Responses of evaporite mineralogy to inflow water sources and climate during the past 100 k.y. in Death Valley, California

Research Article| October 01, 1997 Responses of evaporite mineralogy to inflow water sources and climate during the past 100 k.y. in Death Valley, California Jianren Li; Jianren Li 1Department of Geological Sciences and Environmental Studies, State University of New York, Binghamton, New York 13902-6000 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Tim K. Lowenstein; Tim K. Lowenstein 1Department of Geological Sciences and Environmental Studies, State University of New York, Binghamton, New York 13902-6000 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ian R. Blackburn Ian R. Blackburn 1Department of Geological Sciences and Environmental Studies, State University of New York, Binghamton, New York 13902-6000 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1997) 109 (10): 1361–1371. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1997)109<1361:ROEMTI>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 01 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 Jianren Li, Tim K. Lowenstein, Ian R. Blackburn; Responses of evaporite mineralogy to inflow water sources and climate during the past 100 k.y. in Death Valley, California. GSA Bulletin 1997;; 109 (10): 1361–1371. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1997)109<1361:ROEMTI>2.3.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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The mineralogy of cored sediments from Badwater Basin, Death Valley, California, provides information on water inflow sources and climate over the past 100 k.y. Abundant glauberite (Na2SO4 ċ CaSO4) and gypsum (CaSO4 ċ 2H2O), and relatively small amounts of calcite are associated with mudflat deposits from dry periods from 0 to 10 ka and 60 to 100 ka. In contrast, scarce CaSO4-bearing minerals but relatively abundant calcite are associated with halite and mud layers from 10 to 60 ka, including the 25 ka wet period when Death Valley contained a perennial lake (10 to 35 ka). Different mixing ratios of inflow waters between wet and dry periods are interpreted to be responsible for the relationship between mineral assemblages and climate. Modern Death Valley, representative of dry periods, is characterized by Na-Cl-SO4 brines, produced by mixing two basic types of inflow waters: (1) Na-HCO3–rich and Na-Cl-SO4-HCO3–rich meteoric waters from the Amargosa River, springs, and ground waters from northern and central Death Valley; and (2) Na-Ca-Cl-rich springs and ground waters from southern Death Valley, possibly related to volcanism, hydrothermal activity, and a 15-km-deep magma body. During dry periods, relatively abundant Ca-rich spring inflow removes HCO3 as calcite during the early stages of brine evolution. Further evaporative concentration produces gypsum and glauberite from the remaining Ca. During wetter periods, increased discharge of meteoric HCO3–rich Amargosa River water and basin-margin spring waters removes most Ca from the brine via precipitation of calcite, and, with low calcium concentrations, CaSO4-minerals are not abundantly formed during further evaporative concentration. Such Ca-poor, Na-Cl-SO4-rich brines precipitate thenardite (Na2SO4) during later stages of brine evolution. 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.