Mariner and others (1974) measured a temperature of 86°C at a spring reported to be in Sec. 11, Tl7N, R39E. No spring is known from that section, and it is likely that springs at the major hot spring area (Sec. 25 and 26) were actually sampled. They reported a trace of travertine, and the estimated thermal reservoir temperature is between 143 and 157°C for various chemical geothermometers. Smith Creek Valley Springs, in Sec. 25, 26, T17N, R39E, consist of numerous hot springs that are near boiling (Mariner and others, 1974), although somewhat higher geothermometer temperatures (up to 175°C) were found using 2002 water samples and the Na-K-Ca geothermometer. The springs appear to be associated with recent faults that cut the younger alluvium (Everett and Rush, 1964). A hot spring is also reported in Sec. 25, Tl7N, R40E by Waring (1965). No spring is shown on the Iron Point 7.5-minute Quadrangle map, and the location may refer to Smith Creek Valley Springs. Locations and temperatures of over 40 springs and seeps were measured in August 2002, with temperatures of the thermal waters ranging from 44-95.5°C. Many of the springs in this area appear to experience seasonal fluctuations and a significant change in temperature was noted between June and August 2002 for the spring with the largest surface expression. Between June and August 2002, the elevation and temperature of one high-flow spring dropped by about 10 cm and about 30°C, respectively. Some of these springs appear to have been the result of cattle hooves breaking through thin soil surfaces resulting in small seeps or holes with water levels several centimeters below the surface. Despite a small surface expression these holes appear to have deep feeder channels and can have high temperature gradients.
Warm springs are also reported about 9.5 km north of Smith Creek Valley Hot Springs in Sec. 27, Tl8N, R39E by Waring (1965). These springs are called Twin Springs on the Carroll Summit NE 7.5-minute Quadrangle. No other temperature information is available for these springs.
Photos
Hottest Spring (SC-36; 95.5°C) in Smith Creek Valley.
Measuring temperature spring #13 (SC-13; 76.9°C).
Measuring temperature spring. 30cm orifice with algae downstream. Leached plant material in water. #14 (SC-14; 90°C).
Measuring temperature in spring #15 (66°C).
Measuring temperature in spring #16 (76.2°C).
View looking NE from spring #14. Bronco is parked near stock tank (79.2°C).
Digging in reed mound located in playa to insert sampling pipe (SC-1; 8.2°C).
Sampling pipe inserted into reed mound before turbidity settled (SC-1; 8.2°C).
Spring #20. Salt crust down gradient of spring (SC-20; 67.2°C).
Spring #22. View showing funnel shaped opening and deep orifice (60°C).
Measuring temperature of spring feeding stock tank. 1.5m pool bermed up to supply stock tank (68.8°C).
Cluster of springs surrounded by lush grass and some cow bones (81.8°C).
View of spring #27, showing funnel shaped opening with red brown algae (68.8°C).
Measuring Temp of Cold Water in deflated basin (spring #8) south of main hot spring area near grassy cold seeps (<14C).
Measuring temp of springs north of stock tank. Picture taken looking NE from near spring feeding stock tank (87.1C).
Three small orifices coalescing (48°C).
Spring #38, which feeds bathtubs. Light brown water line shows water level as it appeared in June, 2002. There was no outflow and temperature was approximately 30°C lower then in June when the photo was taken (August, 2002).
Cold spring (Twin Springs) located to the north of Smith Creek Hot Springs (15.7°C).
One of the southeastern most hot springs. Tan spot to the left on the horizon is the bronco parked near the stock tank.
Spring #6, one of the southeastern most hot springs in Smith Creek Area.