T177 Geology and Hydrology of Your Public Lands: Understanding and Managing America’s Geologic Heritage, Active Processes, Geohazards, Energy Development, and Mineral Resources (Posters)

Tuesday, 6 November 2018
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Halls J-K

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

Paper number: T177-8
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

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.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 50, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2018AM-324217

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