Geologic evolution of the Jemez Mountains and their potential for future volcanic activity

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5204200· OSTI ID:5204200

Burton, B W

Geophysical and geochemical data and the geologic history of the Rio Grande rift and the vicinity of the Jemez Mountains are summarized to determine the probability of future volcanic activity in the Los Alamos, New Mexico area. The apparent cyclic nature of volcanism in the Jemez Mountains may be related to intermittent thermal inputs into the volcanic system beneath the region. The Jemez lineament, an alignment of late Cenozoic volcanic centers that crosses the rift near Los Alamos, has played an important role in the volcanic evolution of the Jemez Mountains. Geophysical data suggest that there is no active shallow magma body beneath the Valles caldera, though magma probably exists at about 15 km beneath this portion of the rift. The rate of volcanism in the Jemez Mountains during the last 10 million years has been 5 x 10/sup -9//km/sup 2//y. Lava or ash flows overriding Laboratory radioactive waste disposal sites would have little potential to release radionuclides to the environment. The probability of a new volcano intruding close enough to a radioactive waste disposal site to effect radionuclide release is 2 x 10/sup -7//y.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5204200
• Report Number(s): LA-8795-GEOL; ON: DE82008975
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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FEDERAL REGION VI
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
LOS ALAMOS
MANAGEMENT
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
PROBABILITY
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
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USA
VOLCANISM
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT