Geochemical evidence for waning magmatism and polycyclic volcanism at Crater Flat, Nevada
- Dept. of Geology, Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (US)
- Los Alamos National Lab., Las Vegas, NV (US)
This paper reports that petrologic and geochemical studies of basaltic rocks in the Yucca Mountain region are currently focused on understanding the evolution of volcanism in the Crater Flat volcanic field and the mechanisms of polycyclic volcanic field and the mechanisms of polycyclic volcanism at the Lathrop Wells volcanic center, the youngest center in the Crater Flat volcanic field. Geochemical and petrologic data indicate that the magma chambers which supplied the volcanic centers at Crater Flat became situated at greater crustal depths as the field evolved. Deep magma chambers may be related to a waning magma flux that was unable to sustain upper crustal magma conduits and chambers. Geochemical data from the Lathrop Wells volcanic center indicate that eruptive units identified from field and geomorphic relationships are geochemically distinct. The geochemical variations cannot be explained by fractional crystallization of a single magma batch, indicating that several magma batches were involved in the formation of the Lathrop Wells center. Considering the low magma flux in the Yucca Mountain region in the Quaternary, the probability of several magma batches erupting essentially simultaneously at Lathrop Wells is considered remote.
- OSTI ID:
- 140878
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-920430-; ISBN 0-87262-891-4; TRN: 92:033753
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 3. international high level radioactive waste management (IHLRWM) conference, Las Vegas, NV (United States), 12-16 Apr 1992; Other Information: PBD: 1992; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of high level radioactive waste management; Volume 1; PB: 2425 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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