Groundwater circulation in the Socorro geothermal area
— Gerado W. Gross and Ralph Wilcox

Socorro is located near the western edge of Socorro Basin in the Rio Grande valley (fig. 1). Two warm springs supply a substantial part of the municipal water supply. This work was undertaken to determine sources and circulation patterns of the warm water and its relation to the regional groundwater system. This information is needed to predict possible effects of geothermal exploration and development in the area. Specific questions are the depth of circulation of the warm ground- waters, and their interaction or mixing with geothermal fluids. To ad- dress these questions it was necessary to study and compare surface and groundwater of Socorro Mountains and of the Snake Ranch Flats portion of La Jencia Basin, which constitute the recharge areas of Socorro Springs.