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Uranium-series dating of secondary carbonates near Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Applications to tectonic, paleoclimatic, and paleohydrologic problems

D.R. Muhs·J.W. Whitney·R. R. Shroba·E. M. Taylor·C. A. Bush
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Abstract

Near-surface accumulations of secondary carbonates are common in the soils and sediments of the Yucca Mountain area. These carbonates contain small amounts of uranium that allow dating by the uranium-series disequilibrium method. Preliminary results from the Yucca Mountain area indicate that the U-series methods can (1) identify multiple episodes of tectonic fracturing, (2) provide a chronologic framework for paleoclimatically significant eolian deposits, and (3) place constraints on the probable source of waters from which the carbonates precipitated.

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D.R. Muhs, J.W. Whitney, R. R. Shroba, E. M. Taylor, C. A. Bush. 1990. Uranium-series dating of secondary carbonates near Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Applications to tectonic, paleoclimatic, and paleohydrologic problems. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70016472

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