(U-Th)/He zircon and archaeological ages for a late prehistoric eruption in the Salton Trough (California, USA)

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 2013 (U-Th)/He zircon and archaeological ages for a late prehistoric eruption in the Salton Trough (California, USA) Axel K. Schmitt; Axel K. Schmitt * 1Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095-1567, USA *E-mail: axelk@argon.ess.ucla.edu. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Arturo Martín; Arturo Martín 2Departamento de Geología, CICESE, Km 107 Carretera Tijuana, Ensenada, B.C. C.P. 22800, México Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Daniel F. Stockli; Daniel F. Stockli 3Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kenneth A. Farley; Kenneth A. Farley 4Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Oscar M. Lovera Oscar M. Lovera 1Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095-1567, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Axel K. Schmitt * 1Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095-1567, USA Arturo Martín 2Departamento de Geología, CICESE, Km 107 Carretera Tijuana, Ensenada, B.C. C.P. 22800, México Daniel F. Stockli 3Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA Kenneth A. Farley 4Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA Oscar M. Lovera 1Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095-1567, USA *E-mail: axelk@argon.ess.ucla.edu. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 16 May 2012 Revision Received: 06 Jun 2012 Accepted: 11 Jun 2012 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2012 Geological Society of America Geology (2013) 41 (1): 7–10. https://doi.org/10.1130/G33634.1 Article history Received: 16 May 2012 Revision Received: 06 Jun 2012 Accepted: 11 Jun 2012 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 Axel K. Schmitt, Arturo Martín, Daniel F. Stockli, Kenneth A. Farley, Oscar M. Lovera; (U-Th)/He zircon and archaeological ages for a late prehistoric eruption in the Salton Trough (California, USA). Geology 2013;; 41 (1): 7–10. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G33634.1 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 U-Th and (U-Th)/He zircon geochronology redefines the timing of volcanic activity in the Salton Trough (Southern California, USA), the subaerial extension of the incipiently oceanic Gulf of California. U-series disequilibrium corrected (U-Th)/He zircon analyses for a granophyre ejecta clast from the Red Island rhyolite dome indicate an eruption age of 2480 ± 470 a (calendric dates between 0 and 940 Before Common Era, BCE; error at 95% confidence). This eruption age is supported by U-Th zircon crystallization ages for two obsidian-bearing lavas: Red Island (the host for the granophyre) and Obsidian Butte, a prehistoric quarry for obsidian that is widely distributed in southern California and northern Mexico archaeological sites. Lavas and granophyre display overlapping zircon crystallization age distributions that support field and compositional evidence that they are cogenetic and contemporaneous. The (U-Th)/He eruption age is younger and significantly more precise than previous ages for these volcanoes, and is the first indication that the eruption of obsidian flows coincided with human presence in the region. A late prehistoric eruption age agrees with the absence of the Obsidian Butte lithic source among early prehistoric cultural artifacts, previously attributed to submergence of the quarry location during hypothesized persistent flooding by ancient Lake Cahuilla. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.