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Radiogenic strontium- and uranium-isotope tracers of water-rock interactions and hydrothermal flow in the Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, USA

James B. Paces·Shaul Hurwitz·Lauren N Harrison·Jacob B. Lowenstern·R. Blaine McCleskey
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Abstract

Natural radiogenic isotopes (primarily 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) from hot springs in the Upper Geyser Basin of the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field and associated rocks were used to evaluate groundwater flow patterns, water-rock reactions, and the extent of mixing between various groundwater sources. Thermal waters have very low uranium concentrations and 234 U/ 238 U activity ratios near 1.0, which limit their utility as tracers in this reducing setting. Thermal waters have higher Sr concentrations (<22 ng/g) and a wide range of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values that vary both temporally at individual discharge sites and between adjacent springs, indicating that conduits tap different subsurface reservoirs to varying degrees. Sr from local rhyolites have 87 Sr/ 86 Sr compositions that bound the range of values observed in groundwater throughout the basin. Non-boiling springs on the west flank of the basin discharge water with low 87 Sr/ 86 Sr consistent with flow through young volcanic rocks exposed at the surface. Boiling springs in the central basin have higher 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values reflecting interactions with older, more radiogenic volcanic rocks. Variability in upwelling thermal waters requires mixing with a low 87 Sr/ 86 Sr component derived from young lava or glacial sediments, or more likely, from deeper sources of hot groundwater circulating through buried Lava Creek Tuff having intermediate 87 Sr/ 86 Sr. Isotope data constrain basin-wide output of thermal water to 110–140 kg·s −1 . Results underscore the utility of radiogenic Sr isotopes as valuable tracers of hydrothermal flow patterns and improve the understanding of temperature-dependent water-rock reactions in one of the largest continental hydrothermal systems on Earth.

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Geochemistry Geophysics, GeosystemsArticle
90° N90° S · 180° W ← longitude → 180° E
Source-reported bounding extent: 43.373355771361986° to 45.18227303867559° latitude; -111.66965749255424° to -108.59348561755453° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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James B. Paces, Shaul Hurwitz, Lauren N Harrison, Jacob B. Lowenstern, R. Blaine McCleskey. 2024-10-26. Radiogenic strontium- and uranium-isotope tracers of water-rock interactions and hydrothermal flow in the Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, USA. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024gc011729

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Article subjectUnited STates placeWyoming placeYellowstone Plateau volcanic field place

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