Where does sediment come from? Quantifying catchment erosion with detrital apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronometry

Research Article| September 01, 2006 Where does sediment come from? Quantifying catchment erosion with detrital apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronometry Greg M. Stock; Greg M. Stock 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1005, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Todd A. Ehlers; Todd A. Ehlers 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1005, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kenneth A. Farley Kenneth A. Farley 2Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Greg M. Stock 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1005, USA Todd A. Ehlers 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1005, USA Kenneth A. Farley 2Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 09 Jan 2006 Revision Received: 03 Apr 2006 Accepted: 11 Apr 2006 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2006) 34 (9): 725–728. https://doi.org/10.1130/G22592.1 Article history Received: 09 Jan 2006 Revision Received: 03 Apr 2006 Accepted: 11 Apr 2006 First Online: 09 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 Greg M. Stock, Todd A. Ehlers, Kenneth A. Farley; Where does sediment come from? Quantifying catchment erosion with detrital apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronometry. Geology 2006;; 34 (9): 725–728. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G22592.1 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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract We present a new method for tracing sediment using detrital apatite (U-Th)/He (AHe) thermochronometry, and use this to quantify the spatial distribution of catchment erosion in the eastern Sierra Nevada, California. Well-developed age-elevation relationships permit detrital AHe ages to track the elevations where sediment grains were shed from bedrock. We analyzed sediment exiting nonglaciated Inyo Creek and adjacent (formerly) glaciated Lone Pine Creek. Statistical comparison of measured AHe age probability density functions (PDFs) with predicted PDFs based on catchment hypsometries suggests that Inyo Creek is eroding uniformly, consistent with field observations of weathered hillslopes tightly coupled to the fluvial system. In contrast, significant mismatch between measured and predicted PDFs from Lone Pine Creek reveals that sediment derives primarily from the lower half of the catchment. The dearth of older ages is likely due to sediment storage in cirques and moraines and/or focused erosion at intermediate elevations, both potential consequences of glacial modification. Measured PDFs can also improve cosmogenic nuclide-based erosion rates by more accurately scaling nuclide production rates. Our results demonstrate the utility of detrital AHe thermochronometry for quantifying erosion in fluvially and glacially sculpted catchments. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.