This report describes the nongeothermal hydrogeologic system of the Cove Creek basin and an adjoining part of the Beaver River basin north of Milford, in Millard and Beaver Counties, Utah. The groundwater system in the study area hosts two commercial geothermal reservoirs, provides the entire agricultural and culinary water supply, and may be connected with groundwater in adjoining basins. The report presents a regional hydrogeologic framework assessment, including a newly compiled 1:100,000-scale geologic map, five schematic cross sections, estimates of thickness and hydrologic character of the basin fill based on geophysics and available well logs, and a new potentiometric surface map for the study area. The report also presents and interprets new and compiled geochemical and isotopic data and a new water budget for the study area that includes estimates of subsurface flow to adjoining basins. 65 pages + 2 plates

Since the Arab oil embargo of 1974, it has been clear that the days of almost limitless quantities of low-cost energy have passed. In addition, ever worsening pollution due to fossil fuel consumption, for instance oil and chemical spills, strip mining, sulphur emission and accumulation of solid wastes, has, among other things, led to an increase of as much as 10% in the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere in this century. This has induced a warming trend through the 'greenhouse effect' which prevents infrared radiation from leaving it. Many people think the average planetary temperatures may rise by 4°C or so by 2050. This is probably true since Antarctic ice cores evidence indicates that, over the last 160000 years, ice ages coincided with reduced levels of carbon dioxide and warmer interglacial episodes with increased levels of the gas in the atmosphere. Consequently, such an elevation of temperature over such a relatively short span of time would have catastrophic results in terms of rising sea level and associated flooding of vast tracts of low-lying lands. Reducing the burning of fossil fuels makes sense on both economic and environmental grounds. One of the most attractive alternatives is geothermal resources, especially in developing countries, for instance in El Salvador where geothermal energy provides about a fifth of total installed electrical power already. In fact, by the middle 1980s, at least 121 geothermal power plants were operating worldwide, most being of the dry steam type.

This report characterizes the relationship of geology to groundwater occurrence and flow, with emphasis on determining the thickness of the valley-fill aquifer and water yielding properties of the fractured rock aquifers. Develops a water budget for the drainage basin and classifies the groundwater quality and identifies the likely sources of nitrate in groundwater.

This 116-page report presents the results of an investigation by the Utah Geological Survey of land subsidence and earth fissures in Cedar Valley, Iron County, Utah. Basin-fill sediments of the Cedar Valley Aquifer contain a high percentage of fine-grained material susceptible to compaction upon dewatering. Groundwater discharge in excess of recharge (groundwater mining) has lowered the potentiometric surface in Cedar Valley as much as 114 feet since 1939. Groundwater mining has caused permanent compaction of fine-grained sediments of the Cedar Valley aquifer, which has caused the land surface to subside, and a minimum of 8.3 miles of earth fissures to form. Recently acquired interferometric synthetic aperture radar imagery shows that land subsidence has affected approximately 100 mi² in Cedar Valley, but a lack of accurate historical benchmark elevation data over much of the valley prevents its detailed quantification. Continued groundwater mining and resultant subsidence will likely cause existing fissures to lengthen and new fissures to form which may eventually impact developed areas in Cedar Valley. This report also includes possible aquifer management options to help mitigate subsidence and fissure formation, and recommended guidelines for conducting subsidence-related hazard investigations prior to development.

The purpose of this study is to provide geologic information important in assessing ground-water resources and siting water wells in the Snyderville basin. This geologic study was one phase of a cooperative and more comprehensive water-resource investigation. Subsequent phases conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Division (USGS WRD), focused on the hydrology of the Snyderville basin. The information presented in this report is generalized and is not intended to substitute for site-specific investigations. Future detailed studies will add to the understanding of the geology and ground-water resources of the study area and supplement the information presented herein. 59 pages + 15 plates

Box Elder County displays a variety of lithologic types in each of the major rock divisions: sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic, in a typical Basin and Range setting. True to the basic structure most of its mountain ranges generally trend north-south, but the Raft River Range trends east-west. Each mountain range exhibits a variety of structural situations: most stratigraphic units are folded and faulted, and many are intruded by igneous rocks. 251 pages + 3 plates