UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Survey of helium in natural water wells and springs

in southwest Montana and vicinity

By

W. P. Doering and Irving Friedman

Open-File Report 30-131

This report is preliminary and has not been edited or reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey standards

and nomenclature

Survey of helium in natural water wells and springs

in southwest Montana and vicinity

A relation between helium concentrations in underground water and earth­

quakes in locations subject to severe earthquakes has been discovered. This

study monitored the helium concentration of ground water to determine whether

it may be possible to predict an earthquake days in advance of its occurrence.

Since the area around Hebgen Lake, Montana, is seismically active, it was

considered a good location to test this method of earthquake prediction. A

number of water wells and springs were selected for periodic sampling (fig. 1).

The selection was made on the basis of several factors, including proximity to

the epicenter of the Hebgen Lake earthquakes, depth of the well, helium con­

centration in the well or spring, and the availability of volunteer sample

collectors.

The volunteers agreed to mail into our laboratories the water samples

they collected daily or bi-daily. The equipment they were provided to collect

the samples consisted of a water faucet to connect to a garden hose and a rub­

ber septum, which permits a hypodermic needle to be inserted into it to with­

draw water into a 10 ml plastic hypodermic syringe. A line inscribed on the

syringe indicates a volume of 9 ml, the amount to be collected each day. After

filling the syringe to the mark, the water was immediately transferred to an

evacuated glass tube sealed with a butyl rubber stopper. These tubes (origi­

nally manufactured for the collection of human blood samples) are received

evacuated to about 1/5 atmosphere. After the sample was transferred from the

syringe to the glass tube, the small hole in the stopper was covered with

silicone rubber sealant to prevent possible loss of gas. The date of collec­

tion was then written on the tube. When five such tubes were filled, they were

placed in a molded styrofoam box, inserted into a cardboard sleeve and sent

to the laboratory for analysis.

Table 1 is a description of each spring or well sampled for this report. Table 1 Localities of helium sampling stations

Station No, Station Name Address Comments

300 Miller

301 Beer

303304

305

306

308

309

Ear Spg. Scissors spg,

McAtee

Beartrap

Lapp

Povah

310

312

Chico

Bathtub

Dick MillerRiver RouteBox 17Gardiner, Mont. 59030

U.S.G.S.Box 1049West Yellowstone,Mont.59758

Margaret ShortOld Faithful Visitor'sCenter, YellowstoneNational Park, Wyoming82190

Leonard McAtee Cameron, Mont. 59720

Mike Zankowsky P.O. Box 24 Norris, Mont. 59745

Alien L. Lapp Box 503West Yellowstone Montana 59758

Pat Povah Deep Well Ranch West Yellowstone Montana 59758

Eve ArtChico Hot SpringsPray, Mont. 59065

Paul Miller River Route Box 17Gardiner, Mont. 59030

58.5 m (192 ft) deep; well pump at 50.3 m (165 ft) pumped conti­ nuously at 7.6 1pm (2 gpm); water temp. 67°. This we.ll is about 300 m from a small warm spring, and 1000 m from La Duke Hot Springs, a large hot spring. The water is high in fluorine and i ron.

This well is 61 m (200 ft) deep and is a water source for ser­ vice facility at Yellowstone National Park entrance.

Two hot springs near Old Faithful geyser.

61 m (200 ft) deep; domestic water supply.

Large hot pool used for bathing.

Town well, 67.7 m (222 ft) deep; cased to 45.7 m (150 ft).

274 m (900 ft) well, artesian flow with 1.8 m (6 ft) head.

Hot spring.

Large warm pool at top of Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellow- stone National Park.

The water samples were analyzed for helium in the laboratory at the

Denver Federal Center on a Dupont Instruments model 120 SSA mass spectrometer.!'

A liquid-nitrogen-cooled charcoal trap in the inlet system of the mass spectro­

meter prevents most other gases and water vapor from entering the spectrometer

but allows the helium to pass through.. The glass blood sample tubes have a

volume of 13 milliliters; the ullage space of about four milliliters above the

water sample contains 2.6 ml of air (NTP) as well as the helium released from

the water sample. The ullage gas was removed into an empty glass hypodermic

syringe by displacement with water that had been in equilibrium with air. The

water was introduced into the glass sample container through another needle

connected to a bottle of water under slight air pressure. The gas in the glass

syringe was admitted to the spectrometer through the forementioned cold trap.

The output signal from the spectrometer was recorded on a strip chart recorder.

