Springs, Streams, and Gas Vent on and Near Mount Adams 

Volcano, Washington

By Manuel Nathenson and Robert H. Mariner

Scientific Investigations Report 2013–5097

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

SALLY JEWELL, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2013

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Nathenson, Manuel, and Mariner, R.H., 2013, Springs, streams, and gas vent on and near Mount Adams 

volcano, Washington: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2013-5097, 19 p., 

[Available on the Web at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2013/5097/.]

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 iii

Contents

Abstract ..........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................1

Characteristics of Springs and Streams....................................................................................................2

Air and Spring Temperatures..............................................................................................................2

Chemistry of Springs and Streams ....................................................................................................2

Isotopic Composition of Springs ......................................................................................................16

Gas Vent ........................................................................................................................................................16

Discussion.....................................................................................................................................................17

Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................................17

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................17

Figures

 1. Map of Mount Adams, Washington, showing locations of sites visited in this study and those 

from 1974 .........................................................................................................................................5

 2. Map of weather stations in the vicinity of Mount Adams with 30-year records for calculation of 

normal air temperatures ................................................................................................................6

 3. Graph of temperature versus elevation for air temperatures from weather stations shown in 

figure 2 and for temperatures of springs from sites in figure 1 ..................................................6

 4. Graph of sodium versus bicarbonate concentrations for springs and streams in the Mount 

Adams region..................................................................................................................................7

 5. Graph of silica concentration versus specific conductance for springs and streams in the 

Mount Adams region....................................................................................................................7

 6. Graph of calcium versus sulfate concentrations for springs and streams in the Mount 

Adams region ..............................................................................................................................12

 7. Photo of Cascade Creek at the location of sampling, showing the reddish-brown color of 

wetted precipitates ....................................................................................................................12

 8. Graph of deuterium/hydrogen deviation (δD) versus oxygen-18/oxygen-16 deviation (δ18O)

for water samples from table 2.................................................................................................13

 9. Graph of oxygen-18/oxygen-16 ratio deviation versus elevation for samples from table 2...13

10. Triangular diagram showing relative proportions of nitrogen, argon, and helium for gas data 

from table 3 ..................................................................................................................................14

11. Triangular diagram showing relative proportions of methane, argon, and helium for gas data 

from table 3 ..................................................................................................................................15

Tables

1. Physical measurements and sampling information on springs and streams on and near 

Mount Adams. ..............................................................................................................................3

2. Chemical and isotopic data for water samples from springs and streams on and near Mount 

Adams.............................................................................................................................................8

3. Chemical analysis of gas sample from the vent on Mount Adams, along with data for 

selected samples from Cascade volcanoes. .........................................................................14
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Abstract 

Springs and some streams on Mount Adams volcano 

have been sampled for chemistry and light stable isotopes of 

water. Spring temperatures are generally cooler than air temperatures from weather stations at the same elevation. Spring 

chemistry generally reflects weathering of volcanic rock from 

dissolved carbon dioxide. Water in some springs and streams 

has either dissolved hydrothermal minerals or has reacted 

with them to add sulfate to the water. Some samples appear to 

have obtained their sulfate from dissolution of gypsum while 

some probably involve reaction with sulfide minerals such as 

pyrite. Light stable isotope data for water from springs follow 

a local meteoric water line, and the variation of isotopes with 

elevation indicate that some springs have very local recharge 

and others have water from elevations a few hundred meters 

higher. No evidence was found for thermal or slightly thermal 

springs on Mount Adams. A sample from a seeping gas vent 

on Mount Adams was at ambient temperature, but the gas 

is similar to that found on other Cascade volcanoes. Helium 

isotopes are 4.4 times the value in air, indicating that there is a 

significant component of mantle helium. The lack of fumaroles on Mount Adams and the ambient temperature of the gas 

indicates that the gas is from a hydrothermal system that is no 

longer active.

Introduction 

Mount Adams stratovolcano in southwestern Washington covers an area of approximately 600 km2

 and reaches an 

elevation of 3,742 m (Hildreth and Fierstein, 1995). An additional area of 650 km2

 is covered by the surrounding Mount 

Adams volcanic field. Mount Adams lavas are predominantly 

andesitic with minor amounts of basalt and dacite, whereas 

the surrounding volcanic field is largely basaltic (Hildreth 

and Lanphere, 1994). Eruptions in the volcanic field started 

at about 950 ka, and construction of the Mount Adams edifice 

started at about 520 ka. The volume rate of eruption has varied 

episodically, with the most recent period of high production 

having built the current central edifice during the period 35 

to 10 ka. Eruptions have continued into the Holocene, but the 

rate of eruption has not been large (Hildreth and Fierstein, 

1997). The most recent eruptions of lava appear to be older 

than the 3,500-yr-BP Ye ash layer from Mount St. Helens, but 

some locally derived ash layers are younger than 2,500 yr BP 

but older than 1482 C.E., indicating that there have been more 

recent eruptions (Hildreth and Fierstein, 1995). 

Stratovolcanoes with dominantly andesite lava products 

usually do not develop large upper crustal magma chambers 

that provide the heat source needed to sustain hydrothermal 

systems. However, it is estimated that an area of about 4 km2

on the summit cone of Mount Adams has undergone hydrothermal alteration, with an area of 0.55 km2

 having undergone moderate to severe acid-sulfate alteration (Hildreth and 

Fierstein, 1995; Vallance, 1999). Data from sulfur prospecting 

suggests that there is an additional 0.54 km2 of extensively 

altered rock in an area covered by ice (Vallance, 1999). Hydrothermal alteration is exposed in cliffs and cleavers (a thin 

ridge of rock formed by the flow of two glaciers) extending 

500–1,000 m below the summit, indicating that a volume of 

0.9–3.3 km3 is altered (Vallance, 1999). Helicopter surveys for 

resistivity show that the summit area is underlain by low resistivity to an assumed penetration depth of 300 m, and magnetic 

mapping indicates that nonmagnetic material from hydrothermal alteration extends to depths of 800–1,000 m (Finn and 

others, 2007), similar to the estimate based on exposures in 

cliffs and cleavers. The volume of low-resistivity and nonmagnetic regions that corresponds to mapped alteration is ~1.8 

km3 (Finn and others, 2007), in the mid-range of the estimate 

based on geologic mapping. Moderately altered and fracturecontrolled areas of intense alteration were not detected with 

the geophysical mapping. The extensive area and volume of 

alteration estimated from geologic and geophysical mapping 

indicates that there has been a significant hydrothermal system 

in the past. Oxidation of hydrogen sulfide produced elemental sulfur and sulfuric acid that interacted with andesite to 

produce kaolinite, alunite, gypsum, and silica. Today, the most 

abundant sulfur-containing minerals are sulfates with some 

elemental sulfur and sparse pyrite (Hildreth and Fierstein, 

1995). 

