How old is Old Faithful Geyser [Wyoming]?

Marler, George D.

doi:10.2475/ajs.254.10.615

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…The shield upon which the geyser is built yields two 14 C dates of 8,787 ± 60 and 10,472 ± 70 years B.P., and three 14 C dates from the cone range between 1,038 ± 35 and 926 ± 35 years B.P. The large gap of dates between shield formation and the cone is consistent with the hypothesis of Marler [] that build up of geysers is highly episodic with alternating phases of construction and destruction, but the 14 C dates suggest that the constructive phase of the geyser is much longer. Uranium‐series disequilibrium dates of two samples from a siliceous spire in northern Yellowstone Lake yield ages of about 11,000 years (determined by Neil Sturchio, University of Illinois at Chicago, published in Morgan et al .…”

Section: Chemistry Of the Hydrothermal Systemsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…There are only a few published radiometric dates of sinter deposits in Yellowstone. Marler [] described the growth of Old Faithful Geyser as episodic with alternating periods of growth and erosion. Based on a 14 C age of 730 ± 200 years for silicified wood embedded in the Old Faithful geyserite, Marler [] wrote “the logical inference is that Old Faithful Geyser began to erupt only about two centuries ago.” More recently, several 14 C dates were obtained from sinter deposits at Castle Geyser, in the Upper Geyser Basin [ Foley , ].…”

Section: Chemistry Of the Hydrothermal Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Marler [] described the growth of Old Faithful Geyser as episodic with alternating periods of growth and erosion. Based on a 14 C age of 730 ± 200 years for silicified wood embedded in the Old Faithful geyserite, Marler [] wrote “the logical inference is that Old Faithful Geyser began to erupt only about two centuries ago.” More recently, several 14 C dates were obtained from sinter deposits at Castle Geyser, in the Upper Geyser Basin [ Foley , ]. The shield upon which the geyser is built yields two 14 C dates of 8,787 ± 60 and 10,472 ± 70 years B.P., and three 14 C dates from the cone range between 1,038 ± 35 and 926 ± 35 years B.P.…”

Section: Chemistry Of the Hydrothermal Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dynamics of the Yellowstone hydrothermal system

2014

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The Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field is characterized by extensive seismicity, episodes of uplift and subsidence, and a hydrothermal system that comprises more than 10,000 thermal features, including geysers, fumaroles, mud pots, thermal springs, and hydrothermal explosion craters. The diverse chemical and isotopic compositions of waters and gases derive from mantle, crustal, and meteoric sources and extensive water-gas-rock interaction at variable pressures and temperatures. The thermal features are host to all domains of life that utilize diverse inorganic sources of energy for metabolism. The unique and exceptional features of the hydrothermal system have attracted numerous researchers to Yellowstone beginning with the Washburn and Hayden expeditions in the 1870s. Since a seminal review published a quarter of a century ago, research in many fields has greatly advanced our understanding of the many coupled processes operating in and on the hydrothermal system. Specific advances include more refined geophysical images of the magmatic system, better constraints on the time scale of magmatic processes, characterization of fluid sources and water-rock interactions, quantitative estimates of heat and magmatic volatile fluxes, discovering and quantifying the role of thermophile microorganisms in the geochemical cycle, defining the chronology of hydrothermal explosions and their relation to glacial cycles, defining possible links between hydrothermal activity, deformation, and seismicity; quantifying geyser dynamics; and the discovery of extensive hydrothermal activity in Yellowstone Lake. Discussion of these many advances forms the basis of this review."This whole region was, in comparatively modern geologic times, the scene of the most wonderful volcanic activity of any portion of our country. The hot springs and the geysers represent the late stages-the vents or escape pipes-of these remarkable volcanic manifestations of the internal forces. All these springs are adorned with decorations more beautiful than human art ever conceived, and which have required thousands of years for the cunning hand of nature to form" [Hayden, 1883, p. 70]. Ferdinand V. Hayden led the 1871 geological survey of northwestern Wyoming, leading to the establishment of Yellowstone as the first U.S. National Park in 1872.

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Section: Chemistry Of the Hydrothermal Systemsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Chemistry Of the Hydrothermal Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Chemistry Of the Hydrothermal Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dynamics of the Yellowstone hydrothermal system

2014

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“…The boxplot at the bottom of the panels shows the total range (1233 to 1362 CE) of calibrated 14 C dates. The sample labeled “Marler” represents a 14 C date from Marler (1956) after calibration.…”

Section: Hiatus In Geyser Eruptions Coincident With a Regional Droughtmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although multiple samples from individual specimens provide different ages, apart from Specimens OFL101 (58 years), OFL103‐2 (66 years), OFL104 (62 years), and OFL108 (108 years) the difference between the minimum and maximum dated samples is <25 years (Table 1). A single wood sample from the OFG mound (likely the same specimen as OFL103) was dated in one of the earliest applications of the radiocarbon method to 730 ± 200 years (Marler, 1956), which after calibration corresponds to 703 ± 200 BP , or a date of 1247 ± 200 CE. This date is within the range of the newly dated samples (Table 1).…”

Section: Radiocarbon Dating Of Mineralized Woodmentioning

confidence: 99%

Yellowstone's Old Faithful Geyser Shut Down by a Severe Thirteenth Century Drought

Hurwitz

King²,

Pederson

et al. 2020

Geophysical Research Letters

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To characterize eruption activity of the iconic Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park over past centuries, we obtained 41 new radiocarbon dates of mineralized wood preserved in the mound of silica that precipitated from erupted waters. Trees do not grow on active geyser mounds, implying that trees grew on the Old Faithful Geyser mound during a protracted period of eruption quiescence. Rooted stumps and root crowns located on higher parts of the mound are evidence that at the time of tree growth, the geyser mound closely resembled its current appearance. The range of calibrated radiocarbon dates (1233-1362 CE) is coincident with a series of severe multidecadal regional droughts toward the end of the Medieval Climate Anomaly, prior to the onset of the Little Ice Age. Climate models project increasingly severe droughts by mid-21st century, suggesting that geyser eruptions could become less frequent or completely cease. Plain Language Summary The rarity of natural geysers reflects the special conditions needed for their formation, including an abundant supply of water. Therefore, severe droughts of extended duration could have led to large variations in the frequency and intensity of geyser eruptions. To characterize potential changes in eruption activity of the iconic Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park over past centuries, we collected mineralized wood samples from its mound and used radiocarbon to date when these trees grew. Because trees do not live on active geyser mounds, we infer that the trees grew during a protracted period without eruptions. The dated fossil trees are from the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries during a time with severe multidecadal droughts in the region. Because climate models forecast increasingly severe droughts by mid-21st century, geyser eruptions could become less frequent or completely cease.

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