PCR primers that could target Bacillus or closely related 16S rRNA genes, to characterize the diversity of alkalitolerant, halotolerant, endospore-forming organisms in the soils surrounding Borax Lake, and to identify novel organisms that may ultimately provide new enzymes for applied use. A three-pronged approach was used to identify such bacteria in soil samples. Organisms were isolated using two different techniques. Finally, metagenomic DNA from soil samples was subjected to 16S rRNA gene amplification using the newly designed primers. Assays were performed to characterize the halotolerance and alkalitolerance of isolates. Four different endospore-forming genera and 22 different species were identified by sequencing their 16S rRNA genes. Twenty-five organisms had 96% or less identity to known organisms. Thus, the newly designed Bacillus-related PCR primer sets proved useful for the detection of new species of endospore-forming bacteria in these unique soils. Results indicate that the collection of strains obtained from the Borax Lake region represents a rich source of alkalitolerant, halotolerant, endospore formers.

Imaging lateral groundwater flow in the shallow subsurface using stochastic temperature fields

Although temperature has often been used as an indication of vertical groundwater movement, its usefulness for identifying horizontal fluid flow has been limited by the difficulty of obtaining sufficient data to draw defensible conclusions. Here we use stochastic simulation to develop a high-resolution image of fluid temperatures in the shallow subsurface at Borax Lake, Oregon. The temperature field inferred from the geostatistical simulations clearly shows geothermal fluids discharging from a group of fault-controlled hydrothermal springs, moving laterally through the subsurface, and mixing with shallow subsurface flow originating from nearby Borax Lake. This interpretation of the data is supported by independent geochemical and isotopic evidence, which show a simple mixing trend between Borax Lake water and discharge from the thermal springs. It is generally agreed that stochastic simulation can be a useful tool for extracting information from complex and/or noisy data and, although not appropriate in all situations, geostatistical analysis may provide good definition of flow paths in the shallow subsurface. Although stochastic imaging techniques are well known in problems involving transport of species, e.g. delineation of contaminant plumes from soil gas survey data, we are unaware of previous applications to the transport of thermal energy for the purpose of inferring shallow groundwater flow.

Prospects for Recovering Endemic Fishes Pursuant to the U.S. Endangered Species Act

Abstract If the success of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is measured by the number of endangered species that have been recovered and delisted, then the act is not very successful. Only 15 species have been delisted because of recovery in the history of the ESA. The Borax Lake chub (Gila boraxobius), an endangered species restricted to an Oregon spring system, is considered to be on the brink of recovery and may warrant future delisting. A panel of scientists was convened to determine consensus regarding the species' listing status by reviewing: (1) current habitat conditions, (2) implementation of the recovery plan, and (3) applicability of ESA listing factors. Despite substantial progress towards recovery, threats to the species remain, including habitat degradation and the potential introduction of nonnative species. These are problems common to many fishes of highly restricted distribution. Because the Borax Lake chub occurs in a single spring system, the species remains vulnerable to catastrophic ...

Thermal modeling of the Clear Lake magmatic-hydrothermal system, California, USA

Recent volcanism, high heat flow (4 HFU or 167 mW/m 2), and high conductive geothermal gradients (up to 120°C/km) indicate that heat from a shallow silicic intrusion in the Clear Lake region is largely being dissipated by conduction. The Geysers area has the highest heat flow in the region, consistent with the presence of shallow convective heat transport within the vapor-dominated geothermal system. Thermal modeling of the Clear Lake magmatic-hydrothermal system based on petrologic and geophysical constraints provides a test of petrologic models, and yields insight into the relationships between observed thermal gradient and magma chamber size, abundance, and emplacement history in the crust. A user-interactive two-dimensional (2-D) numerical model allowing for complex host rocks and multiple emplacements of magma was developed to simulate conductive and convective heat transport around magma bodies using a finite-difference approach. Conductive models that are broadly consistent with the petrologic history and observed thermal gradients of the Mt. Konocti and Borax Lake areas imply a combination of high background gradients, shallow magma bodies (roofs at 3–4 km), and recent shallow intrusion not represented by eruption. Models that include zones of convective heat transport directly above magma bodies and/or along overlying fault zones allow for deeper magma bodies (roofs at 4–6 km), but do not easily account for the large areal extent of the thermal anomaly in the Clear Lake region. Consideration of the entire Clear Lake magmatic system, including intrusive equivalents, leads us to conclude that: (1) emplacement of numerous small and shallow silicic magma bodies occurred over essentially the entire region of high heat flow (about 750 km 2); (2) only a very small fraction (much less than 10%) of the silicic magma emplaced in the upper crust at Clear Lake was erupted; (3) high conductive thermal gradients are enhanced locally by fault-controlled zones of convective heat (geothermal fluid) transport; and (4) except for the Mt. Hannah and possibly the Borax Lake area, most of the silicic magma present in the upper crust has solidified or nearly solidified. These bodies are currently difficult to distinguish from surrounding hot basement rocks dominated by graywacke using geophysical methods. The Clear Lake region north of the Collayomi fault is one of the best prospects for hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal development in the US, but is unlikely to provide significant development opportunities for conventional geothermal power production. Modeling results suggest the possibility that granitic bodies similar to The Geysers felsite may underlie much of the Clear Lake region at shallow depths (3–6 km). This is significant because future HDR reservoirs could potentially be sited in granitoid plutons rather than in structurally complex Franciscan basement rocks.

