An ostracode based paleolimnologic and paleohydrologic history of Death Valley: 200 to 0 ka

Research Article| November 01, 2005 An ostracode based paleolimnologic and paleohydrologic history of Death Valley: 200 to 0 ka Richard M. Forester; Richard M. Forester 1U.S. Geological Survey, MS 980, Denver, Colorado 80225, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Tim K. Lowenstein; Tim K. Lowenstein 2Department of Geological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ronald J. Spencer Ronald J. Spencer 3Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (2005) 117 (11-12): 1379–1386. https://doi.org/10.1130/B25637.1 Article history received: 11 May 2004 rev-recd: 11 Mar 2005 accepted: 10 Apr 2005 first online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Richard M. Forester, Tim K. Lowenstein, Ronald J. Spencer; An ostracode based paleolimnologic and paleohydrologic history of Death Valley: 200 to 0 ka. GSA Bulletin 2005;; 117 (11-12): 1379–1386. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B25637.1 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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Death Valley, a complex tectonic and hydrologic basin, was cored from its lowest surface elevation to a depth of 186 m. The sediments range from bedded primary halite to black muds. Continental ostracodes found in the black muds indicate that those sediments were deposited in a variety of hydrologic settings ranging from deep, relatively fresh water to shallow saline lakes to spring discharge supported wetlands. The alkaline-enriched, calcium-depleted paleolake waters indicate extrabasinal streamflow and basin-margin spring discharge. The alkaline-depleted, calcium-enriched paleowetland waters indicate intrabasinal spring discharge. During Marine Isotope Stage 6 (MIS 6, ca. 180−140 ka) the hydrologic settings were highly variable, implying that complex relations existed between climate and basin hydrology. Termination II (MIS 6 to MIS 5E) was a complex multicyclic sequence of paleoenvironments, implying that climates oscillated between high and low effective moisture. MIS 4 (ca. 73−61 ka) was a spring discharge supported wetland complex. During MIS 2 (ca. 20−12 ka) the hydrologic settings were variable, although they are not fully understood because some black muds deposited during that time were lost during coring. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.