Previous work did not identify thermal springs on Mount 

Adams (Cline, 1976; Fretwell, 1979), and the purpose of our 

work was to sample springs on Mount Adams to see if there 

were any slightly thermal springs. “Slightly thermal springs” 

are springs that do not meet the numerical criterion of Reed 

(1983) of being 10 °C above the mean annual air temperature 

but have temperatures greater than nonthermal springs in the 

area. They usually also have dissolved constituents normally 

found in thermal waters (Nathenson and others, 2003). No 

slightly thermal springs were found in this study. Isotopic 

Springs, Streams, and Gas Vent on and Near Mount Adams 

Volcano, Washington

By Manuel Nathenson and Robert H. Mariner
2 Springs, Streams, and Gas Vent on and Near Mount Adams Volcano, Washington

data for spring samples make it possible to develop isotopeelevation relations to estimate recharge elevations. Springs 

identified on topographic maps were visited to make physical 

measurements (table 1 and fig. 1). Some springs have high values of dissolved sulfate (see below), and they are shown with 

a different symbol. In addition, streams were measured to look 

for anomalies in temperature and (or) specific conductance. 

Flow rates were measured using a tape measure, float, and stop 

watch and are quite approximate. Locations for data taken in 

1974 (Cline, 1976; Fretwell, 1979) are also shown on figure 1. 

No fumaroles have been identified on Mount Adams. Hildreth and others (1983) smelled hydrogen sulfide in the summit area during field work in 1981 and 1982, but no specific 

orifices were identified. Earlier reports of summit fumaroles 

are summarized in Hildreth and others (1983). A gas vent was 

identified and sampled for this study.

Characteristics of Springs and Streams

Air and Spring Temperatures

In order to evaluate the temperature data for springs, 

we plot data for mean annual air temperatures from weather 

stations (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 

1997a,b; Western Regional Climate Center, 2011a,b) within 

a block centered on Mount Adams (fig. 2) versus station 

elevation (fig. 3). The mean annual air temperatures are the 

“normal” values for the period 1961 to 1990. Air temperatures 

are mostly determined by station elevation (fig. 3), with some 

variability about this relation. Using least-squares correlation 

with air temperature as the dependent variable, the slope of 

the correlation line shown in figure 3 is −0.00512 ± 0.00036 

°C/m and the intercept at sea level is 12.0 ± 0.2 °C (standard 

errors of the mean). The data in figure 3 group into values 

warmer than the line and those cooler than the line. Many of 

the stations with warmer temperatures are along the eastern 

part of the area, and some are along the Columbia River at low 

elevations. There is no clear pattern that would indicate that 

data from some stations should not be included in calculating 

the correlation, and we accept the correlation line.

Spring temperatures measured in this study are generally cooler than air temperatures, though a few coincide with 

the correlation line (fig. 3). Four springs have data from 1974 

and this study (color coded in figure 3), and their temperatures from the two samplings are generally pretty close in 

value. Two springs with data from 1974 are warmer than the 

correlation line for air temperature with elevation. Spring 

07/12E-04M01S has a temperature of 8.0 °C; however, the 

values for sulfate and chloride concentrations are not anomalous (table 2). Spring 09/12E-35R01S has a temperature of 

10.2 °C, specific conductance of 102 microsiemens per centimeter (μS/cm), and flow of 0.2 liters per second (L/s). Unfortunately, no chemical data are available for this spring. Both 

the specific conductance and temperature are high compared to 

other springs (except for those with high sulfate). If this spring 

is truly anomalous, its low flow makes it a rather small feature. 

In summary, all springs analyzed and discussed in this report 

are nonthermal.

Chemistry of Springs and Streams

The chemistry of most springs on Mount Adams is determined by the process of weathering of volcanic rock (Nathenson and Thompson, 1990). Carbon dioxide in the soil zone is 

much higher in partial pressure than in the atmosphere, and 

this carbon dioxide dissolves in groundwater, making an acid 

solution that reacts with minerals in volcanic rock. The result 

is bicarbonate, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium 

ions going into solution along with silica as a neutral species, 

with the original minerals converting to clays. For example, a 

plot of sodium versus bicarbonate (fig. 4) shows that for most 

springs increasing bicarbonate concentrations result in increasing sodium concentrations following a linear relationship. 

In addition to the products from weathering, water is 

some springs and streams contains added sulfate from either 

dissolving or reacting with hydrothermal minerals. Small 

amounts of sulfate and chloride are present in precipitation 

and become more concentrated from evaporation during snow 

melt or stream flow before water enters the ground. Springs 

have chloride content ranging as high as 0.8 milligrams per 

liter (mg/L) (table 2)—about what one would expect from that 

in precipitation after some evaporative concentration. The lack 

of any chloride anomalies is consistent with most springs having temperatures that do not indicate any component of thermal water (fig. 3). Sulfate concentrations in some springs and 

creeks are elevated compared to most springs (table 2), and 

we have used this to identify a group of high-sulfate springs. 

Trappers Creek and Divide Camp Springs may also belong 

to this group, but we chose the clearly anomalous sulfate 

concentration of 3.5 mg/L in McCumber Spring as minimum 

value for inclusion in the group. The sodium concentrations 

for McCumber, Goat Butte, and Salt Creek springs are close 

to the sodium/bicarbonate correlation line (fig. 4), whereas the 

Salt Creek Spring no.2 clearly has significantly more sodium 

than expected for its bicarbonate concentration. McCumber 

Spring in 1974 did not contain anomalous sulfate (table 2). 

The samples for the Klickitat River and Big Muddy Creek are 

essentially along the correlation line of figure 4. Adams Creek 

and Cascade Creek have no bicarbonate, and their sodium and 

sulfate concentrations are from hydrothermal minerals.

Another way to see the differences between weathering 

and the addition of constituents from hydrothermal minerals is a plot of silica content versus specific conductance (fig. 

5). In general, specific conductance of a spring’s water is 

proportional to its bicarbonate concentration, but for springs 

with high sulfate content, it is proportional to the combination of bicarbonate and sulfate. For most springs in figure 5, 

silica concentrations are proportional to specific conductance. 
Table 1. Physical measurements and sampling information on springs and streams on and near Mount Adams. [Measurements on springs at the orifice are identified by an * after the name. Cond. is specific conductance. Locations use North American Datum of 1927.]

Loc. No. Name Sample No. Measurement point Elev. (m) Date Flow (L/s) T ( ̊C) 

Latitude Longitude

C03-01 Mile 38 Spring* MNA-03-01 46°06.97' 121°36.60' 1,019 8/20/03 0.33 5.3 

C03-02 Rock Spring* MNA03-02 46°07.66' 121°33.38' 1,403 8/20/03 0.10 2.4 

C03-03 Cascade Creek 46°06.34' 121°36.28' 935 8/20/03 360 11.5 C03-04 White Salmon River 46°06.32' 121°36.48' 972 8/20/03 360 8.9 

C03-05 Morrison Creek 46°09.19' 121°29.80' 1,910 8/21/03 24 8.7 

C03-06 Stream 46°09.67' 121°30.48' 1,868 8/21/03 5.4 8.7 

C03-07 Stream 46°09.69 121°30.69' 1,849 8/21/03 22.5 7.4 

C03-08 Stream 46°09.81' 121°31.07' 1,866 8/21/03 2.7 12.3 

C03-09 Salt Creek 46°09.91' 121°31.39' 1,865 8/21/03 72 12.4 C03-10 Salt Creek Spring* MNA03-03 46°09.86' 121°31.37' 1,869 8/21/03 9.0 2.5 