This signal was compared to the recording produced by a reference gas with a

known amount of helium. The reference gas was run first on the spectrometer,

then an ambient air sample was run, followed by an unknown water sample, and

then another air sample. This series of analysis takes about three minutes.

After five water and air samples were run, the reference gas was re-analyzed.

The difference between the reference gas and each unknown sample peak height

and that of the ambient air was measured. By comparing the reading of each

unknown sample to the reading of the reference gas the concentration of each

unknown sample was calculated and expressed in ppb (parts per billion) or ppm

(parts per million) above the concentration of ambient air.

Figure 1 is a map showing the locations of the helium sampling stations

and seismic stations.

The use of a commercial trade name is for descriptive purposes only and does not constitute endorsement of the product by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Graphs for the 10 stations accompany this report; they show the helium

concentration expressed as ppm or ppb helium above that of air (5.2 ppm) per

ml of water, as a function of collection date for each station. Julian-calen­

dar dates as shown on figs. 2-36 can be converted to Gregorian dates (see

fig. 37). Each graph covers a period of six months. Most stations show data

for samples collected beginning in September, 1977 and continue to July, 1979.

Where there are straight lines between more than consecutive days there was

no data for those days. With the exception of station 300, the data does

not show any large deviation. Most stations have a helium content of 400 ppb/ml

or less. Station 306 varies from 600 to 2000 ppb/ml; it is difficult to get

a satisfactory sample from this hot spring and we have discontinued collections

at this site.

The graphs for station 300 have marks along the date line which indicate

when an earthquake of 3.0 magnitude or larger on the Richter scale occurred

and the letter corresponding to the location of the seismic station shown on

the map closest to the epicenter. The most intense earthquake during this

period had an intensity of 4.7 and occurred October 19, 1977. Data are plotted

on the first graph several months proceeding and following the quake. Note

that the helium values fell to almost zero about 17 days preceeding the quake,

and rose to very high values just after the earthquake. The two years that

followed this earthquake have been seismically quiet. However, beginning on

March 15, 1979, the graph for station 300 shows a sudden, large helium increase

with large fluctuations. These fluctuations may be due to sample collection

problems. At this time we have no explanation for the higher average helium

content.

This is the first report of information from an ongoing project to test

the validity of using changes in the helium content of ground water as a

precursor of major earthquakes. The majority of this first data shows no

great variations; there were about 13 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or greater,

and only one of 4.7 magnitude in the area under study during this reporting

period.

Acknow!edgements

Earthquake data was provided by Mitchel Pitt (written commun., December,

1978 and September, 1979). We are also indebted to our volunteer collectors

who provided the samples.

References

Bulashevich, Yu. P., and Bashorin, V.N. 1974, Combined use of helium surveying

and seismic methods in the study of fault tectonics: Geologiya; geofisika,

v. 15, p. 101-104.

Reimer, G. M., 1979, The use of soil-gas helium concentrations for earthquake

prediction: Studies of factors causing diurnal variation: U.S. Geological

Survey Open-File Report 79-1623, 68 p.

Sultankhodzhayev, A. N., Chernow, I.G., and Zakirov, T., 1976, Hydrogeoseismo-

logical premonitors of the Gazli earthquake [in Russian]: Akademiya Nauk

Uzbekskoy SSR Doklady, v. 7, p. 51-53.

Ulomov, V. I. and Mavashev, B. Z, 1971, Forewarning of the Tashkent Earthquake,

i£ The Tashkent Earthquake of 26 April 1976: Tashkent, Izdatel'stvo "FAN"

Uzbekskoi SSR, p, 188-192.

Ill no'

46'

45<

M*^K

___^ B'RP J1 ; _ -..*i ^\T .^EFUcT? i ' li /-J

* '-^[YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK II SEE LARGER MAP ON

REVERSE SIDE

Figure 1. Helium sampling stations (shown by number) and seismic stations (shown by letter). Seismic stations shown but not discussed herein may be referenced in future reports in this project. Arrow shows Hebgen Lake. Scale approxi mately 1:1,550,000 (1 in to 24.6 mi).

HELIUM IN PPM/ML

240

253 ..

265 ..

278 ..

290 ..

CD 303..

315 ..

328 ..

340 ..

353 ..

365 1

Q

M-

0

Figure 2. Helium concentrations in water samples, Gardiner, Montana, September through December, 1977.

7

HELIUM IN PPM/ML

182a (9

200 ..

219 ..

237 ..

255 ..

0

CD 274

292..

310 4.

328 ..

en c*-Q c4-H-

0

GO Q Q

347 J.

365 1

Figure 3.»»Helium concentrations in water samples, Gardiner, Montana, July through December, 1977.

