USGS

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Open-File Report 97-792


DATA FOR DEVILS HOLE CORE DH-11

by  J.M. Landwehr1, T.B. Coplen1, K. R. Ludwig2, I.J. Winograd1, and A.C. Riggs3
  1. U.S.Geological Survey, 431 National Center, Reston, VA 20192
  2. Berkeley Geochronology Center, Berkeley, CA 94709
  3. U.S.Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Lakewood, CO 80255

ABSTRACT

This report presents the stable isotope values measured in Devils Hole Core DH-11 and interpolated ages at the depth the samples were taken, as analyzed in a recent publication by Winograd and others (1997).


DESCRIPTION OF ANALYZED MATERIAL


Devils Hole is a tectonically formed cave developed in the discharge zone of a regional aquifer in south-central Nevada. (See Riggs, et al., 1994.) The walls of this subaqueous cavern are coated with dense vein calcite which provides an ideal material for precise uranium-series dating via thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). Devils Hole Core DH-11 is a 36-cm-long core of vein calcite from which we obtained an approximately 500,000-year-long continuous record of paleotemperature and other climatic proxies. Data from this core were recently used by Winograd and others (1997) to discuss the length and stability of the last four interglaciations. These data are given in table 1.

Carbon and oxygen stable isotopic ratios were measured on 285 samples cut at regular intervals inward from the free face of the core (as reported in Winograd et al. ,1992, and in Coplen et al., 1994). Table 1 lists only 284 samples because a sample taken at 114.28 mm was eliminated when post-1994 reanalysis of its delta 18O value indicated an error in the earlier determination. Carbon isotopic ratios are reported in per mill (footnote #1) relative to VPDB, defined by assigning a delta 13C of +1.95 per mill to the reference material NBS 19 calcite. Oxygen isotopic ratios are reported relative to VSMOW reference water on a scale normalized such that SLAP reference water is -55.5 per mill relative to VSMOW reference water. The oxygen isotopic fractionation factors employed in this determination are those listed in Coplen and others (1983). The delta 18O value of the isotopic reference material NBS 19 on this scale is +28.65 per mill. The ± 1 sd (standard deviation) error for the delta 18O and delta 13C analyses is ±0.07 and 0.05 per mill, respectively.

Ages were estimated by linear interpolation between age control points taken at key intervals in the core and analyzed by TIMS 230Th-234U-238U dating. The age estimates in Table 1 are based on the original 21 control points (see Table 2 in Ludwig, et al., 1992, and Figure 2 in Winograd, et al., 1992) as well as for the recently obtained TIMS age of 143.8±0.9 ka (2 sd analytical error) at 51.5 mm (Winograd, et al., 1997). The later sample was taken specifically for additional control in a critical portion of the core. Errors in the ages vary but are bounded by the errors in the appropriate control points. (See Table 2 in Ludwig, et al., 1992.)

Footnote #1. For expressing isotopic results, we use the spelling "per mill" as recommended by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO, 1992).


REFERENCES CITED


Coplen, T.B., Kendall, C., and Hopple, J., 1983, Comparison of stable isotope reference samples, Nature, v.302, p.236-239.

Coplen, T.B., Winograd, I.J., Landwehr, J.M., and Riggs, A.C., 1994, 500,000- year stable carbon isotopic record from Devils Hole, Nevada: Science, v. 263, p. 361-365.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1992, ISO 31-0, Quantities and Units, Part 0, General Principles, subclause 2.3.3.

Ludwig, K.R., Simmons, K.R., Szabo, B.J., Winograd, I.J., Landwehr, J.M., Riggs, A.C., and Hoffman, R.J., 1992, Mass-spectrometric 230Th-234U-238U dating of the Devils Hole calcite vein: Science, v. 258, p. 284-287.

Riggs, A.C., Carr, W.J., Kolesar, P.T., and Hoffman, R.H., 1994, Tectonic speleogenesis of Devils Hole, Nevada, and implications for hydrogeology and the development of long, continuous paleoenvironmental records: Quaternary Research, v.42, p.241-254.

Winograd, I.J., Coplen T.B., Landwehr, J.M., Riggs, A.C., Ludwig, K.R., Szabo, B.J., Kolesar, P.T., and Revesz, K.M., 1992, Continuous 500,000-year climate record from vein calcite in Devils Hole, Nevada: Science, v. 258, p. 255-260.

