Fossil spring deposits in the southern Great Basin and their implications for changes in water-table levels near Yucca Mountain, Nevada, during Quaternary time

Phase II Groundwater Flow Model of Corrective Action Unit 98: Frenchman Flat, Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada, Rev. No.: 0

“…The corrected groundwater ages calculated using the 14 C dilution factors q DIC and q δ13C are listed in Table 8 The apparent absence of significant post-Pleistocene recharge in Frenchman Flat is consistent with paleo-climate interpretations from pack-rat midden data (Forester et al, 1999;Spaulding and Graumlich, 1986) and from regional spring-discharge deposits (Forester et al, 1999;Quade et al, 1995) which indicate that increasing aridity had caused plant communities to change and springs to cease flowing in nearby basins by 9,000 to 10,000 years before present.…”

Geochemical and Isotopic Evaluation of Groundwater Movement in Corrective Action Unit 97: Yucca Flat/Climax Mine, Nevada Test Site, Nevada, Rev. No.: 0

“…As a storm system moves inland from the Pacific Ocean, the removal of precipitation gradually depletes the system of its heavy isotopes (Ingraham and Taylor, 1991 (Quade et al, 1995(Quade et al, , 1998. Increased recharge rates imply a significant volume of groundwater was added to the regional aquifers at that time.…”

“…The NTS groundwater from alluvial, volcanic, and clastic units frequently exhibits 36 Cl/Cl ratios that are greater than 6x10 -13 and can range as high as 9.7 x10 -13 . These waters are interpreted to reflect a paleoclimatic 36 Cl signature, inherited from groundwater recharge that occurred during the last pluvial period, when the climate in southern Nevada was notably less arid relative to current conditions (e.g., Mifflin and Wheat, 1979;Spaulding, 1985;Quade et al, 1995 [Peterman et al, 1970;Burke et al, 1982] (Osmond & Cowart, 1976;Rosholt, 1983). Alpha-recoil processes associated with decay of 238 U result in preferential dissolution of 234 U from solid surfaces and 234 U/ 238 U activity ratios in migrating water that are greater than 1.0.…”

Shallow Subsurface Evidence for Postglacial Holocene Lakes at Ivanpah Dry Lake: An Alternative Energy Development Site in the Central Mojave Desert, California, USA

“…Blunt and Negrini, 2015;Enzel et al, 2003;Litwin et al, 1999;Nishizawa, 2010;Negrini et al, 2006;Wells et al, 2003), and paleospring deposits that reflect more local histories of recharge within the Great Basin and Mojave deserts (Quade et al, 1995;. Such records of hydrologic responses to precipitation allow for greater delineation of the effects of changing climate.…”