Volcanology505_Project
The graduate students in Volcanology (GEOL 5505) are undertaking a semester-long research project investigating a tephra layer between the Arbon Valley Tuff and Pocatello Rhyolite located near Pocatello, ID. This webpage is a central location for photos, data, and discussion related to this project.
Research hypothesis:
Research tasks:
References (These are available to team members through the project Dropbox folder):
Adam:
Perkins, M.E. and Nash, B.P., 2009, Explosive silicic volcanism of the Yellowstone hotspot: The ash fall tuff record, GSA Bulletin, v. 114, p. 367-381.
Perkins and Nash use data concerning the ash fall tuffs related to silicic volcanism along the Snake River Plain, to place constraints on eruptions along the plain. This paper includes a correlation diagram of ash fall tuffs along the SRP, including the Arbon Valley Tuff.
Morgan, L.A. and McIntosh, W.C., 2005, Timing and development of the Heise volcanic field, Snake River Plain, Idaho, western USA, GSA Bulletin, v. 117, p. 28-306.
This paper discusses the tuff deposits related to the Heise volcanic field. The authors include a brief discussion of Arbon Valley tuff among other regional volcanic deposits.
Kellogg K.S., Harlan, H.H., Mehnert, L.W., Snee, L.W., Pierce, K.L., Hackett, W.R., and Rodgers, D.W., 1994, Major 10.2-Ma Rhyolitic Volcanism in the Eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho -- Isotopic age and stratigraphic setting of the Arbon Valley Tuff Member of the Starlight Formation, USGS Bulletin, v. 2091,
This paper discusses, in depth, the Arbon Valley tuff. The paper proposes dates for the tuff and a source for the tuff. There is also a discussion of the stratigraphy around the tuff.
Michael:
Bindeman, I. N., Watts, K. E., Schmitt, A. K., Morgan, L. A., and Shanks, P. W. C., 2007, Voluminous, low δ18O magmas in the late Miocene Heise volcanic field, Idaho: Implications for the fate of Yellowstone hotspot calderas: Geology, v. 35, p. 1019-1022.
This paper discusses oxygen isotope compositions of ignimbrites in the Heise volcanic field
Bonnichsen, B., Leeman, W. P., Honjo, N., McIntosh, W. C., Godchaux, M. M., 2008, Miocene silicic volcanism in southwestern Idaho: geochronology, geochemistry, and evolution of the central Snake River Plain: Bull Volcanol, v. 70, p. 315-342
Using Ar/Ar dates, geochemical data, and physical characteristics for rhyolite ignimbrites from the west-central Snake River Plain, Miocene silicic magmatism can be described. While this is further west than our study area, it discusses dates for the SRP rhyolites. It also gives geochemical data for these units, which can be used to compare to the Pocatello Rhyolite.
Branney, M. J., Bonnichen, B., Andrews, G. D. M., Ellis, B., Barry, T. L., and McCurry, M., 2008, ‘Snake River (SR)-type’ volcanism at the Yellowstone hotspot track: distinctive products from unusual, high-temperature silicic super-eruptions: Bull Volcanol, v. 70, p. 293-314
This paper discusses ignimbrites and rhyolitic ash layers from Snake River type volcanism. It also includes pictures of the textures of these units.
Rebecca:
Andrews, G. D. M., Branney, M. J., Bonnichsen, B., and McCurry, M., 2008, Rhyolitic ignimbrites in the Rogerson Graben, southern Snake River Plain volcanic province: volcanic stratigraphy, eruption history, and basin evolution: Bulletin of Volcanology, v. 70, p. 269-291.
This paper gives an overview of the regional distribution of ignimbrites in the southern SRP, and the significance of this distribution with respect to the recent eruptive history of SRP calderas.
Boroughs, S., Wolff, J., Bonnichsen, B., Godchaux, M., and Larson, P., 2005, Large-volume, low δ18O rhyolites of the central Snake River Plain, Idaho, USA: Geology, v. 33, p. 821-824.
This paper discusses the origin of SRP rhyolites with respect to their stable isotopic composition. Oxygen 18 values have created a petrogenetic “paradox”-these values suggest a crustal origin of the rhyolites, but other geochemical data suggests a mantle origin. Comparison of compositional traits of samples collected for this course with these known values may establish a correlation between these deposits and known SRP volcanic products.
McCurry, M., and Rodgers, D. W., 2009, Mass transfer along the Yellowstone hotspot track: Petrologic constraints on the volume of mantle-derived magma: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, vol. 188, p. 86-98.
This paper discusses the petrogenesis of SRP volcanic deposits and the implications that this has on eruptive history.