C03-17 Aiken Lava Bed Spring* MNA03-04 46°05.69' 121°29.07' 1,156 8/23/03 24 2.5 

C03-18 Boundary Spring* MNA03-05 46°09.07' 121°27.66' 1,962 8/24/03 1.2 2.0 

C03-19 Campground Spring* MNA03-06 46°08.14' 121°29.48' 1,691 8/24/03 0.22 2.2 

C03-20 Divide Camp Spring* MNA03-07 46°14.65' 121°33.43' 1,708 8/25/03 0.25 1.2 

C03-21 Adams Creek 46°15.14' 121°33.38' 1,658 8/25/03 360 8.3 C03-22 East Fork Adams Creek 46°16.41' 121°33.74' 1,392 8/25/03 180 6.0 C03-23 Killen Creek 46°17.63' 121°32.83' 1,391 8/25/03 60 11.3 C03-24 South Fork Spring Creek 46°18.40' 121°32.67' 1,348 8/25/03 150 8.6 C03-25 Muddy Fork 46°19.28' 121°32.69' 1,299 8/25/03 480 11.7 C03-26 Outflow from Salt Creek Springs 46°09.86' 121°31.37' 1,869 8/26/03 18 2.6 C03-27 Salt Creek Spring No. 2* MNA03-08 46°09.93' 121°31.55' 1,856 8/26/03 150 1.6 

C03-28 Stream 46°10.02' 121°31.67' 1,858 8/26/03 78 13.0 

C03-29 Cascade Creek 46°10.54' 121°32.65 1,849 8/26/03 30 14.6 

C03-30 Cascade Creek MNA03-09 46°10.65' 121°32.84' 1,843 8/26/03 180 9.8 

C03-31 Wicky Creek Spring* MNA03-10 46°05.88' 121°31.77' 1,158 8/27/03 6 4.0 

C03-32 Creek 46°11.87' 121°38.61' 1,172 8/27/03 200 4.6 C03-33 Twin Falls Creek 46°12.68' 121°37.83' 1,178 8/27/03 120 3.7 

C03-34 Noname Creek 46°13.21' 121°37.72' 1,106 8/27/03 25 6.4 C03-35 Riley Creek 46°13.67' 121°37.21' 1,096 8/27/03 480 7.8 C03-36 Big Spring Creek 46°13.93' 121°37.44 1,096 8/27/03 540 4.2 C03-37 Lewis River 46°15.30' 121°36.45' 1,205 8/27/03 240 9.1 C04-01 McCumber Spring* MNA04-01 46°04.31' 121°18.30' 750 8/25/04 38 5.5 

C04-02 Bup Spring* MNA04-02 46°11.06' 121°17.32' 818 8/25/04 0.7 5.6 
Table 1. Physical measurements and sampling information on springs and streams on and near Mount Adams.—Continued Loc. No. Name Sample No. Measurement point Elev. (m) Date Flow (L/s) T ( ̊C) 

Latitude Longitude C04-03 Clearwater Creek 46°18.52' 121°24.42' 1,292 8/26/04 230 4.2 

C04-04 Cold Creek 46°18.83' 121°22.78' 1,185 8/26/04 72 5.8 

C04-05 Trappers Creek Spring* MNA04-03 46°16.70' 121°24.12' 1,409 8/26/04 450 3.2 

C04-06 Trappers Creek 46°16.85' 121°23.26' 1,320 8/26/04 540 4.6 

C04-07 Little Muddy Creek 46°16.21' 121°22.73' 1,351 8/26/04 360 9.5 

C04-08 Bird Creek Meadows stream 46°09.13' 121°26.09' 1,828 8/27/04 18 7.7 

C04-09 Stream 46°09.07' 121°26.34' 1,853 8/27/04 23 6.2 

C04-10 Stream 46°08.99' 121°26.58' 1,873 8/27/04 36 4.4 

C04-11 Stream 46°08.96' 121°26.69' 1,867 8/27/04 80 8.4 

C04-12 Spring* 46°08.93' 121°26.88' 1,871 8/27/04 5.4 1.7 C04-13 Stream 46°08.94' 121°26.95' 1,878 8/27/04 60 6.6 

C04-14 Stream 46°08.96' 121°27.11' 1,892 8/27/04 56 3.5 

C04-15 Crooked Creek 46°08.99' 121°27.27' 1,889 8/27/04 45 4.9 

C04-16 Crooked Creek Spring* MNA04-04 46°09.33' 121°27.53' 2,010 8/27/04 54 0.8 

C04-17 Meadow Spring* MNA04-05 46°09.45' 121°25.59' 1,637 8/28/04 60 2.6 

C04-18 Hellroaring Creek 46°09.82' 121°23.99' 1,457 8/28/04 360 8.3 C04-19 Island Spring* MNA04-06 46°10.09' 121°23.81' 1,604 8/28/04 1.8 3.8 

C04-20 Spring stream 46°06.18' 121°23.74' 1,281 8/29/04 -- 10.6 

C04-21 Bacon Creek Spring* MNA04-07 46°07.16' 121°22.05' 1,260 8/29/04 18 2.9 

C04-22 Cress Camp Spring* 46°08.21' 121°21.73' 1,393 8/29/04 7.2 3.0 

C04-23 Soda Spring Creek 46°13.77' 121°17.45' 1,052 8/30/04 6.0 11.7 C04-24 Spring 46°13.65' 121°22.08' 1,473 8/30/04 dry C04-25 Cunningham Creek 46°10.86' 121°17.18' 819 8/30/04 180 10.7 C04-26 Big Muddy Creek 46°09.10' 121°17.58' 742 8/30/04 2,500 12.5 C04-27 Cougar Creek 46°08.32' 121°17.53' 789 8/30/04 9.0 13.5 C04-28 Dairy Creek 46°06.30' 121°17.78' 699 8/30/04 18 12.4 C04-29 Bacon Creek 46°04.71' 121°17.17' 669 8/30/04 12 10.9 C04-30 Bird Creek 46°03.59' 121°18.28' 678 8/30/04 90 12.3 

C04-31 Adams Creek MNA04-08 46°14.48' 121°32.62' 1,825 8/31/04 900 6.2 

C04-32 Adams Creek 46°14.49' 121°32.58' 1,839 8/31/04 36 9.9 C04-33 Lewis River 46°14.25' 121°32.83' 1,850 8/31/04 270 9.6 C04-34 Stream 46°14.12' 121°33.01' 1,849 8/31/04 4.8 19.7 C04-35 Mutton Creek 46°13.75' 121°33.39' 1,861 8/31/04 dryC04-36 Goat Butte Spring* MNA04-09 46°12.46' 121°26.10' 2,012 9/1/04 12 1.2 
Characteristics of Springs and Streams 5

1000

1000

2000

2500

3000

3500

1500

1500

1000

1000

1000

1000

1000

1000

1000

1000

1000

1000

1500

1500

1500

Salt Creek Springs 

McCumber 

Spring 

Goat Butte 

Spring 

Cascade Creek 

Adams Creek 

Klickitat River 

Big Muddy 

Creek 

Gas vent 

0 10 KILOMETERS 

46°00’ 

46°15’ 

121°30’ 121°15’ 

Measured streams 

Springs 

High-sulfate springs 

Springs sampled in 1974 

High-sulfate streams 

Gas vent 

EXPLANATION

0 5 MILES 

Figure 1. Map of Mount Adams, Washington, showing locations of sites visited in this 

study and those from 1974 (Cline, 1976; Fretwell, 1979). High-sulfate springs have ≥3.5 mg/L 

sulfate. Topography (contours in meters) modified from Hildreth and Lanphere (1994).
6 Springs, Streams, and Gas Vent on and Near Mount Adams Volcano, Washington

0 20 KILOMETERS 

Mount Adams 

122° 121° 120° 

45° 

46° 

Washington 

Oregon 

47° 

0 10 MILES 

Figure 2. Map of weather stations in the vicinity of Mount Adams with 30-year records for 

calculation of normal air temperatures. Dash-dot line shows state boundary.

