Geology ReportsSearch

Geology topics

Ray E. Wilcox

Publications and source records attributed to Ray E. Wilcox.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Activity of Parícutin volcano from December 1, 1946 to March 31, 1947 patterns

A record of the activity of Parícutin Volcano, Michoacán, Mexico, is shown in the diagram of eruptive characteristics, Figure 1, covering the period December 31, 1946 to March 31, 1947, and is supplemented by the maps of the areal extent of the lava flows, Figures 2 and 3. This continues the previous record for the period from September 18 to November 30, 1946 [Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union, v. 28, no. 4, pp. 567–572, 1947], and reference is made to that report for explanatory discussion of the diagram of eruptive characteristics and for general information concerning the methods of investigation. As shown in Figure 1, the periods of predominantly heavy pyroclastic eruption occurred December 16 to February 14 and March 15 to 28. The periods of greater effusion of lava occurred December 1 to 20 and January 22 to February 25.

Parícutin, Michoacán

Zircon fission-track ages of Pearlette family ash beds in Meade County, Kansas

Pearlette family volcanic ash beds at two faunally important late Cenozoic localities near Meade, Meade County, Kansas, are very similar in chemical and mineralogic composition, yet their zircon microphenocrysts have markedly different fission-track ages. Zircon microphenocrysts from type B Pearlette volcanic ash underlying sediments that contain the Borchers local fauna of Hibbard are various shades of pink and have a fission-track age of 1.9 ± 0.1 m.y. In contrast, zircon microphenocrysts from type O Pearlette volcanic ash overlying sediments that contain the Cudahy local fauna of Hibbard are colorless and have a fission-track age of 0.6 ± 0.1 m.y. These fission-track ages are in good agreement with K-Ar ages on the probable source material in Yellowstone National Park.

Kansas

Zircon fission-track ages of Pearlette family ash beds in Meade County, Kansas

Pearlette family volcanic ash beds at two faunally important late Cenozoic localities near Meade, Meade County, Kansas, are very similar in chemical and mineralogic composition, yet their zircon microphenocrysts have markedly different fission-track ages. Zircon microphenocrysts from type B Pearlette volcanic ash underlying sediments that contain the Borchers local fauna of Hibbard are various shades of pink and have a fission-track age of 1.9 ± 0.1 m.y. In contrast, zircon microphenocrysts from type O Pearlette volcanic ash overlying sediments that contain the Cudahy local fauna of Hibbard are colorless and have a fission-track age of 0.6 ± 0.1 m.y. These fission-track ages are in good agreement with K-Ar ages on the probable source material in Yellowstone National Park.

Kansas