Dating silica sinter (geyserite): A cautionary tale

Churchill, D. M.; Manga, M.; Hurwitz, Shaul; Peek, Sara; Licciardi, Joseph M.; Paces, James B.

doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2020.106991

Cited by 14 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…In these thermal waters emerging at near boiling temperature and undersaturated with respect to amorphous silica, the effect of opal precipitation on the δ 30 Si composition is limited. In contrast, the comparatively broader range of δ 30 Si values reported for other thermal springs in the YPVF (−0.1 to 0.4 ± 0.3‰; Douthitt, 1982) and along spring flowpaths (−0.32 to 0.70 ± 0.13‰; Chen et al, 2020;Douthitt, 1982; Figure 4c) suggests variable isotopic fractionation as siliceous sinter precipitates when the thermal waters expelled by geyser activity cool down and evaporate (Churchill et al, 2020;Fournier & Rowe, 1977). As shown experimentally (Geilert et al, 2014), siliceous sinter preferentially incorporates the lighter silicon isotope which induces enrichment of the residual water with heavy silicon isotope.…”

Section: Processes Controlling Variations In Ge/si Ratio and δ 30 Si ...mentioning

confidence: 93%

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: Processes Controlling Variations In Ge/si Ratio and δ 30 Si ...mentioning

confidence: 93%

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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“…Unlike cone-type geysers in Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin ( Fig. 1 ) that have existed for thousands of years ( 14 , 15 ), such as Old Faithful, Giant, and Castle Geysers, Steamboat is probably a relatively young geyser that broke out or significantly enlarged itself in August 1878 “with such upturning and hurling of rocks and trees” (ref. 16 , p. 16).…”

Section: Steamboat Geysermentioning

confidence: 99%

The 2018 reawakening and eruption dynamics of Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest active geyser

Reed

Muñoz-Sáez

Hajimirza

et al. 2021

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Steamboat Geyser in Yellowstone National Park’s Norris Geyser Basin began a prolific sequence of eruptions in March 2018 after 34 y of sporadic activity. We analyze a wide range of datasets to explore triggering mechanisms for Steamboat’s reactivation and controls on eruption intervals and height. Prior to Steamboat’s renewed activity, Norris Geyser Basin experienced uplift, a slight increase in radiant temperature, and increased regional seismicity, which may indicate that magmatic processes promoted reactivation. However, because the geothermal reservoir temperature did not change, no other dormant geysers became active, and previous periods with greater seismic moment release did not reawaken Steamboat, the reason for reactivation remains ambiguous. Eruption intervals since 2018 (3.16 to 35.45 d) modulate seasonally, with shorter intervals in the summer. Abnormally long intervals coincide with weakening of a shallow seismic source in the geyser basin’s hydrothermal system. We find no relation between interval and erupted volume, implying unsteady heat and mass discharge. Finally, using data from geysers worldwide, we find a correlation between eruption height and inferred depth to the shallow reservoir supplying water to eruptions. Steamboat is taller because water is stored deeper there than at other geysers, and, hence, more energy is available to power the eruptions.

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“…All but sample OS-144561 were interpreted as erroneously old. The cause of these erroneously old ages is not clear, but old carbon contamination has been documented within the Yellowstone caldera in lake sediments (Schiller et al, 2021) and in organic material entombed in silica sinter (Churchill et al, 2020). It is likely that Goose Lake samples contained old carbon sourced from either reworked sediment, volcanic CO 2 incorporated into plants during photosynthesis (Evans et al, 2010), or volcanic CO 2 in the water column and surficial sediments (Schiller et al, 2021).…”

Section: Chronologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3800 yr BP seem a likely explanation for the abiotic and biotic changes registered at Goose Lake, but there is no independent evidence to corroborate this reconstruction. LGB thermal features have not been directly dated, and organic material entombed in siliceous sinter deposits in Upper Geyser Basin ∼6 km south of LGB either do not date beyond the past thousand years (Marler, 1956;Hurwitz et al, 2020), or are unreliable (Lowenstern et al, 2016; but see Churchill et al, 2020).…”

Section: Holocene Climate Context On the Yellowstone Plateaumentioning

confidence: 99%

Holocene geo-ecological evolution of Lower Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park (USA)

2021

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Changes in climate and fire regime have long been recognized as drivers of the postglacial vegetation history of Yellowstone National Park, but the effects of locally dramatic hydrothermal activity are poorly known. Multi-proxy records from Goose Lake have been used to describe the history of Lower Geyser Basin where modern hydrothermal activity is widespread. From 10,300 cal yr BP to 3800 cal yr BP, thermal waters discharged into the lake, as evidenced by the deposition of arsenic-rich sediment, fluorite mud, and relatively high δ13Csediment values. Partially thermal conditions affected the limnobiotic composition, but prevailing climate, fire regime, and rhyolitic substrate maintained Pinus contorta forest in the basin, as found throughout the region. At 3800 cal yr BP, thermal water discharge into Goose Lake ceased, as evidenced by a shift in sediment geochemistry and limnobiota. Pollen and charcoal data indicate concurrent grassland development with limited fuel biomass and less fire activity, despite late Holocene climate conditions that were conducive to expanded forest cover. The shift in hydrothermal activity at Goose Lake and establishment of the treeless geyser basin may have been the result of a tectonic event or change in hydroclimate. This record illustrates the complex interactions of geology and climate that govern the development of an active hydrothermal geo-ecosystem.

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Dating silica sinter (geyserite): A cautionary tale

Cited by 14 publications

References 56 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

The 2018 reawakening and eruption dynamics of Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest active geyser

Holocene geo-ecological evolution of Lower Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park (USA)

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