Winograd, I.J., Landwehr, J.M., Ludwig, K.R., Coplen, T.B., and Riggs, A.C, 1997, Duration and structure of the past four interglaciations: Quaternary Research, v. 48, p. 141-154.

For additional information contact:
jmlandwe@usgs.gov
Chief, Regional Hydrologic Process Project
U.S. Geological Survey
MS 431 - National Center
Reston, Virginia 20192


Table 1. Stable isotope analyses and interpolated ages of samples from Devils Hole core DH-11.



Distance (in mm) from free face delta 18O delta 13C Age
(ka)
0.64 13.85 -1.80 59.8
1.91 13.70 -1.80 61.5
3.18 13.65 -1.65 63.3
4.45 13.55 -1.65 65.0
5.72 13.55 -1.55 66.7
6.99 13.75 -1.55 68.4
8.26 13.85 -1.55 70.1
9.53 13.90 -1.60 71.8
10.80 14.05 -1.70 73.6
12.07 14.15 -1.75 75.3
13.34 14.10 -1.75 77.0
14.61 14.35 -1.75 78.7
15.88 14.70 -1.80 80.4
17.15 14.25 -1.90 82.4
18.42 14.35 -1.80 84.4
19.69 14.20 -1.75 86.4
20.96 14.00 -1.75 88.4
22.23 14.10 -1.70 90.3
23.50 14.25 -1.70 92.3
24.77 14.10 -1.75 94.3
26.04 14.35 -1.75 96.3
27.30 14.45 -1.80 98.3
28.58 14.45 -1.80 100.3
29.84 14.60 -1.80 102.2
31.11 14.55 -1.85 104.2
32.38 14.50 -1.90 106.2
33.66 14.45 -1.95 108.2
34.92 14.30 -2.00 110.2
36.20 14.30 -1.95 112.2
37.46 14.35 -1.95 114.2
38.74 14.55 -2.05 116.2
40.00 14.75 -2.10 118.1
41.28 15.05 -2.15 119.9
42.54 15.25 -2.15 120.9
43.82 15.35 -2.20 121.8
45.08 15.55 -2.30 123.7
46.34 15.75 -2.45 126.7
47.62 15.60 -2.70 129.8
48.90 15.60 -2.95 133.5
50.16 15.15 -2.70 138.5
51.44 14.45 -2.30 143.6
52.70 14.10 -2.25 146.7
53.98 13.85 -2.25 149.7
55.24 13.75 -2.30 151.5
56.52 13.75 -2.30 153.4
57.78 13.65 -2.30 155.2
59.06 13.65 -2.20 157.0
60.32 13.90 -2.05 158.7
61.60 13.95 -2.10 160.4
62.86 13.90 -1.95 162.2
64.14 13.85 -2.00 163.9
65.40 13.85 -2.10 165.7
66.68 13.85 -2.10 167.4
67.94 13.90 -2.15 169.1
69.22 13.70 -2.25 170.9
70.48 13.55 -2.15 172.6
71.76 13.75 -1.95 174.4
73.02 13.85 -1.85 176.1
74.30 13.95 -1.75 177.8
75.56 13.95 -1.70 179.6
76.84 13.95 -1.75 181.3
78.10 13.95 -1.75 183.1
79.38 14.10 -1.80 184.8
80.64 14.15 -1.80 186.5
81.92 14.20 -1.85 188.3
83.18 14.35 -1.80 190.0
84.46 14.35 -1.85 191.8
85.72 14.50 -1.85 193.5
87.00 14.55 -1.90 195.2
88.26 14.35 -1.90 197.0
89.54 14.25 -1.90 198.7
90.80 14.00 -1.95 200.5
92.08 14.10 -1.90 202.2
93.34 14.20 -1.90 203.9
94.62 14.45 -1.95 205.7
95.88 14.30 -1.90 207.4
97.16 14.40 -1.90 209.2
98.42 14.35 -1.90 210.9
99.70 14.35 -1.95 213.4
100.97 14.30 -2.05 215.9
102.18 14.10 -2.10 218.3
103.39 13.80 -2.10 220.7
104.60 13.65 -2.05 223.2
105.81 14.15 -2.00 225.6
107.02 14.35 -2.00 228.0
