Discrimination of grain-size subpopulations in pyroclastic deposits

Research Article| April 01, 1987 Discrimination of grain-size subpopulations in pyroclastic deposits M. F. Sheridan; M. F. Sheridan 1Department of Geology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar K. H. Wohletz; K. H. Wohletz 2Los Alamos National Laboratory, ESS-1, M.S. D462, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87845 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J. Dehn J. Dehn 3Department of Geology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information M. F. Sheridan 1Department of Geology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287 K. H. Wohletz 2Los Alamos National Laboratory, ESS-1, M.S. D462, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87845 J. Dehn 3Department of Geology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1987) 15 (4): 367–370. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1987)15<367:DOGSIP>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation M. F. Sheridan, K. H. Wohletz, J. Dehn; Discrimination of grain-size subpopulations in pyroclastic deposits. Geology 1987;; 15 (4): 367–370. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1987)15<367:DOGSIP>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract A cubic spline curve fit to histograms of grain-size data from pyroclastic deposits affords a rapid means to distinguish subpopulations in complex size distributions. Using interactive microcomputer graphics, the operator can isolate and quantitatively characterize sub-populations by a method of successive Gaussian subtractions. Percentile measures of the entire size range are not needed, and segments of the whole size distribution can be analyzed independently. Recurrent subpopulations with similar means and standard deviations are consistent among the more than 140 samples of pyroclastic-surge deposits from Sugarloaf in Arizona and Vulcano in Italy. The entire data set can be replicated by synthetic curves consisting of various proportions of five identified Gaussian components, each of which we attribute to a specific mechanism of transport and deposition. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.