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Pacific Ocean Or Salt-Encrusted Playas, and Extra-Local Atmospheric Dust Late Quaternary paleohydrology and surficial processes of the Atacama Desert, Chile: Evidence from wetland deposits and stable isotopes of soil salts Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Rech, Jason Arnold Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 05/10/2021 08:27:14 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/279910 INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has t)een reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly f^ the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print t)leedthrough. substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g.. maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sectk)ns with small overlaps. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6' x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additranal charge. Contact UMI directly to order. ProQuest Informatkxi and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor. Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 NOTE TO USERS This reproduction is the best copy available. UMI" LATE QUATERNARY PALEOHYDROLOGY AND SURFICL\L PROCESSES OF THE ATACAMA DESERT. CHILE: EVIDENCE FROM WETLAND DEPOSITS AND STABLE ISOTOPES OF SOIL SALTS by Jason Arnold Rech A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF GEOSCIENCES In partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY' OF ARIZONA 2001 UMi Number; 3040122 ® UMI UMI Microform 3040122 Copyright 2002 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights resen/ed. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor. Ml 48106-1346 2 THE ONIVERSITY OF ARIZONA « GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of che Final Examinacion Commitcee, we cercify chac we have read che dissercacion prepared by Jason Arnold Rech encitled LATE QUATERNARY PALEOHYDROLOGY AND SURFICIAL PROCESSES OF THE ATACAMA DESERT, CHILE: EVIDENCE FROM WETLAND DEPOSITS AND STABLE ISOTOPES OF SOIL SALTS and recommend chac ic be accepted as fulfilling che dissercacion requiremenc for che Degree of Doctor of Philosophy 103 i.lOOi Dace Jtilio Betancourt Dace / _ • Vance Haynes ' Dace 7Pi. /^ -:?/ -0/ David ^ HepdritHs Dace 3l Qriptoc/' A3QI ohn W. Olsen ^ Dace Final approval and acceptance of chis dissercacion is concingenc upon che candidace's submission of che final copy of che dissercacion co che Graduace College. I hereby cercify chac I have read chis dissercacion prepared under my direccion and recommend chac ic be accepced as fulfilling Che dissercacion requirraenc. 16.3 (. ZOC1. Disser/i^iorf birector Jay Quade Dace 3 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgement of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his or her judgment the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGNED 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation represents one component of a research project directed by Jay Quade and Julio Betancourt on climate change and surficial processes in the Atacama Desert of Chile and Peru. As such. Jay and Julio were instrumental in refining research questions, gaining funding, collecting data, and critiquing my writing. Jay and Julio both exceeded the requirements of a mentor and have provided me with invaluable skills and advice for all aspects of an academic career. For this I am truly grateful. This dissertation also greatly benefited firom help in the field and the lab work and numerous discussions about climate change in the central Andes from other members of the Desert Lab research group working in the Atacama and central Andes; Bill Hart, Camille Hohngren, Claudio Latorre, Zach Naiman, Jeff Pigati, and Christa Placzek. This dissertation was funded primarily by research grants to Jay Quade and Julio Betancourt from the National Geographic Society (NGR-617898) and the National Science Foundation (EAR-9904838). Funding ^m a NASA space-grant administered through the University of Arizona, and grants from the Arizona Geological Society and the Institute for the Study of Planet Earth also supported this research. This dissertation also benefited from advice given by my other dissertation committee members C. Vance Haynes, John W. Olsen, and David M. Hendricks, and others in the Department of Geosciences who have helped with some aspect of this research including Dave Dettman, Chris Eastoe, and Nat Lifton. 