108.23 14.50 -2.00 230.4
109.44 14.65 -2.05 232.8
110.65 14.70 -2.05 235.2
111.86 14.70 -2.05 237.8
113.07 14.75 -2.10 240.5
115.49 14.80 -2.35 245.8
116.70 14.20 -2.25 248.5
117.91 14.05 -2.15 251.2
119.12 13.80 -2.05 253.9
120.33 13.90 -2.00 256.6
121.54 13.85 -1.95 259.2
122.75 13.65 -1.95 261.9
123.96 13.55 -2.00 264.6
125.17 13.40 -1.90 267.3
126.38 13.15 -1.75 269.7
127.65 13.20 -1.70 271.6
128.92 13.40 -1.65 273.5
130.19 13.55 -1.70 275.4
131.46 13.80 -1.65 277.3
132.73 13.90 -1.65 279.3
134.00 14.00 -1.75 281.2
135.27 14.05 -1.80 283.1
136.54 14.20 -1.75 285.0
137.81 14.20 -1.85 286.7
139.08 14.20 -1.80 288.2
140.35 14.05 -1.80 289.8
141.62 13.95 -1.80 291.3
142.89 13.90 -1.75 292.8
144.16 13.85 -1.75 294.4
145.43 13.80 -1.75 295.9
146.70 13.85 -1.75 297.5
147.97 13.95 -1.75 299.0
149.24 14.00 -1.75 300.5
150.51 14.10 -1.80 302.1
151.78 14.10 -1.80 303.6
153.05 14.20 -1.80 305.1
154.32 14.15 -1.80 306.7
155.59 14.25 -1.90 308.2
156.86 14.30 -1.90 309.8
158.13 14.35 -1.90 311.3
159.40 14.20 -1.95 312.8
160.67 14.20 -1.85 314.4
161.94 14.25 -1.95 315.9
163.21 14.30 -1.95 317.5
164.48 14.45 -2.00 319.0
165.75 14.70 -2.00 320.5
167.02 14.80 -2.00 322.1
168.29 14.95 -2.05 323.6
169.56 15.05 -2.05 325.1
170.83 15.05 -2.10 326.7
172.10 15.20 -2.15 328.5
173.37 15.15 -2.35 330.5
174.64 15.10 -2.50 332.6
175.91 15.15 -2.55 334.6
177.18 14.50 -2.30 336.7
178.45 14.15 -2.15 338.7
179.72 13.90 -1.95 340.8
180.99 13.80 -1.85 342.8
182.26 13.65 -1.85 344.8
183.53 13.55 -1.80 346.9
184.80 13.45 -1.75 348.9
186.07 13.35 -1.75 351.0
187.34 13.15 -1.75 353.0
188.61 13.05 -1.65 354.9
189.88 13.10 -1.70 356.6
191.15 13.20 -1.65 358.3
192.42 13.40 -1.65 359.9
193.69 13.45 -1.60 361.6
194.96 13.50 -1.65 363.3
196.23 13.65 -1.65 365.0
197.50 13.70 -1.65 366.6
198.77 13.80 -1.60 368.3
200.04 14.00 -1.65 370.0
201.31 13.85 -1.70 371.7
202.58 13.85 -1.70 373.3
203.85 13.80 -1.65 375.0
205.12 13.80 -1.65 376.7
206.39 14.05 -1.75 378.4
207.66 13.95 -1.70 380.0
208.93 14.10 -1.75 381.7
210.20 14.10 -1.75 383.4
211.47 14.15 -1.80 385.1
212.74 14.00 -1.75 386.7
214.01 14.05 -1.80 388.4
215.28 14.15 -1.75 390.1
216.55 14.15 -1.80 391.8
217.82 14.10 -1.80 393.4
219.09 14.25 -1.85 395.1
220.36 14.45 -1.80 396.2
221.63 14.75 -1.85 397.3
222.90 14.90 -1.90 398.4
224.17 14.90 -2.00 399.5
225.44 14.90 -2.10 400.6
226.71 14.95 -2.15 401.7
227.98 14.85 -2.15 403.5
229.19 14.80 -2.20 405.4
230.40 14.90 -2.30 407.3
231.61 14.85 -2.35 409.2
232.82 14.80 -2.45 411.1
234.03 14.70 -2.50 413.0
235.25 14.50 -2.50 414.9
