Geologic field-trip guide to the volcanic and hydrothermal landscape of the Yellowstone Plateau

Morzel, Lisa Ann Morgan; Shanks, Wayne C.; Lowenstern, Jacob B.; Farrell, Jamie; Robinson, Joel E.

doi:10.3133/sir20175022p

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 71 publications

(149 reference statements)

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“…These authors also showed that the Ge/Si ratio of solutions in equilibrium with Ge‐bearing silicates may vary strongly with temperature due to the significant differences in the enthalpies of formation and heat capacities of Ge(OH) 4 and Si(OH) 4 . The significantly higher Ge/Si ratios of UGB's alkaline‐chloride waters (183 ± 22 µmol.mol −1 ) compared to the values reported for the acid‐sulfate springs close to Yellowstone Lake (57 ± 54 µmol.mol −1 , n = 69; Gemery‐Hill et al., 2007) may point to higher subsurface temperatures of the former type of thermal waters (>150°C, Hurwitz et al., 2016) relative to the latter ones (<150°C, Morgan et al., 2017). Pokrovski and Schott (1998) also concluded that the mobility in alkaline solution of Ge is enhanced compared to that of Si because Ge(OH) 4 dissociates at lower pH values than Si(OH) 4 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Quantifying Non‐Thermal Silicate Weathering Using Ge/Si and Si Isotopes in Rivers Draining the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, USA

Gaspard

Opfergelt

Hirst

et al. 2021

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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Silicate chemical weathering of the continents is thought to control atmospheric CO 2 concentrations over timescales greater than the residence time of bicarbonate (HCO 3 − ) in seawater (∼10 5 yr), and ultimately the global climate (Berner et al., 1983;François & Walker, 1992;Raymo & Ruddiman, 1992). Providing accurate rates of silicate weathering and associated atmospheric CO 2 consumption is therefore required for climate

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Quantifying Non‐Thermal Silicate Weathering Using Ge/Si and Si Isotopes in Rivers Draining the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, USA

Gaspard

Opfergelt

Hirst

et al. 2021

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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“…The 75-km by 45-km Yellowstone Caldera formed during the most recent of these eruptions about 631 ka (Christiansen, 2001;Matthews et al, 2015). The caldera hosts two resurgent domes, the Sour Creek dome and Mallard Lake dome (Figure 1), and it is largely filled by rhyolite lava flows that range in age from shortly after caldera formation to as young as 70 ka (Christiansen, 2001;Morgan et al, 2017). Today the Yellowstone Caldera is among the world's most active in terms of seismicity, thermal features, gas emissions, and surface deformation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The inset map in the bottom right shows the locations of the Norris-Hebgen seismic belt (labeled N-H) and the Norris-Mammoth corridor (labeled N-M) eruptions. The Norris-Hebgen seismic belt is a rift-like zone of NNE-SSW extension (Savage et al, 1993; that is a site of minor postcaldera volcanism (Christiansen, 2001;Morgan et al, 2017). The belt extends west from near NGB to the site of the 1959 M s (surface wave magnitude) 7.5 Hebgen Lake earthquake (a few kilometers north of Hebgen Lake; Figure 1), and it is the zone of densest seismicity within the Park (Waite & Smith, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Magma Intrusion and Volatile Ascent Beneath Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park

et al. 2020

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Recent activity has provided new insights into the causes of surface deformation in and around the Yellowstone Caldera, a topic that has been debated since the discovery of caldera floor uplift more than four decades ago. An episode of unusually rapid uplift (>15 cm/yr) centered near Norris Geyser Basin along the north caldera rim began in late 2013 and continued until a Mw 4.9 earthquake on 30 March 2014; thereafter, uplift abruptly switched to subsidence. Uplift at rates of several centimeters per year resumed in 2016 and continued at least through the end of 2018. Modeling of Global Positioning System and interferometric synthetic aperture radar data suggests an evolving process of deep magma intrusion during 1996–2001 followed by volatile ascent and accumulation at shallow levels, perhaps as shallow as a few hundred meters depth. The depth of shallow volatile accumulation appears to have shallowed from the 2014 to the 2016 deformation episode, and frequent eruptions of Steamboat Geyser since March 2018 are likely a surface manifestation of this ongoing process. Hydrothermal explosion features are prominent in the Norris Geyser Basin area, and the apparent shallow nature of the volatile accumulation implies an increased risk of hydrothermal explosions.

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“…The Yellowstone hydrothermal system is related to the most recent caldera eruption, but the hydrothermal fluids likely flow through rocks as old as Archean crystalline basement. The oldest prevolcanic rocks around the Yellowstone Plateau include Archean (3.5 to 2.5 Ga) Beartooth Province granitoids and schists (Christiansen and Blank 1972;Christiansen 2001;Hurwitz and Lowenstern 2014;Morgan et al 2017). Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks are also probably present in the subsurface.…”

Section: Regional Geologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Barium mobility in a geothermal environment, Yellowstone National Park

Zimmerman,

Larson

2024

American Mineralogist

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Ba-rich minerals are frequently observed in epithermal environments and include characteristic phases such as barite and alunite supergroup minerals. At Yellowstone, in-situ EPMA-WDS show that Ba in the unaltered third-cycle Tuff of Sulphur Creek is largely contained within sanidine phenocrysts (mean 1.60 wt% BaO) with lesser concentrations in plagioclase (mean 0.22 wt% BaO) and volcanic glass (mean 0.05 wt% BaO). Whole-rock XRD analyses of rocks hydrothermally altered by alkaline-chloride fluids at Ridge 7741 in Seven Mile Hole, Yellowstone National Park, show they are dominated by illite + quartz ± hydrothermal feldspar, primarily adularia. In this alteration zone, adularia is the principal phase that contains significant Ba (mean 0.43 wt% BaO). In shallower alteration, dominated by acid-sulfate assemblages, such as kaolinite + opaline silica ± alunite supergroup minerals (alunite, walthierite, huangite) ± barite, Ba is sequestered in the sulfate minerals. Alunite supergroup minerals (mean 1.12 wt% BaO) are more prevalent than barite and are largely found from the modern valley rim to about 60m below the modern surface, especially around the South Fork of Sulphur Creek. However, nearly 80 m below the modern rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, in areas previously altered by alkaline-chloride fluids, adularia altered to alunite supergroup minerals may contain similar to slightly elevated Ba concentrations relative to the replaced grain. Barite is primarily found sporadically in altered rocks along the valley rim of the South Fork of Sulphur This is the peer-reviewed, final accepted version for American Mineralogist, published by the Mineralogical Society of America.The published version is subject to change. Cite as Authors (Year) Title. American Mineralogist, in press.

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Geologic field-trip guide to the volcanic and hydrothermal landscape of the Yellowstone Plateau

Cited by 9 publications

References 71 publications

Quantifying Non‐Thermal Silicate Weathering Using Ge/Si and Si Isotopes in Rivers Draining the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, USA

Quantifying Non‐Thermal Silicate Weathering Using Ge/Si and Si Isotopes in Rivers Draining the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, USA

Magma Intrusion and Volatile Ascent Beneath Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park

Barium mobility in a geothermal environment, Yellowstone National Park

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