On the eruption age and provenance of the Old Crow tephra

Quaternary Science Reviews
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Abstract

Tephrochronology is used to correlate and reconstruct geographically disparate sedimentary records of changing environment, climate, and landscape throughout geologic time. Single tephra layers represent isochronous markers across broad regions, thus accurate and precise radiometric constraints on the timing of eruption are critical to their utility. The Old Crow tephra is found throughout eastern Beringia and represents the largest preserved Pleistocene ashfall event in the region. Despite its volume and significance as a stratigraphic marker, the provenance of this tephra is debated, and the interpreted eruption age of marine isotope stage (MIS) 5 at ∼125 ka has vacillated. To investigate provenance and eruption age, we develop a geochemical fingerprint for the Old Crow tephra via titanomagnetite geochemistry, and zircon crystallization/cooling age via coupled U/Pb, U/Th, and (Usingle bondTh)/He zircon geochronology. Our results indicate that Old Crow oxides are geochemically distinct from the commonly assumed source-caldera system at the Emmons Lake Volcanic Center (ELVC). Zircon crystals from the Old Crow tephra range in age from Proterozoic to Pleistocene, with concordant zircon U/Pb, U/Th, and (Usingle bondTh)/He dates on the youngest population of grains suggesting crystallization in their parent magma, and in turn eruption, at 202.9 ± 9.5 ka. We discuss strengths and shortcomings of our radiogenic datasets in light of this result and review the far-reaching implications of a change in Old Crow eruption age.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title On the eruption age and provenance of the Old Crow tephra
Series title Quaternary Science Reviews
DOI 10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.12.026
Volume 207
Year Published 2019
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Volcano Science Center
Description 16 p.
First page 64
Last page 79
Country United States
State Alaska
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