Episodic caldera volcanism in the Miocene southwestern Nevada volcanic field; revised stratigraphic framework, (super 40) Ar/ (super 39) Ar geochronology, and implications for magmatism and extension

Abstract

The middle Miocene southwestern Nevada volcanic field (SWNVF) is a classic example of a silicic multicaldera volcanic field in the Great Basin. More than six major calderas formed between g15 and 7.5 Ma. The central SWNVF caldera cluster consists of the overlapping Silent Canyon caldera complex, the Claim Canyon caldera, and the Timber Mountain caldera complex, active from 14 to 11.5 Ma and centered on topographic Timber Mountain. Locations of calderas older than the Claim Canyon caldera source of the Tiva Canyon Tuff are uncertain except where verified by drilling. Younger peralkaline calderas (Black Mountain and Stonewall Mountain) formed northwest of the central SWNVF caldera cluster. We summarize major revisions of the SWNVF stratigraphy that provide for correlation of lava flows and small-volume tuffs with the widespread outflow sheets of the SWNVF. New laser fusion (super 40) Ar/ (super 39) Ar isotopic ages are used to refine and revise the timing of eruptive activity in the SWNVF. The use of high-sensitivity mass spectrometry allowed analysis of submilligram-sized samples with analytical uncertainties of approximately 0.3% (1), permitting resolution of age differences as small as 0.07 Ma. These results confirm the revised stratigraphic succession and document a pattern of episodic volcanism in the SWNVF. Major caldera episodes (Belted Range, Crater Flat, Paintbrush, Timber Mountain, and Thirsty Canyon Groups) erupted widespread ash-flow sheets within 100-300 k.y. time spans, and pre- and postcaldera lavas erupted within 100-300k.y. of the associated ash flows. Peak volcanism in the SWNVF occurred during eruption of the Paintbrush and Timber Mountain Groups, when over 4500 km (super 3) of metaluminous magma was erupted in two episodes within 1.35 m.y., separated by a 750 k.y. magmatic gap. Peralkaline and metaluminous magmatism in the SWNVF overlapped in time and space. The peralkaline Tub Spring and Grouse Canyon Tuffs erupted early, and the peralkaline Thirsty Canyon Group tuffs and Stonewall Flat Tuff er

11 samples from this reference