Figure 3. Graph of temperature versus elevation for air temperatures from weather stations shown in figure 

2 and for temperatures of springs from sites in figure 1. Correlation line is for air temperatures. For springs with 

temperature measurements from both 1974 and this study, the two symbols are shown in the same color.

0 

500 

1,000 

1,500 

2,000 

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 

Elevation, in meters 

Temperature, in degrees Celsius 

Air Temperatures 

Springs 

Springs-1974 

EXPLANATION 

Trappers Creek Spring 

Bacon Creek Spring 

Bup Spring 

McCumber Spring 
Characteristics of Springs and Streams 7

Figure 4. Graph of sodium versus bicarbonate concentrations for springs and streams in the Mount 

Adams region. Correlation line is for springs (circles), with bicarbonate as the dependent variable.

Salt Creek 

Spring 

Salt Creek 

Spring No. 2 

McCumber 

Spring 

Goat Butte 

Spring 

Cascade 

Creek 

Adams 

Creek 

0 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

0 10 20 30 40 50 

Sodium concentration, in milligrams per liter 

Bicarbonate concentration, in milligrams per liter 

Springs 

High-sulfate springs 

High-sulfate streams 

Klickitat River 

Big Muddy Creek 

EXPLANATION 

Figure 5. Graph of silica concentration versus specific conductance for springs and streams in the Mount 

Adams region. Correlation line is for springs (circles), with specific conductance as the dependent variable.

Salt Creek 

Spring 

Salt Creek 

Spring No. 2 

McCumber 

Spring 

Goat Butte 

Spring 

Cascade 

Creek 

Adams 

Creek 

0 

10 

20 

30 

40 

50 

0 50 100 150 200 250 

Silica concentration, in milligrams per liter 

Specific conductance, in microsiemens per centimeter 

Springs 

High-sulfate springs 

High-sulfate streams 

Klickitat River 

Big Muddy Creek 

EXPLANATION 
8 Springs, Streams, and Gas Vent on and Near Mount Adams Volcano, Washington

Table 2. Chemical and isotopic data for water samples from springs and streams on and near Mount Adams.

[Measurements on springs at the orifice are identified by an * after the name. Data obtained in 1974 from Cline (1976) and Fretwell (1979). -- indicates not 

analyzed or measured. Cond. is specific conductance. Locations use North American Datum of 1927. Chemical analyses by Mark Huebner and W.C. Evans 

and isotopic analyses from USGS stable isotope laboratory, Reston, VA.]

Loc. 

No. Name Sample No. Measurement point Elevation (m) Date Flow (L/s) T (°C) Cond. 

Latitude Logitude (μS/cm)

Nonthermal Springs

C03-01 Mile 38 Spring* MNA03-01 46°06.97' 121°36.60' 1,019 8/20/03 0.33 5.3 33.3

C03-02 Rock Spring* MNA03-02 46°07.66' 121°33.38' 1,403 8/20/03 0.1 2.4 30.8

C03-17 Aiken Lava Bed Spring* MNA03-04 46°05.69' 121°29.07' 1,156 8/23/03 24 2.5 15.4

C03-18 Boundary Spring* MNA03-05 46°09.07' 121°27.66' 1,962 8/24/03 1.2 2.0 9.5

C03-19 Campground Spring* MNA03-06 46°08.14' 121°29.48' 1,691 8/24/03 0.22 2.2 23.2

C03-20 Divide Camp Spring* MNA03-07 46°14.65' 121°33.43' 1,708 8/25/03 0.25 1.2 21.0

C03-31 Wicky Creek Spring* MNA03-10 46°05.88' 121°31.77' 1,158 8/27/03 6 4.0 55.8

C04-02 Bup Spring* MNA04-02 46°11.06' 121°17.32' 818 8/25/04 0.7 5.6 69.5

C04-05 Trappers Creek Spring* MNA04-03 46°16.70' 121°24.12' 1,409 8/26/04 450 3.2 53.3

C04-16 Crooked Creek Spring* MNA04-04 46°09.33' 121°27.53' 2,010 8/27/04 54 0.8 9.6

C04-17 Meadow Spring* MNA04-05 46°09.45' 121°25.59' 1,637 8/28/04 60 2.6 22.8

C04-19 Island Spring* MNA04-06 46°10.09' 121°23.81' 1,604 8/28/04 1.8 3.8 21.2

C04-21 Bacon Creek Spring* MNA04-07 46°07.16' 121°22.05' 1,260 8/29/04 18 2.9 40.2

C04-12 Spring* 46°08.93' 121°26.88' 1,871 8/27/04 5.4 1.7 12.0

C04-22 Cress Camp Spring* 46°08.21' 121°21.73' 1,393 8/29/04 7.2 3.0 30.3

High sulfate springs

C03-10 Salt Creek Spring* MNA03-03 46°09.86' 121°31.37' 1,869 8/21/03 9 2.5 63.5

C03-27 Salt Creek Spring No.2* MNA03-08 46°09.93' 121°31.55' 1,856 8/26/03 150 1.6 114.2

C04-01 McCumber Spring* MNA04-01 46°04.31' 121°18.30' 750 8/25/04 38 5.5 52

C04-36 Goat Butte Spring* MNA04-09 46°12.46' 121°26.10' 2,012 9/1/04 12 1.2 32.6

1974 data - Springs

Draper Springs 06/12E-07A01S 46°01.65' 121°20.68' 634 7/16/74 3.8 7.4 55

07/12E-04M01S 46°07.30' 121°19.15' 957 6/10/74 1.9 8.0 60

C04-01 McCumber Spring 07/12E-28A01S 46°04.33' 121°18.32' 718 4/3/74 114 5.6 46

C04-02 Bup Spring 08/12E-15G01S 46°11.05' 121°17.32' 828 6/13/74 3.2 4.8 60

08/12E-27L01S 46°09.07' 121°17.57' 774 7/15/74 8.2 6.3 60

09/12E-35B01S 46°13.75' 121°16.62' 832 6/13/74 0.3 6.3 64

10/11E-19L01S 46°20.15' 121°29.50' 1,460 7/15/74 0.3 2.9 20

C04-21 07/11E-01R01S 46°07.13' 121°22.05' 1,262 9/12/74 3.8 3.2 39

C04-05 Trappers Creek Spring 09/11E-11K01S 46°16.68' 121°24.12' 1,408 8/12/74 189 3.3 45