8

HELIUM IN PPM/ML

33-.

37 ..

(9aH I I I I H

aH I I h H h

ta

55 ..

COXICD

91 ..

(D 1

GO (t Q

109 ..

127 ..

03

(JO Q

145 ..

163

181 1Figure 4.--Helium concentrations in water samples, Gardiner, Montana, January

through June, 1978.

HELIUM IN PPM/ML

182

B B

Q B

(d

200 1

219..

237 ..

255..

292 ..

H-

(D

(t G c^H-

03

00

310 ..

328 ..

385 1

Figure 5. Helium concentrations in water samples, Gardiner, Montana, July through December, 1978.

10

HELIUM IN PPM/ML

19 ..

37 ..

55 ,.

73 ..

CO vj CO

91 ..

109 ..

127 .. ^ /a? -D

145 ..

183 ..

181 1

Figure 6. Helium concentrations in water samples, Gardiner, Montana, January through June, 1979.

11

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

162Q

3C9

0)a ta

ro >-» ta ta

ro

53

ro si ta ta

U) ta ta

200..

219..

237..

255 ..

CDxl 274..

292 J.

310..

328..

347 ..

365..

GO <D<D 1

C/l ct Q (tH-

0

O)

y-^

Figure 7. Helium concentrations in water samples, West Yellowstone, Montana, July through December, 1977.

12

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

IV)

19..

37..

55,.

73,.

CD X|00

91 ..

109

1271

145,.

163 ..

181

I

IV)

a

\

a a 1

0)

i i iQ

- 1 -

N UIa aQ Gl

j |

0)a a

- I

»-k

a a 1 -

i 1 .._

§ 1 |

tl)Q B

03 (D (D 1

CO

Q

H-

0 r-V

O)

Figure 8. Helium concentrations in water samples, West Yellowstone, Montana, January through June, 1978.

13

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

0)

182a a

enC9a

00a a

ro ro ro-si

U)

200..

219..

237..

255..

CD-sl00

274..

292..

DU 0

CO ct Q (^H«

03

(JL)D

310..

328..

347 ..

365..

Figure 9.--Helium concentrations in water samples, West Yellowstone, Montana, July through December, 1978.

14

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

B BS (0 IV) Ul CD

IV)

B B

IV) IV)

B B

§B B

19..

37..

55..

73..

03 <D <D

-

CD xl (0

91 ..

109..

127..

145..

Q <+H-

03

(JO

163..

1811

Figure 10. Helium concentrations in water samples, West Yellowstone, Montana, January through June, 1979.

15

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

182

o>g 01 a CD a a

IN)t-» a a

IN) IN) -4

200..

210..

237..

255..

(D ^J

Xl

274..

292..

310..

326 ..

347..

365 i

mQ .

CO

CQ

0

03

CO

(JL)

Figure 11. Helium concentrations in water samples, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, July through December, 1977.

16

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

03 a

(0a a a aui a a

CD a a a a a a51(9 C9

55

73!

CD Xj

00

91 ..

mQ

CO"D . 1

109 -.

127,.

145i

CO

Q

H-

0 f _^

CO

CO

163i

181 i

Figure 12. Helium concentrations in water samples, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, January through June, 1978.

17

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

182

(Dta8

§ta IN) en IN) IN) IN) -4 0)ta ta ta

200..

219..

237 ..

255..

(Dxl 274..

292..

310 ..

328..

347 ..

365

CO 0H-

0) 050 . 1

CO"D

1

00 d- Q

03

CO Q

Figure 13.--Helium concentrations in water samples, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, July through December, 1977.

18

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

19..

toS C3

ui Sw g

Q

37,.

00

55..

73

-

109 T

1274.

CO 0H-

(0 .

o. 1 -0)

CO

H- -T

CO

145

163

00

181 J-Figure 14. Helium concentrations in water samples, Yellowstone National Park,

Wyoming, January through June, 1978.

19

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

1823a ca a

CO C3 19

IS) 19 19

UlIN) IN)

1919

53C3 19

I19

200..

219..

2371

255..

CD xlx!

274 4.

0

00

292..

310..

328 J.

347..

365

H-

0

COQ01

Figure 15. Helium concentrations in water samples, Cameron, Montana, July through December, 1977.

20

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

CD Sca

ro ca 01 ta ta §w

a

w *»a ta (3

0) (9a ta

-H

19 i

f

t73

CDvjCO

91 -.

0*>ft00

CO("D

109t

H-

0-T

_>

127 i

CJ!

145 t163 !