1 would also like to thank everyone at the University of Arizona AMS Radiocarbon facility. I am also indebted to everyone at the Desert Lab for all kinds of assistance and academic discussions, and for maldng the Desert Lab such a rich environment in which to work. In Chile, I would like to thank Latauro Nufiez and everyone at the Museo Arquiologico de San Pedro de Atacama for their support Finally I would like to thank my parents, Arnold and Niccole Rech, for always being supportive, my wife, Alysia Fischer, for helping make this possible, and our daughter Eva, for putting everything into perspective. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES 8 LISTOFnCURES 9 ABSTRACT 12 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 14 Atacama Desert 14 Scope of Project 14 Salt study 15 Atacama Paleohydrology 16 Dissertation Format 18 References 20 CHAPTER 2: PRESENT STUDY 25 APPENDIX A: ISOTOPIC EVIDENCE FOR THE ORIGIN OF CA AND S IN SOIL GYPSUM, ANHYDRITE, AND CALCITE IN THE ATACAMA DESERT, CHILE 29 ABSTRACT 30 1. INTRODUCTION 32 2. THE ATACAMA DESERT 34 2.1 Location and environment 34 2.2 Geology 34 2.3 Surficial Salt Deposits 35 3. METHODS 36 3.1 Transect Collection 36 3.2 Analytical Methods 37 4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 38 4.1 Physical Characteristics of Soils 38 4.1.1 Antofagasta transect 38 4.1.2 Tocopilla transect 39 4.1.3 Llano de la Paciencia transect 39 4.2 X-ray Diffraction 40 4.3 Isotopic Results and Discussion 41 4.3.1 Streams and salarsAakes 41 4.3.2 Soils 44 4.3.2.1 Antofagasta transect 44 4.3.2.2 Tocopilla transect 45 4.3.2.3 Llano de la Paciencia transect 46 5. ORIGIN OF SOIL SALTS IN THE ATACAMA 47 6. CONCLUSIONS 50 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 53 REFERENCES 54 APPENDIX B: LATE QUATERNARY PALEOHYDROLOGY OF THE CENTRAL ATACAMA (22"-24» S), CHILE 67 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS - continued ABSTRACT 68 INTRODUCTION 69 STUDY AREA 72 Precipitation in the Central Atacama 73 ANALYSIS OF PALEOWETLAND DEPOSITS 74 LABORATORY METHODS 77 PALEOWETLAND DEPOSITS 77 Dating of Paleowetland Deposits 77 Tilomonte Springs 79 Unit A 80 UnitB 81 Unite 82 Unit D 83 Summary 83 Ri'o Salado 84 Unit A 84 Unit C 85 Summary 86 Rio Loa 87 Unit A 87 Unit C 87 UnitD 88 Summary 88 Quebrada Puripica 89 SYNTHESIS OF RECORDS 90 Implication of water table changes 91 DISCUSSION 92 Central Atacama Records 92 Bolivian and Peruvian Altiplano 95 Amazon and the Tropics 98 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 99 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 102 REFERENCES CITED 103 APPENDIX C; RE-EVALUATION OF MID-HOLOCENE WETLAND DEPOSITS AT QUEBRADA PURIPICA, NORTHERN CHILE 127 ABSTRACT 128 INTRODUCTION 130 METHODS 132 RESULTS 133 Distribution of Deposits 133 Dating ofdifferent organic fractions 134 Sedimentology and Age of Deposits 135 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS - continued Unit C 135 Units Di and D: 137 DISCUSSION 137 The Puripica deposits 137 Causes of Changes in Water Table Elevations 140 COMPARISON WITH OTHER MID-HOLOCENE RECORDS IN THE CENTRAL ATACAMA 143 CONCLUSIONS 146 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 148 REFERENCES 149 APPENDIX D: LATE GLACLU. AND HOLOCENE WETLAND DEPOSITS IN THE NORTHERN ATACAMA DESERT (18®-21® S), CHILE 161 ABSTRACT 162 INTRODUCTION 164 SPRING AND WETLAND DEPOSITS 166 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 167 Dating of spring/wetland deposits 168 Age and stratigraphy of deposits 169 Zapahuita Springs (18° 20' S, 69°34' W) 170 Quebrada la Higuera (18° 39' S, 69°33' W) 170 UnltB 171 Unite 172 UnitD 172 Summary 172 Quebrada Tana (19° 27' S, 69°56' W) 173 Quebrada Guataguata (20° 04' S, 69°22' W) 174 Atacama water table fluctuations 176 Quebrada de los Burros 179 Summary arui climatic interpretations 181 COMPARISON OF OTHER PALEOCLIMATIC RECORDS 182 CONCLUSIONS 184 REFERENCES CITED 187 APPENDIX E: WETLAND DEPOSFTS AT QUEBRADA CHACO (25® S), CHILE: EVIDENCE FOR THE TIMING AND SPATIAL EXTENT OF THE LATE GLACIAL / EARLY HOLOCENE WET PERIOD 202 ABSTRACT 203 INTRODUCTION 205 STUDY AREA 206 METHODS 207 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 208 Quebrada Inconguasi 208 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS - continued Quebrada las Cenizas 209 Quebrada Chaco Sur and Norte 210 Quebrada Chaco 211 Correlation of the Quebrada Chaco Wetland Deposits 212 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS 213 REFERENCES 215 9 LIST OF TABLES Table A.
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