Comparative primary productivity of algal epiphytes on three species of macrophyte in the littoral zone of Lake Ohrid, Yugoslavia

Primary productivity of algal epiphytes on the surfaces of Phragmites, Potamogeton, and Nuphar was measured seasonally from June 1978, through June 1979, in the littoral zone of Lake Ohrid, using 14C methodology. Surface areas of individual macrophytes were determined throughout the study period through the use of a non‐miscible surfactant and a calibration curve of surfactant weight versus known, calculated surface areas.Mean total surface area available for epiphytic colonization during the study period was 1.032 m2 macrophyte surface per m2 of littoral zone for Phragmites, 0.810 m2 for Potamogeton, and 0.167 m2 for Nuphar. Seasonal rates of mean primary productivity of algal epiphytes on Phragmites from the surface to the light‐compensation depth ranged from 84–1406 mg C m−2 littoral zone d−1; ranges for epiphytes on Potamogeton and Nuphar were 77–586 and 69–268 mg C m−2 littoral zone d−1, respectively. Maximum rates were observed typically during June; minimum rates were observed typically during August to December. Mean daily productivity rates over the 12 month period were for epiphytes on Potamogeton 167.0, on Nuphar 100.4 and on Phragmites 671.2 mg C m−2 littoral zone d−1. Calculated annual production for epiphytes on Nuphar was 36.65, on Potamogeton 60.95 and on Phragmites 245.0 g C m−2 littoral zone yr−1. Epiphytic production data were typically considerably higher than production data obtained for littoral and pelagial planktonic algae and compare favorably with published data for epiphytic and periphytic production in Lawrence Lake, Marion Lake, and Borax Lake.

Gravity, Isotope, and Geochemical Study of the Alvord Valley Geothermal Area, Oregon

Research Article| June 01, 1981 Gravity, Isotope, and Geochemical Study of the Alvord Valley Geothermal Area, Oregon J. Cleary; J. Cleary 1Noranda Exploration, P.O. Box 15638, Denver, Colorado 80215 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar I. M. Lange; I. M. Lange 2Department of Geology, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A. I. Qamar; A. I. Qamar 2Department of Geology, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar H. R. Krouse H. R. Krouse 3Department of Physics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1981) 92 (6_Part_II): 934–962. https://doi.org/10.1130/GSAB-P2-92-934 Article history received: 08 Sep 1978 accepted: 10 Nov 1980 rev-recd: 04 Dec 1980 first online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation J. Cleary, I. M. Lange, A. I. Qamar, H. R. Krouse; Gravity, Isotope, and Geochemical Study of the Alvord Valley Geothermal Area, Oregon. GSA Bulletin 1981;; 92 (6_Part_II): 934–962. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/GSAB-P2-92-934 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The Alvord Valley in southeast Oregon has considerable geothermalpower potential (Groh, 1966; Godwin and others, 1971; White and Williams, 1975; Muffler, 1979). The Mickey Springs system is estimated to have an electrical potential of 160 megawatts for a life of 30 yr, and Alvord Springs and Borax Lake to the south are estimated to have 49 and 91 megawatts, respectively (Muffler, 1979). By comparison, the Geysers in California have a potential of 1,610 megawatts for 30 yr. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.

