Uranium-series geochronology of travertine from Soda Dam, New Mexico: A Quaternary record of episodic spring discharge and river incision in the Jemez Mountains
— April Jean, Laura J. Crossey, Karl E. Karlstrom, Victor J. Polyak, and Yemane Asmerom, [eds.]
Abstract:
Abstract—This paper uses the extraordinary field laboratory of Soda Dam, an iconic travertine deposit in New Mexico, to analyze the history of interactions of magmatism, paleohydrology, and tectonics in the Jemez Mountains hydrothermal system. We dated 37 samples via uranium-series (U-series) geochronology to constrain the timing of travertine deposition at Soda Dam. Travertine U-series dates (n =35) and δ234U model ages (n = 2) range from 755±212 ka to 2.14±0.03 ka. These data demonstrate that the hydrothermal system has been episodically active over the past ~1 million years with main episodes around 500, 210, 120, and <10 ka. Age modes do not correlate well with glacial-interglacial periods or with periods of volcanism. Younger infillings within older travertine deposits, including in the highest accumulation, suggest that travertine deposition was linked to periods of high head in the Valles Caldera recharge region for the Jemez River and artesian fault conduits. These episodes may record intervals when major caldera lakes occupied the Valles caldera at ~500 ka, during the climatic transition from MIS 6 to 5 (~120 ka), during MIS 5C (~100 ka), and at the beginning of the Holocene.
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Recommended Citation:
- Jean, April; Crossey, Laura J.; Karlstrom, Karl E.; Polyak, Victor J.; Asmerom, Yemane, 2024, Uranium-series geochronology of travertine from Soda Dam, New Mexico: A Quaternary record of episodic spring discharge and river incision in the Jemez Mountains, in: New Mexico Geological Society, Guidebook, 74th Field Conference, Karlstrom, Karl E.;Koning, Daniel J.;Lucas, Spencer G.;Iverson, Nels A.;Crumpler, Larry S.;Aubele, Jayne C.;Blake, Johanna M.;Goff, Fraser;Kelley, Shari A., New Mexico Geological Society, Guidebook, 74th Field Conference, pp. 257-270. https://doi.org/10.56577/FFC-74.257