The earliest implied reference to geothermal systems in Utah is by Gilbert (1890), who described Fumarole Butte and the nearby Crater (Abraham) Hot Springs.

Stearns and others (1937) and Waring (1965) summarized data for about 60 known thermal occurrences.

Mundorff (1970) prepared a comprehensive report on the thermal springs of Utah that included data on individual springs.

Swanberg (1974) made estimates of subsurface temperatures using chemical analyses of water samples and employing “geothermometry.” The technique called geothermometry is based on chemical equilibria and involves the use of water compositions (from springs or water wells) in mathematical formulas to estimate geothermal reservoir temperatures.

Goode (1978) and Rush (1983) both produced summaries of geothermal occurrences in Utah. Goode’s data compilation is particularly complete, whereas Rush’s geologic descriptions are especially useful.

In addition to the above references, various authors from the following institutions have published details on geothermal systems and geothermal applications in Utah:

• University of Utah Department of Geology and Geophysics
• Utah Geological Survey (formerly Utah Geological and Mineral Survey)
• Utah Energy Office (now disbanded)
• University of Utah Energy and Geoscience Institute (formerly University of Utah Research Institute)

Budding and Bugden (1986) compiled a bibliography of this early work up through the mid-1980s.

Since then, several authors (Blackett, 1994; Blackett and Moore, 1994; Blackett and Ross, 1992;) have published more recent compilations and research on geothermal systems in Utah.

Mabey and Budding (1987, 1994) compiled detailed geological, geochemical, and geophysical information, including previously unpublished data on seven individual systems within the “Sevier thermal area,” an area of central and southwestern Utah containing all of Utah’s known high-temperature geothermal systems.

Budding and Sommer (1986) gathered field data and published a study of low-temperature geothermal resources in the St. George area of southwestern Utah.

Wright and others (1990) summarized geothermal resources and developments in Utah up through the 1980s, and discussed how factors such as regional low energy costs resulted in relative low growth of geothermal energy in the state.

Blackett and Ross (1992) published the results of geochemical and geophysical studies for geothermal systems within the Escalante Desert of southwestern Utah.

Several authors in Blackett and Moore (1994) presented geological summaries and development histories of the state’s principal geothermal areas.

Blackett (1994) prepared an inventory of thermal wells and springs in Utah as part of a U.S. Department of Energy program to update the geothermal database for all of the western states.

The annotated geothermal bibliography compiled by Budding and Bugden (1986) was updated to include publications related to geothermal studies in Utah from 1987 to 2000.