Correlations along a 140 km transect in the westernmost Peach Spring Tuff, and tracing changing facies through depositional environments

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Abstract

Tephrochronology is the correlation of tephra beds and tuffs by various means, and it is an important tool in refining stratigraphic and structural interpretations. The 18.78 Ma Peach Spring Tuff (PST) is a large-volume ignimbrite that was deposited across a ~200 km x 360 km area of southeastern California, northwestern Arizona, and southern Nevada. The PST is a valuable stratigraphic marker in several stratigraphic sequences in this area. In this study, the field characteristics, mineral abundance, and feldspar composition of eight ignimbrite locations are examined along a 140 km swath across the northwestern extent of the PST in the Mojave Desert. Based on geochronologic or paleomagnetic data, five of the ignimbrites are PST, and three are possible PST ignimbrites do not have supporting geochronologic or paleomagnetic data. In 53 regionally dispersed locations of the PST, including the three possible PST ignimbrites in this study, the overlying and underlying sedimentary deposits are described in order to determine the depositional changes, if any, resulting from the geologically instantaneous deposition of the ignimbrite. Of the 53 locations, 37 locations allow interpretation of the pre- and post-PST depositional environments. Of the 37, 25 have an upward fining-thinning trend indicating that the deposition of the ignimbrite resulted in (1) disruption and change in local stream gradients and sediment supply, (2) a long period of time for depositional systems to propagate to and regenerate at a location, or (3) a lack of re-establishment of the pre-PST environments. However, 12 have no significant change, so there was minimal disruption to the depositional system.

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Publication type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Conference Paper
Title Correlations along a 140 km transect in the westernmost Peach Spring Tuff, and tracing changing facies through depositional environments
Year Published 2020
Language English
Publisher Desert Symposium
Contributing office(s) Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
Description 18 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Conference publication
Larger Work Title Changing facies: The 2020 desert symposium Field guide and proceedings
First page 68
Last page 85
Conference Title 2020 Desert Symposium
Conference Location Zzyzz, CA
Conference Date April 17-20, 2020
Country United States
State Arizona, California, Nevada
Other Geospatial Peach Spring Tuff
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