09/12E-35R01S 46°13.08' 121°16.22' 771 9/9/74 0.2 10.2 102

Creeks

C03-30 Cascade Creek MNA03-09 46°10.65' 121°32.84' 1,843 8/26/03 180 9.8 224

C04-31 Adams Creek MNA04-08 46°14.48' 121°32.62' 1,825 8/31/04 900 6.2 101.9

1974 data - Streams

Klickitat River below Soda Springs Creek 46°12.97' 121°16.15' 742 11/7/73 -- 2.1 64

742 2/6/74 -- 1.2 60

742 5/7/74 -- 8.2 48

742 8/7/74 -- 11.7 54

C04-26 Big Muddy Creek near Klickitat River 46°09.10' 121°17.58' 744 11/7/73 -- 1.8 62

744 2/6/74 -- 1.4 61

744 5/7/74 -- 7.9 46

744 8/7/74 -- 9.9 46
Characteristics of Springs and Streams 9

Table 2. Chemical and isotopic data for water samples from springs and streams on and near Mount Adams.—Continued

Field SiO2 Ca Mg Na K HCO3 SO4 Cl δD δ 18O

pH ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (mg/L) ------------------------------------------- (‰) (‰)

5 27.7 2.35 0.68 2.26 1.34 19 0.27 0.8 -93 -12.96

4.7 31.5 1.82 0.56 2.2 1.69 17 0.2 0.6 -94.5 -13.41

5.5 12.9 1.11 0.23 1.18 0.56 7 0.24 0.3 -101.3 -14.04

5 8.2 0.66 0.12 0.78 0.28 6 0.16 0.14 -103.4 -14.32

5 22.4 1.29 0.36 1.99 0.82 13 0.47 0.32 -101.2 -14.25

5.5 18.8 1.57 0.44 1.33 0.68 11 1.07 0.37 -96.8 -13.55

5.5 44.6 4.01 0.98 3.84 2.53 34 0.19 0.64 -95.5 -13.5

5.5 37.1 6.7 2.9 3.3 1.4 44 0.2 0.4 -102.0 -14.0

5.5 33.1 3.8 1.9 4.3 1.8 32 1.9 0.4 -104.8 -14.4

5 8.9 0.75 0.12 0.89 0.46 6 0.3 0.1 -108.0 -14.9

5.5 18.5 1.8 0.53 1.8 0.85 14 0.5 0.17 -105.5 -14.5

5 17.4 1.8 0.47 1.5 0.74 14 0.15 0.2 -105.6 -14.5

5 26.2 3.7 1.2 2.4 1.3 24 0.12 0.3 -100.8 -13.9

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

5 31.4 4.71 1.49 3.6 1.56 21 13 0.28 -106.8 -14.85

5.5 28.0 9.84 2.2 3.34 0.81 3 43.9 0.29 -102.9 -14.39

5.5 31.3 4.7 1.8 3 1.6 33 3.5 0.4 -100.7 -13.9

5 13.0 3.3 0.7 1.1 0.81 6 8.9 0.16 -115.8 -15.6

-- -- 4.2 2.2 2.6 1.9 33 0.1 0.5 -- --

-- -- 6.7 2.0 2.9 0.6 38 0.9 0.7 -- --

-- -- 4.3 1.6 2.9 1.5 26 0.9 0.2 -- --

-- -- 5.3 2.2 3.0 0.7 36 0.9 0.8 -- --

-- -- 5.7 1.1 2.8 2.4 38 0.3 0.5 -- --

-- -- 5.5 2.4 3.6 0.9 39 1.8 0.9 -- --

-- -- 2.1 0.6 0.8 0.6 10 1.5 0.7 -- --

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

4 13.3 10.21 2.95 1.82 0.49 0 72.3 0.2 -- --

4.5 6.4 4.2 0.74 0.71 0.43 0 24 0.07 -- --

-- 29 7.2 2.5 3.0 1.7 38 2.5 1.3 -- --

-- 27 4.8 2.2 3.6 1.3 32 2.1 1.4 -- --

-- 21 3.9 1.5 2.4 0.9 26 2.3 0.8 -- --

-- 25 4.3 1.6 3.3 0.8 31 2.5 0.8 -- --

-- 30 6.3 2.4 3.1 2.0 27 9.1 1.1 -- --

-- 32 4.1 1.9 3.5 1.8 24 6.1 1.0 -- --

-- 25 2.6 1.3 3.0 1.4 21 4.8 0.3 -- --

-- 20 3.2 1.5 2.5 0.9 14 8.7 0.7 -- --
10 Springs, Streams, and Gas Vent on and Near Mount Adams Volcano, Washington

Table 2. Chemical and isotopic data for water samples from springs and streams on and near Mount Adams.—Continued

[Measurements on springs at the orifice are identified by an * after the name. Data obtained in 1974 from Cline (1976) and Fretwell (1979). -- indicates not 

analyzed or measured. Cond. is specific conductance. Locations use North American Datum of 1927. Chemical analyses by Mark Huebner and W.C. Evans 

and isotopic analyses from USGS stable isotope laboratory, Reston, VA.]

Loc. 

No. Name Sample No.

F Fe NO3

-N PO4-P Al As B

-----------------(mg/L)---------------------------------- (ppb)----------------------------------