181 1Figure 16. Helium concentrations in water samples, Cameron, Montana, January

through June, 1978.

21

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

182ga (0 IV) ui

8 (3

§aIV)i-»(3 (3

IV) * a a

IV)

a

200..

219..

237 ..

255..

CDXICO

274 ..

292 ..

310..

328..

347..

3651

z:ovct0 <D

QH-

0-r _>

U)

Figure 17. Helium concentrations in water samples, Cameron, Montana, July through December, 1978.

22

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

ro ui 8roH»

aro

19..

37..

55 ..

73..

CDXlCD

91 ..

109..

127..

145 ..

163..

181 1Figure 18. Helium concentrations in water samples, Cameron, Montana,

January through June, 1979.

z:o

<D <D

01

QH-

03

00

en

23

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

1826)

Q 63

IS) 69 63

§6)

IS) > » 6) Q

IS) *>.C9 63 §

200..

219..

237..

255..

CDxl 274..

292 ..

310..

328..

347..

365

I

Figure 19. Helium concentrations in water samples, Morris, Montana, July through December, 1977.

§Q 6)

24

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

19

37

t

T

73

9191CO

109

127

145

f

T

t

I

t

163

181 1

a a _ _ __j_.

Qv]a a

U)gIS

ac o

1 . Q "U

00(tQ<tH-

0

O)Q CD

Figure 20. Helium concentrations in water samples, Morris, Montana, January through June, 1978.

25

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

182

200 1

219 1

237 1

2551

CDXICD

274 1

2921

3101

328 1

347 1

3651

Figure 21.--Helium concentrations in water samples, Norris, Montana, July through December, 1978.

26

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

19 ..

37 ..

55 ..

73..

CD v] CD

91 ..

108..

127..

145 ..

163..

181 1Figure 22. Helium concentrations

through June, 1979.in water samples, Morris, Montana, January

27

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

182I w§ ro a a

en IS) IS)

200..

219..

237 ..

255..

CD 274 ..

292..

310..

328..

347 ..

_Q "U

(A

Q

H-

0~t

00

38siFigure 23.--Helium concentrations in water samples, West Yellowstone, Montana,

July through December, 1977.

28

T

55 T

145

163

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

0)Qa

' Daa

ODaaI

.\)»-

Fj-

Q

h-

a a

0)a

73

IQ"U

CD 91 T

CO(t-Q

1C9

H-

0T->

00

CO

181 _Figure 24. Helium concentrations in water samples, West Yellowstone, Montana,

January through June, 1978.

29

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

182B

3B B B

B B

Ul B B

sB

IV)H»

B B

IV) 4*.B B

IX)NJ i

200 ..

219 ..

237 ..

255..

rQ

CD \I CO

274 ..

292..

Q ctH-

03

O)

CO310..

328..

347 ..

365 ..Figure 25. Helium concentrations in water samples, West Yellowstone, Montana,

July through December, 1978.

30

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

CO IV) UlIIV) IV) IV)

19 ..

37 ..

55..

73..

CO XlCD

91 ..

109..

rQ"U

in c*- QctH-

03

U) Q 00

127..

145 ..

163..

181 1Figure 26.--Helium concentrations in water samples, West Yellowstone* Montana,

January through June, 1979.

31

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

182t9

(I) t9ta

o» ta ta S IS) cni § ta ta

219..

237..

255..

CD 2741

292 X

310 ..

328..

347 ..

U0

Q c 4*f- J -

n

r ~~:

To

3651

Figure 27.--Helium concentrations in water samples, West Yellowstone, Montana, July through December, 1977.

32

ta

t

37 j.

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

0)Q

ui 00ro i-»a 13

tu

"C

0J

0

CDi 91 tS* *

0) ci-Q

109

127

H-

0T

CO

CD

145

163t

181 *

Figure 28.--Helium concentrations in water samples, West Yellowstone, Montana, January through June, 1978.

33

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

182i a £ 00

i(I)

200..

219..

237 .:

255 ..

CD xl 00

274..

292..

310..

328..

347..

3651

Q - T

(fl

Q ftH-

03

U)

(D

Figure 29. Helium concentrations in water samples, West Yellowstone, Montana, July through December, 1978.

34

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

0)ca(Dca ca

PJ ca ca01ca ca

GOca a

N

C3

N4x Caca

N -4 ca ca

U)

ca

19 ..

37.:

55..

73..

CD

109..

127

"D

0

Q T

CO

Q ctH-

03

U)

CO

145..

163..

181 1Figure 30. Helium concentrations in water samples, West Yellowstone, Montana,

January through July, 1979.

