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Show $195,000.00 GRANT ftEMGl(ol fe&i The National Science Foundation has awarded a major research grant to University Uni-versity of Utah scientists to develop optimum systems for locating the state's geothermal geo-thermal energy or "clean power." Dr. Stanley H. Ward, chairman of the Department of Geology and Geophysics, will direct the federally-funded federally-funded project the most extensive of its kind ever conducted in Utah. The $196,400 grant marks the first substantial undertaking under-taking in the diversified five-year five-year energy plan recently unveiled by the University's College of Engineering and College of Mines in a bid to help the nation achieve self sufficiency by 1980. Although the grant is scheduled sche-duled for expiration April 30, 1975, Dr. Ward anticipates antici-pates the important research, re-search, whose results will have national application, "will develop Into a project lasting several years. "Our primary aim" Dr. Ward explained, "Is to make a major contribution to the science and technology of detection, delineation, and economic evaluation of geothermal geo-thermal resources." The exploration systems will be utilized in Utah in areas of known hot springs and late Tertairy or Quaternary Qua-ternary volcanic activity. The work will include photo interpretation, geologic mapping, structural analysis, analy-sis, petrologic study, geo-chemical geo-chemical analysis, micro -earthquake and seismic noise monitoring, heat flow measurement, resistivity Induced polarization surveying survey-ing and gravity surveying. As a rule, geothermal power is obtained by releasing re-leasing hot water or steam locked in the earth's interior inter-ior through drill holes, then channeling it through pipes to a turbine generator unit. Present technology on geothermal resources, the natural heat of the earth, is "young and untested by long experience of success and failure," the U professor added. As part of the project, the Department of Geology and Geophysics will maintain an "open file office" in the Mineral Min-eral Science Building so that industry and other interested parties can keep abreast of research findings. The research team includes in-cludes Professors W. p. Nash, William T. Parry, William R. Sill, Robert B. Smith and J. A. Whelan, all of the Department of Geology Geo-logy and Geophysics. In addition, ad-dition, Dr. David D. Black-continued Black-continued on Page 2) exploration and the shortage of trained specialists and technicians have combined In the past to retard progress," the proposal stated. Five areas tentatively have been selected for thorough thor-ough study by the researchers, research-ers, -with high priority given to Roosevelt Hot Springs, about 12 miles northeast of Mllford In Beaver County. Most of the sites, Dr. Ward said, are characterized character-ized by hot springs -which may be a large distance from the source reservoir. Most goo thermal areas explored to date possess plumbing systems which allow the hot fluids to leak to the surface as "geothermal seeps" or hot springs. Other locations to be Investigated In-vestigated Include Abraham Hot Springs about 18 miles northwest of Delta in JUab County; Thermo Hot Springs southwest of Mllford; Cedar Valley, east of Cedar City in Iron County; the Mary sville-Rlchfleld sville-Rlchfleld area In Sevier County; and the East Tintic District In Jiab Countv. - - - - - - - - - HERE'S MORE ABOUT GEOTHERMAL well of Southern Methodist University will serve as a heat flow consultant to the team. The U scientists, In their proposal for federal funds, warned that geothermal exploration ex-ploration would remain on "unfirm ground" until effective ef-fective exploration systems are designed and tested. "The paucity of research and information on geothermal geo-thermal resources In the crust, the lack of guides for |