WorldWide Drilling Resource

A Closer Look at Nevada’s Fly Geyser... But not too Close Compiled by Amy White, Associate Editor, WorldWide Drilling Resource ® A farmer drilled a well on his Nevada ranch in the early 20th century, hoping to locate a source of water to bring life to the dry land. What he unearthed was a complete surprise. Though he found water, it wasn’t exactly the kind he was searching for; instead, he hit geothermal water around 200ºF (93ºC), which was not suitable for irrigation purposes. A geyser gave rise to a cone of calcium carbonate about 12 feet high before it stopped spewing hot water. In 1964, a geothermal power company drilled a test well at the site. Hot water soon gushed into the air; however, the well was later abandoned since the water temperature was not hot enough to be tapped for geothermal power. According to newpaper reports following the incident, the well was either plugged improperly or left uncapped altogether. Scalding water has erupted from the well ever since, causing calcium carbonate deposits to grow at the rate of several inches per year. Brilliant red and green shades on the mound are the result of ther- mophilic algae thriving in the geyser’s extreme microclimate. The Fly Geyser, as it is called, is located on the edge of Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. Water and minerals steadily pumped to the surface over the years have formed an incredible “mountain” with its own ecosystem. The presence of several sprouts has made it impossible for the mound to rise beyond about five feet; but the mounds are still growing. The ecosystem formed in pools around the geyser play host to small fish and birds. Most of the time, Fly Geyser can only be admired from afar, since it sits on pri- vate property, where it’s illegal to trespass. The area is protected by a high fence, as well as a locked gate with barbed wire at the top. It’s not impossible to get per- mission for a closer look, as the owners are said to offer day tours a couple of times each year; but the public is mostly restricted from going inside the gate. Visitors say your best bet for viewing this man-made oddity is from the roadside. The geyser is only about 0.3 miles away from State Route 34, and can be seen in the distance from there. With the right camera, you might even get a close-up. The Fly Geyser in 1965, when it was just a pipe in the ground. Photo courtesy of Beverly Osborn. !+34# 0/4#/# 2 #,'23(+'-& ((+%' 0& '/&'230/ 2#/ '/&'230/ $+4%0+/%20& *04.#+- %0. 777 $+4%0+/% 53 '7 3'& +43 0-' 1'/'23 2#) +43 "+/)3 #..'23 #..'2 +43 +6'24'23 ' 4+11+/) 4#$+-+8'23 -#7 +43 +1' "+1'3 0-4 0/ ''4* 5$3 30 MAY 2016 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®