GSA Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA - 2018

Paper No. 177-8
Presentation Time: 9:00 AM-6:30 PM

DELINEATING THERMAL MINERAL DEPOSITS ON THE CENTRAL PLATEAU IN YELLOWSTONE N.P., WY


AUNAN, Megan M.1, FAIRLEY, Jerry P.1, LARSON, Peter B.2 and MOSER, Haylin1, (1)Department of Geological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-3022, (2)School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-2812

Silica saturated thermal waters precipitate noncrystalline opaline silica (opal-A) when cooled below 100°C, which converts from opal-A to opal-CT given the proper time. We collected 21 hand samples from 3 thermal areas on the Central Plateau in Yellowstone NP and analyzed them using SEM and XRD to determine silica phase mineralogy and identify any biogenic material encapsulated at the time of deposition. Work on thermal area assemblages is important for interpreting paleohydrology and paleobiology of active and extinct hydrothermal systems both terrestrial or elsewhere.