Nonthermal Springs

C03-01 Mile 38 Spring* MNA03-01 0.04 <0.026 <0.01 <0.01 -- <0.25 <23

C03-02 Rock Spring* MNA03-02 0.05 <0.026 0.06 <0.01 -- <0.25 <23

C03-17 Aiken Lava Bed Spring* MNA03-04 0.03 <0.026 <0.01 <0.01 -- <0.25 <23

C03-18 Boundary Spring* MNA03-05 0.01 <0.026 <0.01 <0.01 -- <0.25 <23

C03-19 Campground Spring* MNA03-06 0.08 <0.026 <0.01 <0.01 -- 0.14 <23

C03-20 Divide Camp Spring* MNA03-07 0.03 <0.026 <0.01 <0.01 -- <0.25 <23

C03-31 Wicky Creek Spring* MNA03-10 0.07 <0.026 <0.01 <0.01 -- <0.25 <23

C04-02 Bup Spring* MNA04-02 0.06 0.014 -- <0.1 4.5 <0.1 <1.6

C04-05 Trappers Creek Spring* MNA04-03 0.12 0.01 -- <0.1 3.6 0.3 7.4

C04-16 Crooked Creek Spring* MNA04-04 0.02 0.01 -- <0.1 18.7 <0.1 <1.6

C04-17 Meadow Spring* MNA04-05 0.04 0.005 -- <0.1 3.2 0.2 2

C04-19 Island Spring* MNA04-06 0.02 0.003 -- <0.1 5.6 <0.1 <1.6

C04-21 Bacon Creek Spring* MNA04-07 0.03 0.01 0.003 <0.1 1.7 <0.1 <1.6

High sulfate springs

C03-10 Salt Creek Spring* MNA03-03 0.11 <0.026 0.02 <0.01 -- <0.25 <23

C03-27 Salt Creek Spring No.2* MNA03-08 0.17 <0.026 0.06 <0.01 -- <0.25 <23

C04-01 McCumber Spring* MNA04-01 0.03 0.044 -- <0.1 1.1 <0.1 1.8

C04-36 Goat Butte Spring* MNA04-09 0.12 0.02 -- <0.1 30 0.1 <1.6

1974 data - Springs

Draper Springs 06/12E-07A01S 0.1 0.02 0.08 -- -- -- --

07/12E-04M01S 0 0.03 -- -- -- -- --

C04-01 McCumber Spring 07/12E-28A01S 0 0.03 0.22 -- -- -- --

C04-02 Bup Spring 08/12E-15G01S 0 0.02 -- -- -- -- --

08/12E-27L01S 0.1 0.12 0.06 -- -- -- --

09/12E-35B01S 0 0.12 -- -- -- -- --

10/11E-19L01S 0.1 0.04 0.05 -- -- -- --

Creeks

C03-30 Cascade Creek MNA03-09 0.27 2.33 0.03 <0.01 -- <0.25 <23

C04-31 Adams Creek MNA04-08 0.21 1.51 0.017 <0.1 510 <0.1 <1.6
Characteristics of Springs and Streams 11

Table 2. Chemical and isotopic data for water samples from springs and streams on and near Mount Adams.—Continued

Ba Cu Li Mn Mo Pb Rb Sr U V Zn

----------------------------------------------------------------------(ppb)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.09 -- 0.38 0.3 0.03 0.009 4.88 19.45 0.005 0.74 <2.1

0.24 -- 0.7 <0.17 0.08 0.055 7.1 15 0.01 0.32 <2.1

1.14 -- 1.13 0.07 0.03 0.191 3.34 10.12 0.003 1.83 1.22

2.55 -- 0.15 0.08 <0.16 <0.011 1.7 9.28 0.001 0.39 <2.1

0.05 -- 1.61 <0.17 0.19 0.035 4.71 8.31 0.008 6.11 2.49

1.21 -- 0.35 <0.17 0.04 0.05 2.3 13.07 0.005 <0.36 <2.1

2.83 -- 2.1 <0.17 0.2 0.035 9.71 58.23 0.025 5.28 <2.1

2.85 0.34 0.35 <0.1 0.05 0.01 2.34 40 0.009 1.40 0.8

1.56 0.63 5.5 <0.1 0.46 0.1 6.03 18.3 0.064 6.4 2.2

1.51 0.67 0.52 0.1 0.07 0.07 1.58 5.9 <0.004 1.47 0.6

1.41 1.17 1.59 <0.1 0.15 0.07 2.67 12.7 0.005 0.55 0.6

2.39 0.21 0.16 <0.1 0.04 0.04 2.01 13.7 <0.004 0.76 0.6

0.41 1.03 0.54 1.21 0.10 0.1 4.1 16.4 0.009 1.43 0.7

2.61 -- 3.39 0.28 0.26 0.065 6.35 31.43 0.029 3.93 6.14

13.21 -- 2.85 54.6 <0.16 0.023 3.66 40.09 0.022 0.65 3.72

0.42 0.35 1.18 0.1 0.11 <0.01 5.39 28 0.014 0.87 1.1

0.84 1.01 0.84 0.32 0.09 0.06 2.29 9.3 <0.004 2.57 1.0

-- -- -- 0 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

-- -- -- 0 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

-- -- -- 0 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

-- -- -- 0 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

-- -- -- 0 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

-- -- -- 0 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

-- -- -- 0 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

1.34 -- 1.77 197 <0.16 0.098 2.35 18.6 0.18 <0.36 22.4

1.75 18.9 0.76 55.5 <0.02 0.04 0.94 6.6 0.101 0.10 9.9
12 Springs, Streams, and Gas Vent on and Near Mount Adams Volcano, Washington

Figure 6. Graph of calcium versus sulfate 

concentrations for springs and streams in the 

Mount Adams region. Line is for the ratio of 

calcium to sulfate if gypsum is dissolved in water.

Salt Creek 

Spring 

Salt Creek 

Spring No. 2 

McCumber 

Spring 

Goat Butte 

Spring 

Cascade 

Creek 

Adams 

Creek 

0 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12 

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 

Calcium concentration, in milligrams per liter 

Sulfate concentration, in milligrams per liter 

Springs 

High-sulfate springs 

High-sulfate streams 

Klickitat River 

Big Muddy Creek 

Gypsum dissolution 

EXPLANATION 

Figure 7. Photo of Cascade Creek at the location of sampling, showing the reddish-brown color of wetted precipitates. White boulder 

at lower right is about 1/2 meter across. 
Characteristics of Springs and Streams 13

Figure 8. Graph of deuterium/hydrogen deviation (δD) versus oxygen-18/oxygen-16 deviation 

(δ18O), both from Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water, for water samples from table 2. Local 

meteoric water line determined by fixing slope at a value of 8 and calculating the intercept as 

the average of δD − 8 δ18O.

Goat Butte 

Spring 

-120 

-115 

-110 

-105 

-100 

-95 

-90 

-16 -15 -14 -13 -12 

δD, in parts per thousand 

δ18O, in parts per thousand 

Springs 

High-sulfate springs 

δD = 8 δ18O + 11 per mil 

EXPLANATION Local meteoric water line 

Bup Spring 

Salt Creek 

Spring 

Salt Creek 

Spring no. 2 

McCumber 

Spring 

Goat Butte 

Spring 

0 

500 

1,000 

1,500 

2,000 

-16 -15 -14 -13 -12 

Elevation, in meters 

δ18O, in parts per thousand 

Springs 

High-sulfate springs 

Elevation line 

EXPLANATION 

Figure 9. Graph of oxygen-18/oxygen-16 ratio deviation versus elevation for samples from table 2.
14 Springs, Streams, and Gas Vent on and Near Mount Adams Volcano, Washington

N2

He × 1,000 Ar × 100 

Baker 

Rainier soda 

Mount Adams - measured 

Mount Adams - corrected 

Mt. St. Helens 

Hood 

Newberry 

Lassen 

Shasta 

Air 

ASW (10°C) 

EXPLANATION

Figure 10. Triangular diagram showing relative 

proportions of nitrogen, argon, and helium for 

gas data from table 3. Relative proportions in 

air-saturated water (ASW) from solubility data 

in Wilhelm and others (1977). Diagram created 

using software from Graham and Midgley (2000). 

Table 3. Chemical analysis of gas sample from the vent on Mount Adams, along with data for selected samples from Cascade 

volcanoes.

[Data for Mount Adams sample given both as measured in the sample and corrected for air contamination. Mount Adams gas vent located at 46° 12.54' 121° 

29.52' 3,609 m NAD27. Some analyses have data for additional constituents in original references. 3He/4He reported as ratio to value in air, and δ13C reported 

referenced to PeeDee belemnite (PDB). ", same as immediately above. Gas analysis by W.C. Evans and helium istopes by M.C. van Soest. Sample collected 

by R.H. Mariner and L.B. Christiansen.]

