Thesis
Epithermal alteration in tuff of Sulfur Creek, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2010
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/103195
Abstract
The Tuff of Sulphur Creek (480 ka) is well exposed in the Seven Mile Hole area of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The rhyolitic tuff erupted after the collapse of the Yellowstone Caldera (640 ka) and hosts more than 350 vertical meters of hydrothermal alteration. This work focused on shallow epithermal alteration in the south fork of Sulphur Creek. Two epithermal alteration subtypes with varying mineral assemblages and alteration styles have been identified in the area: a low-sulfidation subtype containing silica-illite-sulfides (including pyrite, marcasite, galena, and sphalerite) and a high sulfidation subtype containing silica-alunite-kaolinite-sulfides (including pyrite and marcasite) as well as various amounts of diaspore and pyrophyllite. Most alteration higher in the canyon displays alteration typical of the high-sulfidation subtype, such as advanced argillic alteration, silicification, and vuggy silica. Alteration the base of the canyon is typical of the low-sulfidation subtype, including veins, stockwork veinlets, and brecciation. Boiling along the hydrostatic curve caused a low-sulfidation system to generate and supply acidic fluids to a hot spring environment located in the south fork of Sulphur Creek. These acidic fluids also yielded subsurface mineral associations typical of high-sulfidation subtypes, overprinting the already present low-sulfidation alteration. Oxygen isotope ratios support boiling in the system. The alteration in Tuff of Sulphur Creek is compared to other, better known epithermal systems.
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Details
- Title
- Epithermal alteration in tuff of Sulfur Creek, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
- Creators
- Jennifer Leigh Manion
- Contributors
- Peter B. Larson (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Environment, School of the (CAHNRS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525118101842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis