Story: Geothermal energy

Champagne Pool

Champagne Pool

Champagne Pool at Waiotapu lies over an explosion vent and contains upwelling geothermal water with traces of gold, silver, mercury, arsenic and antimony. The bubbles are carbon dioxide. The distinctive orange colour around the edge is caused by the minerals orpiment and realgar, both sulfides of arsenic.

The water discharged from Champagne Pool flows across a sinter-encrusted flat, with a range of colours caused by mineral precipitation and micro-organisms.

Using this item

GNS Science
Reference: CN29608/21
Photograph by Lloyd Homer

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Carol Stewart, 'Geothermal energy - Effects on the environment', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/5440/champagne-pool (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Carol Stewart, published 12 Jun 2006