35

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

182

(D13 g § IS) IS)

CO

200 ..

219..

237 ,.

255..

CD XI XI

274..

292..

310 ..

328 ..

347..

3651

njH-

o .0

t/yQ

H-

0T-j

CO

Figure 31.--Helium concentrations in water samples, Pray, Montana, July through December, 1977.

36

127

145 T

163 T

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

aU> 0)

Q C3f"

(0 BB

»-« M

Q . L,._

l-»Ul QQ

K-»

CD

Qh-

N»-* Q

-4a &-K

19 T

37

55 T

CD

73T

91

nTH-

00

COft-Q

109

H-

03

CO

181 -Figure 32.--Helium concentrations in water samples, Pray, Montana, January

through June, 1978.

37

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

182a

U)a aCDa a §a IV)s a s

0>s s

Ml-»s s

IN)Sa

CD a a a

200..

219..

237..

255..

(DXI00

274..

292..

nT H-

Q 0

or ctQ ctH-

0

O)

310..

328..

347..

3651

Figure 33. Helium concentrations in water samples, Pray, Montana, July through December, 1978.

38

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

aU)a a

0)a aro a a

ui a a §aw i-* a a a a a a

U)a

19..

37..

55 ..

73 ..

CDvj03

109

127 ..

DD Q

T-

C CT

Q ctH-

03

(JL)

145

163

181 1Figure 34. Helium concentrations in water samples, Yellowstone National Park,

Wyoming, January through June, 1978.

39

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

182

0) s a

COBB

BS

inB B

CD B B

i\J

B B

ro tk B B

roV]

BB

U) B B B

200 ..

219 ..

237 ..

255 ..

CD vj 00

274 ..

292 ..

310 ..

328 ..

347 ..

365 i

CD Q

T-

crCO<+ Q ctH-

03

00I *

ro

Figure 35.--Helium concentrations in water samples, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, July through December, 1978.

40

HELIUM IN PPB/ML

51

0) SI SI

1

0)si es. i ,

(0

. i

>-» w si si

1_. .,..,

H»U1 SI SI

....... 1 .....

i-» CDes cs

.,...._! .,.._.

N>- es ta

. ,j

IV)A ta ca i

IV)-si

ca ca i

0)csSI SI

i

19 ..

73 ..

CD VjCD

91 ..

109 ..

127 ..

145..

163 ..

181 1

00Q&T <f Ccr

03

0)\ * ro

Fl9ure 36--to%rs;r^f! T^: %%} *- Yellowstone Nationai park -41

JULIAN DATE CALENDAR(PERPETUAL)

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Jan

001

002

003

004

005

006

007

008

009

010

Oil

012

013

014

015

016

017

018

019

020

021

022

023

024

025

026

027

028

029

030

031

Feb

032

033

034

035

036

037

038

039

040

041

042

043

044

045

046

047

048

049

050

051

052

053

054

055

056

057

058

059

Mar

060

061

062

063

064

065

066

067

068

069

070

071

072

073

074

075

076

077

078

079

080

081

082

083

084

085

086

087

088

089

090

Apr

091

092

093

094

095

096

097

098

099

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

107

108

109

110

111

112

113

114

115

116

117

118

119

120

May

121

122

123

124

125

126

127

128

129

130

131

132

133

134

135

136

137

138

139

140

141

142

143

144

145

146

147

148

149

150

151

June

152

153

154

155

156

157

158

159

160

161

162

163

164

165

166

167

168

169

170

171

172

173

174

175

176

177

178

179

180

181

^

July

182

183

184

185

186

187

188

189

190

191

192

193

194

195

196

197

198

199

200

201

202

203

204

205

206

207

208

209

210

211

212

Aug

213

214

215

216

217

218

219

220

221

222

223

224

225

226

227

228

229

230

231

232

233

234

235

236

237

238

239

240

241

242

243

Sep

244

245

246

247

248

249

250

251

252

253

254

255

256

257

258

259

260

261

262

263

264

265

266

267

268

269

270

271

272

273

Oct

274

275

276

277

278

279

280

281

282

283

284

285

286

287

288

289

290

291

292

293

294

295

296

297

298

299

300

301

302

303

304

Nov

305

306

307

308

309

310

311

312

313

314

315

316

317

318

319

320

321

322

323

324

325

326

327

328

329

330

331

332

333

334

Dec

335

336

337

338

339

340

341

342

343

344

345

346

347

348

349

350

351

352

353

354

355

356

357

358

359

360

361

362

363

364

365

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Figure 37.--Chart showing correlation of Julian and Gregorian calendar

42