Feature Sample No. 

or date Temp. (°C)

CO2 H2

S H2 CH4 C2H6

------------------------------mole per cent------------------------------------

Mount Adams - Measured 8/18/05 69.89 1.29 7.36 4.02 0.0006

Mount Adams -Corrected 8/18/05 81.25 1.50 8.56 4.67 0.0007

Mount Baker - Smiley 970807-05 134.4 93.0 5.2 0.25 0.44

Mount Rainier - Longmire soda spring 970808-5 18 99.6 -- 0.006 0.002

Mount Rainier - summit fumaroles MR004

Mount Rainier - summit fumaroles average

Mount St. Helens - Loowit hot springs MSH-05-03 57.0 76.3 0.0026 0.0003 0.05 <0.0002

Mount Hood - Crater Rock fumarole 970909-2 91.0 91.4 4.9 2.47 0.009

Newberry - East Lake Hot Springs 9/19/99 86.62 0.2 0.012 4.75 0.005

Newberry - Obsidian Flow gas seep 9/19/99 90.59 1.25 0.0008 3.06 0.0021

Newberry - Paulina Hot Springs 9/19/99 97.21 <0.0005 <0.0002 0.38 <0.0002

Crater Lake - dissolved gas

Lassen volcanic center

Bumpass Hell - Big Boiler L88-13 156 90.0 7.2 0.7401 0.0695

Bumpass Hell - BH-12 L88-01 103 89.2 6.9 1.1590 0.0827

Growler Hot Spring L88-14 93.4 71.6 6.6 0.1775 0.0270

Little Hot Spring Valley-LHSV-02 L88-15 144.1 94.6 4.2 0.4862 0.0120

Little Hot Spring Valley-LLHSV-01 L88-16 112 94.0 4.6 0.5715 0.0136

Devil's Kitchen-DK-87 L88-18 100 92.2 4.8 0.5083 0.1179

Devil's Kitchen-DK-14 L88-19 96 92.1 5.3 0.5016 0.0986

Sulphur Works-SW-09 L89-08 105.6 98.5 0.5 0.0579 0.0028

Mount Shasta-summit bubbling pool 970626-1 80.2 95.0 0.28 0.92 0.88
Characteristics of Springs and Streams 15

CH4 

He × 100 Ar × 10 

Baker 

Rainier soda 

Mount Adams - measured 

Mount Adams - corrected 

Mt. St. Helens 

Hood 

Newberry 

Lassen 

Shasta 

EXPLANATION

Figure 11. Triangular diagram showing relative 

proportions of methane, argon, and helium for 

gas data from table 3. Diagram created using 

software from Graham and Midgley (2000).

Table 3. Chemical analysis of gas sample from the vent on Mount Adams, along with data for selected samples from Cascade 

volcanoes.—Continued

N2 O2

4

He Ar 3He/4He δ13C

References

---------------------mole per cent------------------------------ R/RA ‰ (PDB)

14.35 2.93 0.0005 0.16 -10.7 This study.

3.99 0.00 0.0005 0.0341 4.4 "

1.06 0.01 0.00107 0.0012 7.70 -6.88 Symonds and others (2003a and b)

0.37 0.017 0.000005 0.0039 2.76 -12.95 Symonds and others (2003a and b)

-11.72 Zimbelman and others (2000)

-12.37 "

23.3 <0.0005 0.0019 0.34 5.8 -14.7 Bergfeld and others (2008)

1.21 0.018 0.00214 0.0035 7.60 -9.08 Symonds and others (2003a and b)

8.13 0.21 0.0031 0.13 6.35 -6.3 Mariner and others (2006); Kennedy and van Soest (2007)

4.51 0.37 0.0027 0.077 6.76 -5.7 "

2.06 0.21 0.0007 0.049 7.30 -8.0 "

7.1 Collier and others (1991)

1.59 0.1016 0.0002 0.0278 7.13 -10.4 Janik and Bergfeld (2010); Kennedy and van Soest (2007)

2.31 0 0.0003 0.0503 7.28 -10.4 "

20.74 0.0091 0.0023 0.3346 5.97 -10.6 "

0.63 0.0004 0.0004 0.0033 6.49 -9.4 "

0.75 0 0.0004 0.0046 5.74 -9.5 "

2.24 0.0002 0.0008 0.0281 4.74 -9.3 "

2.04 0 0.0006 0.0310 6.19 -9.2 "

0.91 0.0004 0.0004 0.0032 -9.1 "

2.87 0.0012 0.00033 0.0035 5.90 -11.4 Symonds and others (2003a and b)
16 Springs, Streams, and Gas Vent on and Near Mount Adams Volcano, Washington

However, as sulfate concentrations increase in the high sulfate 

springs, the specific conductance increases, and silica is less 

than what one expects if the specific conductance were all 

from bicarbonate. Salt Creek Spring no. 2 has the highest concentration of sulfate of any spring and is displaced the farthest 

from the other springs. The samples for Klickitat River and 

Big Muddy Creek behave similarly to the three high-sulfate 

spring samples in being only somewhat displaced from the 

line. The samples for Cascade Creek and Adams Creek have 

no bicarbonate, and their specific conductance is almost completely from dissolved sulfate from hydrothermal minerals. 

They also have low values of silica, because the dissolution 

of hydrothermal minerals is not very effective in adding silica 

compared to the action of dissolved carbon dioxide. 

The chemistry of the high-sulfate samples is similar to 

that found in studies of waters draining mineralized areas 

(Verplanck and others, 2009). In such areas, sulfate is generally derived from the dissolution of gypsum (CaSO4

 • 2 H2O) 

or from the decomposition of pyrite or other sulfide minerals 

in water to produce sulfur and sulfuric acid. Figure 6 plots 

calcium versus sulfate for our samples and also shows the line 

representing gypsum dissolution. Most springs have calcium 

concentrations that are independent of the sulfate concentrations, but Goat Butte and Salt Creek Spring waters are on the 

gypsum dissolution line. Klickitat River, Big Muddy Creek, 

and McCumber Spring appear to have derived calcium from 

both gypsum dissolution and the weathering of volcanic rock. 

Adams Creek, Cascade Creek, and Salt Creek Spring no. 2 

appear to derive their sulfate primarily from the reaction of 

pyrite. Adams Creek and Cascade Creek have high iron (2.33 

and 1.51 mg/L, respectively), and this is consistent with their 

sulfate being from the reaction of pyrite. Unfortunately, we 

do not have data for iron in Salt Creek Spring no. 2. Cascade 

Creek water is quite cloudy, and the wetted area of rocks and 

sticks have a notable reddish-brown color (fig. 7). Copper 

and aluminum are also elevated in Adams Creek (table 2). 

Although most of the constituents are relatively dilute compared to water from areas draining ore deposits, iron and manganese in Adams and Cascade Creeks are above the secondary 

standards for drinking water (U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, 2011). 

Isotopic Composition of Springs

Because the isotopic composition of precipitation varies 

with elevation (Dansgaard, 1964), data on light stable isotopes of spring water can be used to estimate the elevations of 

recharge areas. Figure 8 presents the light stable isotope data 

for the springs, reported as per mil deviations from Vienna 

Standard Mean Ocean Water (VSMOW) (Gonfiantini, 1978). 

