Geochemical indicators of subsurface temperature: Part 2, estimation of temperature and fraction of hot water mixed with cold water

The water in many warm springs with large rates of flow consists of mixtures of hot water that has come from depth and of shallow cold water. Under favorable conditions the original temperature of the hot water and the fraction of the cold water in the mixture can be estimated by using the measured temperature and silica content of the warm spring water and the temperature and silica content of nonthermal water in the region. The method has been applied with apparent success at Yellowstone National Park.