THERMAL MODELING OF KLAMATH MOUNTAINS BEDROCK USING LOW TEMPERATURE THERMOCHRONOLOGY DATA FROM MULTIPLE SYSTEMS

We present detailed thermal modeling results integrating geologic constraints with apatite (U–Th)/He (AHe), zircon (U–Th)/He (ZHe), and apatite fission-track (AFT) thermochronology data from Jurassic-Cretaceous plutons within the Klamath Mountains Province, CA. Samples were collected, processed, and prepared for analysis by an undergraduate student research cohort over a nine-month period (September 2023-May 2024) guided by faculty members Baughman, Michalak, and Sousa as part of a collaborative research project between Cal Poly Humboldt and Oregon State University. Data acquisition is underway in winter 2024 on samples from the Shasta Bally and Ironside Mountain batholiths in the southern Klamath Mountains. This is the first application of ZHe and first dataset using three complementary low-T chronometers from the same hand samples in the southern Klamaths.

Thermochronology data, preliminary modeling, and geologic context from undergraduate coauthors are presented in a companion abstract by Hake et al., in this technical session. Students gained experience planning and conducting field work, processing and preparing samples for AHe and ZHe analysis, and modeling, interpreting and presenting their results in preparation for the May 2024 GSA Cordilleran Conference. Here we focus on using thermal modeling software to interpret the thermal histories of our samples in the context of work presented by Hake et al.