236.45 14.05 -2.45 416.8
237.66 13.95 -2.45 418.7
238.87 14.00 -2.40 420.6
240.08 13.90 -2.30 422.5
241.29 13.80 -2.20 424.4
242.50 13.75 -2.25 426.3
243.71 13.65 -2.20 428.2
244.92 13.65 -2.15 430.0
246.13 13.70 -2.10 431.9
247.34 13.45 -2.05 433.8
248.55 13.80 -1.95 435.7
249.76 13.55 -1.90 437.6
250.97 13.55 -1.80 438.8
252.18 13.55 -1.85 439.9
253.39 13.55 -1.85 440.9
254.66 13.50 -1.85 442.0
255.93 13.50 -1.85 443.1
257.20 13.55 -1.85 444.1
258.47 13.55 -1.80 445.2
259.74 13.50 -1.75 446.3
261.01 13.45 -1.65 447.4
262.28 13.50 -1.60 448.5
263.55 13.65 -1.60 449.5
264.82 13.80 -1.60 450.6
266.09 14.10 -1.65 451.7
267.36 14.10 -1.75 452.8
268.63 14.25 -1.70 453.9
269.90 14.30 -1.75 455.0
271.17 14.20 -1.80 456.0
272.44 14.40 -1.75 457.1
273.71 14.50 -1.75 458.2
274.98 14.50 -1.70 459.3
276.25 14.55 -1.80 460.4
277.52 14.65 -1.80 461.7
278.79 14.50 -1.80 463.2
280.06 14.50 -1.80 464.8
281.33 14.45 -1.85 466.4
282.60 14.45 -1.80 468.0
283.87 14.40 -1.85 469.6
285.14 14.45 -1.80 471.2
286.41 14.45 -1.85 472.8
287.68 14.45 -1.85 474.4
288.95 14.30 -1.90 476.0
290.22 14.30 -1.85 477.6
291.49 14.40 -1.90 479.2
292.76 14.35 -1.85 480.7
294.03 14.45 -1.85 482.3
295.30 14.40 -1.85 483.9
296.57 14.35 -1.90 485.5
297.84 14.35 -1.95 487.1
299.11 14.35 -1.90 488.7
300.38 14.30 -1.90 490.3
301.65 14.30 -1.90 491.9
302.92 14.25 -1.90 493.5
304.19 14.30 -1.90 495.1
305.46 14.30 -1.90 496.7
306.73 14.25 -1.90 498.3
308.00 14.30 -1.90 499.8
309.27 14.25 -1.90 501.4
310.54 14.35 -1.85 503.0
311.81 14.35 -1.80 504.6
313.08 14.35 -1.85 506.2
314.35 14.25 -1.90 507.8
315.62 14.25 -1.90 509.4
316.89 14.20 -1.85 511.0
318.16 14.30 -1.85 512.6
319.43 14.25 -1.85 514.0
320.70 14.25 -1.90 515.5
321.97 14.35 -1.85 516.9
323.24 14.10 -1.90 518.3
324.51 14.00 -1.85 519.8
325.78 13.90 -1.80 521.2
327.05 13.75 -1.75 522.6
328.32 13.75 -1.70 524.0
329.59 13.80 -1.65 525.5
330.86 13.70 -1.65 526.9
332.13 13.75 -1.65 528.3
333.40 13.85 -1.55 529.8
334.67 13.90 -1.55 531.3
335.94 13.80 -1.45 533.2
337.21 13.75 -1.50 535.1
338.48 13.70 -1.45 537.0
339.75 13.70 -1.50 538.9
341.02 13.70 -1.55 540.8
342.29 13.75 -1.60 542.7
343.56 13.65 -1.60 544.6
344.83 13.80 -1.65 546.5
346.10 13.80 -1.65 548.5
347.37 13.90 -1.65 550.4
348.64 13.90 -1.70 552.4
349.91 13.95 -1.65 554.3
351.18 14.00 -1.70 556.3
352.45 13.95 -1.70 558.2
353.72 14.00 -1.75 560.2
354.99 14.10 -1.75 562.1
356.20 14.25 -1.75 564.0
357.41 14.35 -1.75 565.9
358.62 14.40 -1.75 567.7





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