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Aeolian sediments in paleowetland deposits of the Las Vegas Formation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 May 2021

Harland L. Goldstein Open the ORCID record for Harland L. Goldstein [Opens in a new window] ,
Kathleen B. Springer ,
Jeffrey S. Pigati ,
Marith C. Reheis  and
Gary L. Skipp
Harland L. Goldstein*
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Box 25046, MS 980, DenverCO80225
Kathleen B. Springer
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Box 25046, MS 980, DenverCO80225
Jeffrey S. Pigati
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Box 25046, MS 980, DenverCO80225
Marith C. Reheis
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Box 25046, MS 980, DenverCO80225
Gary L. Skipp
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Box 25046, MS 980, DenverCO80225
*
Corresponding author: Harland L. Goldstein, Email: hgoldstein@usgs.gov
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Abstract

The Las Vegas Formation (LVF) is a well-characterized sequence of groundwater discharge (GWD) deposits exposed in and around the Las Vegas Valley in southern Nevada. Nearly monolithologic bedrock surrounds the valley, which provides an excellent opportunity to test the hypothesis that GWD deposits include an aeolian component. Mineralogical data indicate that the LVF sediments are dominated by carbonate minerals, similar to the local bedrock, but silicate minerals are also present. The median particle size is ~35 μm, consistent with modern dust in the region, and magnetic properties contrast strongly with local bedrock, implying an extralocal origin. By combining geochemical data from the LVF sediments and modern dust, we found that an average of ~25% of the LVF deposits were introduced by aeolian processes. The remainder consists primarily of authigenic groundwater carbonate as well as minor amounts of alluvial material and soil carbonate. Our data also show that the aeolian sediments accumulated in spring ecosystems in the Las Vegas Valley in a manner that was independent of both time and the specific hydrologic environment. These results have broad implications for investigations of GWD deposits located elsewhere in the southwestern U.S. and worldwide.

Keywords

Groundwater dischargeAeolianDustLas Vegas FormationPaleohydrologyDesert wetlands
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 104 , November 2021 , pp. 1 - 13
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Creative Commons
This is a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States.
Copyright
Copyright © University of Washington. Published by Cambridge University Press, 2021

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