The Systematics of Stable Hydrogen (δ2H) and Oxygen (δ18O) Isotopes and Tritium (3H) in the Hydrothermal System of the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, USA
Abstract To improve our understanding of hydrothermal activity on the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field, we collected and analyzed a large data set of δ2H, δ18O, and the 3H concentrations of circum‐neutral and alkaline waters. We find that (a) hot springs are fed by recharge throughout the volcanic...
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Wiley
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GC012230 |
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| author | Shaul Hurwitz R. Blaine McCleskey Bryant C. Jurgens Jacob B. Lowenstern Laura Clor Andrew G. Hunt |
| author_facet | Shaul Hurwitz R. Blaine McCleskey Bryant C. Jurgens Jacob B. Lowenstern Laura Clor Andrew G. Hunt |
| author_sort | Shaul Hurwitz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract To improve our understanding of hydrothermal activity on the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field, we collected and analyzed a large data set of δ2H, δ18O, and the 3H concentrations of circum‐neutral and alkaline waters. We find that (a) hot springs are fed by recharge throughout the volcanic plateau, likely focused through fractured, permeable tuff units. Previous work had stressed the need for light δ2H water recharge restricted to the northern part of the plateau or recharge during past cold periods. However, new data from the Y‐7 drill hole suggests that recharge is not restricted to a certain area or a cold period. (b) δ18O values of thermal waters in the geyser basins are shifted from the global meteoric water line by temperature‐dependent water‐rock reactions with higher subsurface temperatures resulting in a greater shift. (c) Large temporal variations in the isotopic composition of meteoric water recharge and small temporal variability in the isotopic composition of hot spring discharge implies that the volume of groundwater in, and around the Yellowstone caldera is substantially larger than the volume of annual water recharge. (d) Hot springs discharged through different rhyolitic units correlate with identifiable differences in δ2H and δ18O compositions, 3H concentrations, and water chemistry that imply equilibration at different temperatures and travel along different flow paths. (e) Based on measured 3H concentrations, we calculate that hot spring waters in the central part of the geyser basins mostly contain <2% post‐1950 meteoric water, whereas waters discharged at the basin margins contain larger fractions of post‐1950s meteoric water. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b17d2d0a55bc4ec0bdcb7f0442b94ca9 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1525-2027 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| series | Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems |
| spelling | doaj-art-b17d2d0a55bc4ec0bdcb7f0442b94ca92025-08-20T02:45:27ZengWileyGeochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems1525-20272025-07-01267n/an/a10.1029/2025GC012230The Systematics of Stable Hydrogen (δ2H) and Oxygen (δ18O) Isotopes and Tritium (3H) in the Hydrothermal System of the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, USAShaul Hurwitz0R. Blaine McCleskey1Bryant C. Jurgens2Jacob B. Lowenstern3Laura Clor4Andrew G. Hunt5U.S. Geological Survey Moffett Field CA USAU.S. Geological Survey Boulder CO USAU.S. Geological Survey Sacramento CA USAU.S. Geological Survey Vancouver WA USAU.S. Geological Survey Vancouver WA USAU.S. Geological Survey Denver CO USAAbstract To improve our understanding of hydrothermal activity on the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field, we collected and analyzed a large data set of δ2H, δ18O, and the 3H concentrations of circum‐neutral and alkaline waters. We find that (a) hot springs are fed by recharge throughout the volcanic plateau, likely focused through fractured, permeable tuff units. Previous work had stressed the need for light δ2H water recharge restricted to the northern part of the plateau or recharge during past cold periods. However, new data from the Y‐7 drill hole suggests that recharge is not restricted to a certain area or a cold period. (b) δ18O values of thermal waters in the geyser basins are shifted from the global meteoric water line by temperature‐dependent water‐rock reactions with higher subsurface temperatures resulting in a greater shift. (c) Large temporal variations in the isotopic composition of meteoric water recharge and small temporal variability in the isotopic composition of hot spring discharge implies that the volume of groundwater in, and around the Yellowstone caldera is substantially larger than the volume of annual water recharge. (d) Hot springs discharged through different rhyolitic units correlate with identifiable differences in δ2H and δ18O compositions, 3H concentrations, and water chemistry that imply equilibration at different temperatures and travel along different flow paths. (e) Based on measured 3H concentrations, we calculate that hot spring waters in the central part of the geyser basins mostly contain <2% post‐1950 meteoric water, whereas waters discharged at the basin margins contain larger fractions of post‐1950s meteoric water.https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GC012230water‐rock interactionmeteoric waterhot springgroundwaterstable isotopesrhyolite |
| spellingShingle | Shaul Hurwitz R. Blaine McCleskey Bryant C. Jurgens Jacob B. Lowenstern Laura Clor Andrew G. Hunt The Systematics of Stable Hydrogen (δ2H) and Oxygen (δ18O) Isotopes and Tritium (3H) in the Hydrothermal System of the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, USA Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems water‐rock interaction meteoric water hot spring groundwater stable isotopes rhyolite |
| title | The Systematics of Stable Hydrogen (δ2H) and Oxygen (δ18O) Isotopes and Tritium (3H) in the Hydrothermal System of the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, USA |
| title_full | The Systematics of Stable Hydrogen (δ2H) and Oxygen (δ18O) Isotopes and Tritium (3H) in the Hydrothermal System of the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, USA |
| title_fullStr | The Systematics of Stable Hydrogen (δ2H) and Oxygen (δ18O) Isotopes and Tritium (3H) in the Hydrothermal System of the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Systematics of Stable Hydrogen (δ2H) and Oxygen (δ18O) Isotopes and Tritium (3H) in the Hydrothermal System of the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, USA |
| title_short | The Systematics of Stable Hydrogen (δ2H) and Oxygen (δ18O) Isotopes and Tritium (3H) in the Hydrothermal System of the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, USA |
| title_sort | systematics of stable hydrogen δ2h and oxygen δ18o isotopes and tritium 3h in the hydrothermal system of the yellowstone plateau volcanic field usa |
| topic | water‐rock interaction meteoric water hot spring groundwater stable isotopes rhyolite |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GC012230 |
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