The intercept of the meteoric water line shown in figure 8 

has been adjusted to fit the data. These data do not cover a 

sufficient range to determine both a slope and an intercept 

different from the global meteoric water line, but adjusting the 

intercept from +10 per mil to +11 per mil is well determined. 

The oxygen isotope data are plotted versus the elevation of the 

springs in figure 9. The isotopic composition of precipitation 

decreases (more negative values) with increasing elevation 

(Dansgaard, 1964). Assuming that some springs are recharged 

at elevations only somewhat above their discharge elevations, 

the samples having the highest δ18O values for a given elevation are used to define the line for local precipitation (fitted by 

eye) in figure 9 (Ingebritsen and others, 1992; Rose and others, 

1996). Part of the fitting process involves making the lines for 

δ18O and δD (not shown) consistent with the local meteoric 

water line of figure 8. The slope of the δ18O line is −1.4 per 

mil/km, less than the value of −2.3 per mil/km found by Rose 

and others (1996) for the area north of Lassen Peak, but it is 

the same as the slope found for Mount Shasta of −1.4 per mil/

km (Nathenson and others, 2003) and similar to that for Mount 

Hood of −1.7 per mil/km (Nathenson, 2004). 

Some of the springs are significantly lighter in isotopic 

composition compared to the isotope-elevation line, indicating 

that the water fell as precipitation at higher elevations before 

recharging the groundwater system. A number of springs 

appear to be fed by precipitation from a few hundred meters 

higher in elevation than their discharge elevation (fig. 9). Goat 

Butte, Bup, and McCumber Springs have inferred recharge 

elevations around 900 m above their discharge elevations. 

The higher sulfate Salt Creek Spring no.2 has heaver isotopes 

than the lower sulfate Salt Creek Spring. If they are related by 

mixing of a higher sulfate water with a dilute spring water, the 

diluting water is from a higher elevation than the high-sulfate 

water. The two springs are at similar elevations but separated 

by about 250 m and two intervening drainages. More likely 

than the mixing of two waters is that the springs have different 

circulation paths.

Gas Vent

A seeping gas vent in a small disturbed area near Adams 

Glacier was sampled in 2005 (table 3). A thermometer was 

not available during the sampling, but the gas was close to 

ambient temperature. The analysis of the gas showed significant oxygen, indicating that there was contamination with 

atmospheric air, and a recalculated analysis based on removing 

the oxygen and other atmospheric gases in proportion is given 

in table 3. The composition of the corrected analysis has high 

carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, indicating that the gas is 

like that found in hydrothermal systems at Cascade volcanoes. 

The presence of hydrogen sulfide in the gas explains reports 

of hydrogen sulfide odor in the summit area (Hildreth and others, 1983). The gas geothermometer of D’Amore and Panichi 

(1980), based on amounts of hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen, 

methane, and carbon dioxide, yields a temperature of 282 °C, 

indicating a high-temperature hydrothermal system as the 

source of the gas. However, the lack of fumaroles on Mount 

Adams and the ambient temperature of the vent gas indicates 

that the gas is probably from a previously active system rather 

than one that is currently active.
References Cited 17

The gas analysis from Mount Adams has both similarities to and differences from analyses from other Cascade 

volcanoes (table 3). The sample as originally analyzed plots 

near the composition for air on the nitrogen, argon, and helium 

triangular diagram (fig. 10). The corrected sample analysis 

is still close to the composition for air. In contrast, the various samples for the diverse parts of the Lassen hydrothermal systems define an array of values trending towards the 

value for air-saturated water (Janik and McLaren, 2010). The 

analyses for Mounts Shasta, Baker, and Hood define a range of 

values, but all show a relatively low value for the fraction of 

argon, and the sample for Sulphur Works at Lassen is close to 

this range. The array of values for Lassen show an increasing 

proportion of gas from air-saturated water. The samples from 

Newberry also plot close to the value for air saturated water. 

Conversely, the sample from Longmire soda spring, low on 

the flank of Mount Rainier, is also close to the composition of 

air rather than that of air-saturated water. 

The gas from the Mount Adams vent has a high proportion of methane (fig. 11), as does that from Mount Baker, 

Mount Shasta, and two of the samples from Newberry. Other 

Cascade volcanoes have lower amounts of methane (fig. 11). 

Helium isotopes for the gas from Mount Adams are elevated—

the 3

He/4He ratio, R, is 4.4 times its value in the atmosphere, 

RA, indicating a mantle source for some of the helium. But 

that ratio is lower than most of the values in table 3 from 

other Cascade volcanoes, indicating that there has been some 

mixture with crustal helium. (The corrected gas analysis may 

still contain some constituents from air. Helium isotopes are 

corrected for air contamination using a different methodology 

that should remove any helium that came from air.) Typical 

values for δ13C for carbon dioxide from the mantle range from 

–5 to –8 per mil (Symonds and others, 2003b). Mount Baker 

and Newberry Volcano have for δ13C values for carbon dioxide 

that are within this range, whereas values for Mount Adams 

and other volcanoes are more negative (table 3). The more 

negative values of δ13C in carbon dioxide in Cascade volcanic 

gases could mean that carbon from sediments subducted into 

the mantle is providing some of the carbon dioxide in basaltic 

parent magma (Evans and others, 2010), or they could mean 

that some of the carbon dioxide has a source from recent sediments mixing with mantle-derived carbon dioxide (Symonds 

and others, 2003b).

Discussion

The water chemistry of most springs on Mount Adams is 

a result of the weathering of volcanic rock. Some springs have 

added sulfate from the dissolution of hydrothermal minerals, 

including gypsum, or by reaction with sulfides. Some streams 

also have added sulfate—Adams and Cascades Creeks have 

no bicarbonate, added sulfate, and high iron. The gas sample 

from Mount Adams appears to reflect processes from a hightemperature (200°–300 °C) hydrothermal system. There are no 

obvious fumaroles on Mount Adams, nor did the gas sample 

have an anomalous temperature. We conclude that the lack of 

any signature of thermal water at Mount Adams, together with 

the lack of high-temperature degassing, indicates that there is 

no active hydrothermal system. Thus the gas sample reflects a 

previous hydrothermal system that is no longer active. This is 

surprising, given the evidence for intense hydrothermal activity in the past. Of the major Cascade volcanoes, Mount Adams 

is the only one with no evidence for present hydrothermal 

discharge (Ingebritsen and Mariner, 2010).

Acknowledgments

Permission to do field work on the lands of the Yakama 

Nation in 2004 was facilitated by Scott Ladd and Warren 

Niemi. Judy Windt provided field assistance. Deb Bergfeld 

and Jake Lowenstern are thanked for helpful reviews.

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Menlo Park Publishing Service Center, California

Manuscript approved for publication April 25, 2013

Edited by Peter Stauffer

Design and layout by Vivian Nguyen
Nathenson and Mariner—Springs, Streams, and Gas Vent on and Near Mount Adams Volcano, Washington—Scientific Investigations Report 2013–5097