Sources, fate, and flux of riverine solutes in the Southwest 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

“…River water compositions during high river discharge are relatively enriched in Ca, Mg, K and Si relative to base flow (Figures 2a–2d) reflecting low temperature weathering reactions with rhyolite (Table S1 in Supporting Information ; Hurwitz et al., 2010, 2020; McCleskey et al., 2020). Moreover, Cl concentrations in rivers are lower at high discharge relative to base flow (Figure 2e), but SO 4 concentrations variations between high discharge and base flow are small (Figure 2f), consistent with previous studies (Hurwitz et al., 2007, 2010; McCleskey et al., 2012; McCleskey, Roth, et al., 2019, 2020). This is also consistent with lower riverine specific conductance during high discharge relative to base flow (Figure S3 in Supporting Information ; McCleskey et al., 2012, 2016; McCleskey, Nordstrom, Susong, Ball, & Holloway, 2010; McCleskey, Nordstrom, Susong, Ball, & Taylor, 2010).…”

“…To calculate the non‐thermal contribution of silicon during high river discharge (1‐x), we apply Equation to all rivers, and Equation to the rivers for which δ 30 Si values are available in base flow and at high discharge (Yellowstone River and creeks flowing into Yellowstone Lake). Two scenarios are considered for the geochemical composition (Ge/Si NT and δ 30 Si NT ) of the non‐thermal silicon contribution (McCleskey et al., 2020): surface water influenced by rhyolite weathering (Scenario 1), and surface water influenced by rhyolite weathering and mineral precipitation (Scenario 2). A contribution from surface water influenced by the low‐temperature dissolution of rhyolite (Scenario 1; Ge/Si = 2 μmol.mol −1 , Bernstein, 1985; δ 30 Si = −0.14‰, Savage et al., 2011) would decrease the Ge/Si and the δ 30 Si of the river at high discharge relative to base flow.…”

“…The Madison River integrates discharge from the Firehole River draining the Lower, Midway and Upper Geyser Basins, and the Gibbon River that drains the Norris Geyser Basin (McCleskey, Nordstrom, Susong, Ball, & Holloway, 2010; McCleskey, Nordstrom, Susong, Ball, & Taylor, 2010). The Fall River drains large areas in the southwest YPVF (McCleskey et al., 2020), and the Snake River drains large areas in the southern YPVF (McCleskey et al., 2016) and receives thermal inputs from Heart Lake Geyser Basin, Shoshone Geyser Basin, and also from the travertine‐depositing springs in the Upper Snake River (Hurwitz et al., 2020).…”

“…The main goal of this study is to better quantify the seasonal variations in thermal and non‐thermal waters flowing into rivers of the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field (YPVF) in the USA, and hence on silicon weathering fluxes and associated atmospheric CO 2 consumption. The YPVF, and in particular Yellowstone National Park and vicinity (Figure 1a) within the YPVF is particularly well‐suited to carry out this study because (a) thermal waters resulting from high‐temperature water‐rock reactions are well characterized (e.g., Fournier, 1989; Hurwitz et al., 2012, 2016; Hurwitz & Lowenstern, 2014; King et al., 2016), (b) rivers draining the YPVF have thermal and non‐thermal silicon components (Hurwitz et al., 2007, 2010; McCleskey et al., 2020), (c) changes in riverine chemistry are associated with a well‐defined seasonal increase in water discharge following snowmelt (Hurwitz et al., 2007, 2010; McCleskey et al., 2016, 2020), (d) Ge and Si concentrations are available for several thermal waters and creeks (Gemery‐Hill et al., 2007) and a few δ 30 Si values have been reported for thermal waters (Chen et al., 2020; Douthitt, 1982). In this study, we determine the Ge/Si ratio and silicon isotopes in waters from thermal springs resulting from high‐temperature water‐rock reactions.…”

Genome sequence and characterisation of a freshwater photoarsenotroph, Cereibacter azotoformans strain ORIO, isolated from sediments capable of cyclic light–dark arsenic oxidation and reduction

“…For example, Two ArxA sequences were identified from Mammoth Springs and Octopus Springs phototrophic mat of Yellowstone National Park. Many of the thermal features in the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field have arsenic ranging from 500 to 3000 ppb (McCleskey et al, 2020). Moreover, numerous reports have demonstrated the occurrence of microbially mediated As(III) oxidation within thermal waters (Gihring et al, 2001; Hamamura et al, 2009; Jackson et al, 2001; Planer‐Friedrich et al, 2009; Romano et al, 2013).…”