Sr and U concentrations and radiogenic isotope compositions (87Sr/86Sr, 234U/238U) of thermal waters, streamflow, travertine, and rock samples along with U-Th disequilibrium ages for travertine deposits from various locations in Yellowstone National Park, USA (ver. 2.0, August 2024)
Dates
Publication Date
2022-12-16
Start Date
2014
End Date
2022
Revision
2024-08-29
Citation
Paces, J.B., Hurwitz, S., Harrison, L.N., and Cullen, J.T., 2022, Sr and U concentrations and radiogenic isotope compositions (87Sr/86Sr, 234U/238U) of thermal waters, streamflow, travertine, and rock samples along with U-Th disequilibrium ages for travertine deposits from various locations in Yellowstone National Park, USA (ver. 2.0, August 2024): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9JPX2RO.
Summary
Radiogenic isotopes of strontium and uranium (87Sr/86Sr and 234U/238U) are useful tracers of water-rock interactions. Sr isotopic signatures in groundwater are derived by dissolution or exchange with Sr contained in aquifer rock whereas U isotopic signatures are more controlled by physicochemical and kinetic processes during groundwater flow. Insights into groundwater circulation patterns through the shallow subsurface at Yellowstone National Park can be aided by investigations of these isotopes. This data release contains tables with new isotope data consisting of concentrations (Sr, U) and radiogenic-isotope compositions (87Sr/86Sr, 234U/238U) for samples of thermal springs and geysers focused largely on the Upper Geyser Basin, [...]
Summary
Radiogenic isotopes of strontium and uranium (87Sr/86Sr and 234U/238U) are useful tracers of water-rock interactions. Sr isotopic signatures in groundwater are derived by dissolution or exchange with Sr contained in aquifer rock whereas U isotopic signatures are more controlled by physicochemical and kinetic processes during groundwater flow. Insights into groundwater circulation patterns through the shallow subsurface at Yellowstone National Park can be aided by investigations of these isotopes. This data release contains tables with new isotope data consisting of concentrations (Sr, U) and radiogenic-isotope compositions (87Sr/86Sr, 234U/238U) for samples of thermal springs and geysers focused largely on the Upper Geyser Basin, but from other geothermal areas as well. Sr isotopes were also analyzed in samples of streamflow from several different areas in the Park as well as in samples of whole rock or mineral separates as a means of better defining sources of Sr that are incorporated into thermal water. Finally, authigenic mineral deposits precipitated from spring discharge inherit the Sr- and U-isotopic composition of the water from which they formed. Travertine precipitated from several areas in the Upper Geyser Basin were analyzed as a means of assessing their ages, determined by U-Th disequilibrium methods, and the Sr- and U-isotopic compositions of their source water at the time they formed.
This data release contains natural radiogenic isotopes of strontium and uranium intended for use interpreting aspects of water-rock interaction as a means of better understanding of subsurface circulation patterns in the Upper Geyser Basin and other areas of Yellowstone National Park. Comma-delimited data tables include concentrations of Sr and U and compositions of 87Sr/86Sr and 234U/238U for groundwater samples from hydrothermal features in (1) the Upper Geyser Basin, (2) other basins within the Park, (3) Sr concentrations and 87Sr/86Sr compositions of surface water from a number of streams, (4) U and Th concentrations and 232Th/238U-230Th/238U-234U/238U compositions as well as U-Th ages and 87Sr/86Sr compositions for travertine and sinter deposits from several areas in the Upper Geyser Basin, and (5) present-day 87Sr/86Sr composition for samples of rock and mineral separates for a number of intra caldera lava flows that provide signatures of potential aquifer sources for Sr in thermal water samples. These data represent a significant expansion of the Sr-isotope database for thermal waters within the Park and provide data that will supplement subsequent interpretive reports.
Revision 2.0 by James B Paces on August 29, 2024. To review the changes that were made, see “YNP_Version History_v2.0.txt” in the attached files section.
