Bulletin of the National Speleological Society - ISSN 0146-9517
Volume 28 Number 3: 141-157 - July 1966

A publication of the National Speleological Society

Occurrence and Movement of Ground Water in Carbonate Rocks of Nevada
George B. Maxey and Martin D. Mifflin

Abstract

Paleozoic and Mesozoic carbonate rocks underlie large parts of eastern and southern Nevada and constitute important aquifers there. In studies of carbonate-rock hydrology, two general classifications of groundwater flow systems can be made: (1) Local flow system, where generally drainage areas are small, flow paths are relatively short, interbasin flow is not extensive, springs have large fluctions in discharge, and the water is usually characterized by low temperature and low concentrations of Na, K, Cl, and SO4. (2) Regional flow systems, where generally drainage areas are large, flow paths are long, interbasin flow is common, springs have steady discharge, and the water is usually characterized by relatively high temperature and higher contrations of Na, K, Cl, and SO4. Conventional speleologic and geologic investigations alone are not powerful enough tools to characterize most flow systems in Nevada, and several additional hydrologic approaches have been employed. These include water-budget studies, water-potential studies, and water-chemistry studies. Although detailed delineation of most flow systems in Nevada has not been accomplished, integration of geologic and hydrologic methods permits an approximate portrayal of many systems.

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