Gravity, isotope, and geochemical study of the Alvord Valley geothermal area, Oregon: Summary

The Alvord Valley in southeast Oregon has considerable geothermalpower potential (Groh, 1966; Godwin and others, 1971; White and Williams, 1975; Muffler, 1979). The Mickey Springs system is estimated to have an electrical potential of 160 megawatts for a life of 30 yr, and Alvord Springs and Borax Lake to the south are estimated to have 49 and 91 megawatts, respectively (Muffler, 1979). By comparison, the Geysers in California have a potential of 1,610 megawatts for 30 yr.

Late Pleistocene American obsidian tools

WE have dated some of the oldest examples of obsidian use yet known in America. The obsidian originates from a new location, the Mostin site, which contains about a dozen burials and is located near the Borax Lake site in northern California. There it is thought that man lived as long ago as 10,000 yr and perhaps even at the end of the Pleistocene1.

On the Uniformity of Composition in Obsidians and Evidence for Magmatic Mixing

Neutron activation measurements on several Northern California obsidian sources show chemical compositions ranging from extremely homogeneous to extremely variable. The uniformity of a source in Napa County, California was as good as the precision of the measurements even when measuring errors were less than 1%. In contrast, the flow at Borax Lake (Lake County, California) revealed variable composition of the obsidian. However, the elements showed a dramatic linear coherence which also extended through the compositions of an underlying dacite layer. The faithful relationship of the many elements suggests that mag-matic mixing occurred prior to erruption.

COMPOSITION VARIATIONS IN OBSIDIAN SOURCES AND THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS*

ABSTRACTSAn obsidian source can exhibit considerable variations in chemical composition. One such flow at Borax Lake in Lake County, California has been carefully investigated by neutron activation analysis of specimens from a number of different loci. It was found that the variable elements were completely coherent, and thus judgements concerning provenience could be just as definitive as with extremely homogeneous materials.

Primary Northupite Deposition in Lake Mahega, Uganda?

THE surface sediment of Lake Mahega, Uganda (0° 01′ S, 29° 58′ E), is a gritty grey-brown matrix containing numerous megascopic octahedral crystals of northupite (Na2CO3·MgCO3·NaCl) and occasional thenardite crystals (Na2SO4). Northupite is a rare mineral, found only four times in lacustrine sediments1,2. Most earlier investigators have considered it to be a diagenetic feature and have proposed chemical schemes for its formation1,3,4. We believe this to be the first report of primary northupite deposition formed as a precipitate at the bottom of a lake. This observation is significant because it indicates that Searles Lake (California), Borax Lake (California), Lake Katwe (Uganda) and Lake Gosiute (Eocene, Wyoming) may all have had a similar chemical composition, at the time of northupite deposition, like that observed in Lake Mahega (Table 1). Few data on the stability of northupite exist, but the mineral has been synthesized4,5. The chemical composition of Lake Mahega as it changes with depth falls generally near, and sometimes within, the stability field of northupite observed at 50° C and PCO2 = 0.25 atm (ref. 5). This agreement seems reasonably good considering the differences between experimental and field conditions.

A Survey of Archaeological Sites Near Guaymas, Sonora

ABSTRACTAn archaeological survey of the Guaymas, Sonora vicinity revealed 27 aboriginal habitation sites representing at least three occupation patterns. The sites yielded surface remains of masonry structures, pottery, ground stone, and chipped stone. A Gypsum Cave point and a possible Borax Lake point were collected. This is substantially farther south than either point type has previously been reported. The sites and artifacts indicate a long continuous occupation of the area by peoples not in the mainstream of Meso-American and Southwestern influence.

Additional Evidence of Early Man in America

FURTHER particulars of the Borax Lake site, Lake County, California, on which relics of the Folsom and the earlier Mohave Lake cultures have been found, are made available in a preliminary report to the Carnegie Institution, Washington, by Mr. M. R. Harrington of the South Western Museum, Los Angeles, who was engaged in exploratory investigation there from July 1937 until June 1938.

On tychite, a new mineral from Borax Lake, California, and on its artificial production and its relations to northupite

On tychite, a new mineral from Borax Lake, California, and on its artificial production and its relations to northupite

On northupite; pirssonite, a new mineral; gaylussite and hanksite from Borax Lake, San Bernardino County, California

On northupite; pirssonite, a new mineral; gaylussite and hanksite from Borax Lake, San Bernardino County, California