Geothermal exploration at the Tuscarora prospect in Elko County, Nevada

The Tuscarora prospect was discovered in 1977 at the north end of Independence Valley approximately 90 kilometers north-northwest of Elko, Nevada. Independence Valley is a fault basin on the west side of Independence Range in the area where the Basin and Range structure abut with the Snake River downwarp. Geothermal manifestations include over twenty-five thermal springs which issue along a 4.8 kilometer linear zone trending north-northeast. A siliceous sinter deposit is present for about 1.6 kilometers along the zone. Water chemistry using a mixing model indicates a minimum subsurface temperature of 216/sup 0/C.