The Dolan Springs Volcanic Field, Northwestern Arizona
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UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones 12-1995 Geochemical evolution of a mid-miocene synextensional volcanic complex: The Dolan Springs volcanic field, northwestern Arizona Scott Michael McDaniel University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Geochemistry Commons, Geology Commons, and the Volcanology Commons Repository Citation McDaniel, Scott Michael, "Geochemical evolution of a mid-miocene synextensional volcanic complex: The Dolan Springs volcanic field, northwestern Arizona" (1995). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 1451. http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/3434922 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). 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Geochemical Evolution of a Mid-Miocene Synextensional Volcanic Complex: The Dolan Springs Volcanic Field, Northwestern Arizona by Scott Michael McDaniel A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Geology Department of Geoscience University of Nevada, Las Vegas December, 1995 © 1995 Scott Michael McDaniel All Rights Reserved The thesis of Scott Michael McDaniel for the degree of Masters in Science in Geology is approved. Examining Committe Member, Eugene I. Smith, Ph.D. I' Examining Committee ember, Wanda]. Taylor, Ph.D. Graduate Faculty Representative, Donna Weistrop, Ph.D. Interim Graduate Dean, Cheryl Bowles, Ed. D. University of Nevada, Las Vegas December, 1995 ii Abstract The Dolan Springs volcanic field (DSV), of northwestern Arizona, is dominated by andesite and basaltic-andesite flows and breccias, with minor amounts of basalt, rhyolite, and ash-flow tuff. Geochemistry is used here as a tool to evaluate the roles and contributions of the lithospheric and asthenospheric mantles to magmatism related to Miocene extension in the Colorado River extension corridor (CREC). The majority of synextensional volcanic rocks in the DSV are geochemically similar to regional trends, but rare tholeiitic basalts erupted near the end of extension. The tholeiites have trace element signatures similar to ocean island basalt (OIB), but have isotopic values indicative of a source in the lithosphere. The tholeiites represent the endpoint in a progressive decrease in the depth of lithospheric melting (22-8 Ma) that occurs just prior to the onset of asthenospheric volcanism at 6 Ma. Using geochemical arguments, models are presented here for trace element stratification in the lithospheric mantle and magma genesis in the CREC. iii Table of Contents Abstract. ......................................................................................................................... .iii List of Figures ................................................................................................................ v i List of Tables .................................................................................................................. vii List of Plates ................................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgrnents ....................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND GEOLOGIC BACKGROUND ............... 1 Introduction and Purpose .............................................................................. l Location and Region Description ................................................................. 2 Geologic Background and Previous Work................................................. 3 CHAPTER 2 STRATIGRAPHY OF THE DOLAN SPRINGS VOLCANIC FIELD ........................................................................................... 9 Introduction and Methods ............................................................................. 9 Stratigraphy of the Northern Dolan Springs Volcanic Field ................. 10 Tertiary gravel conglomerate unit 1 ................................................ 10 Tertiary andesite/tuff of Rodeo Grounds ....................................... ll Tertiary gravel conglomerate unit 2 ................................................ 13 Tertiary tuff of Table Mountain ........................................................ 14 Tertiary basalt of Table Mountain .................................................... lS Stratigraphy of the Southern Dolan Springs Volcanic Field .................. 16 Culdesac rhyolite complex ................................................................. 16 Tertiary andesite of Alta Spring........................................................ 20 Tertiary andesite of Powerline Road ............................................... 20 Tertiary gravel unit 3 .......................................................................... 21 DSV Chronology .............................................................................................. 22 CHAPTER 3 STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY OF THE DOLAN SPRINGS VOLCANIC FIELD ........................................................................................... 27 Tilted Strata and Angular Unconformities ................................................ 27 Faults .................................................................................................................. 28 CHAPTER 4 ERUPTIVE, DEPOSITIONAL AND TECTONIC HISTORY OF THE DOLAN SPRINGS VOLCANIC FIELD ........................................ 31 Pre-extension History ...................................................................................... 31 Synextension History ...................................................................................... 33 iv A Possible Synextension Caldera Near DSV ................................. .35 Post-peak extension History .......................................................................... 36 CHAPTER 5 GEOCHEMISTRY OF THE DOLAN SPRINGS VOLCANIC ROCKS ................................................................................................................ 37 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 37 Classification and Normative Mineralogy ................................................. 37 Major Elements ................................................................................................ 39 Trace Elements ................................................................................................. 40 Isotopic Geochemistry .................................................................................... .41 CHAPTER 6 MAGMATIC HISTORY OF THE DSV AND THE NATURE OF THE CREC MANTLE ............................................................. 51 Introduction ................................................................................................................. .51 Introduction to DSV Magmatic History .................................................................. 53 Discussion of the Origin of Mafic Magmas ........................................................... .55 Synextensional Magmatism ......................................................................... .55 Postextensional Magmatism ................................. ,....................................... 58 The Mt. Perkins Pluton - A Source for DSV? ............................................ 71 Trace Element Enrichment and the Nature of the Lithospheric Mantle ....... .74 Timing of Trace Element Enrichment and Model Ages ......................... 74 Stratification of Trace Element Abundances in the Mantle ................... 77 Model for the Tectonic and Magmatic Evolution of the DSV and CREC ....... 80 Model for Mantle Enrichment... ................................................................... SO Three Phase Model for CREC Magma Genesis .......................................... 82 Phase I- Pre-extension Onset of Magmatism to 12 Ma ................ 83 Phase II - Postextension 12-9 Ma ....................................................... 84 Phase III - Postextension 9-4 Ma ........................................................ 84 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 87 Appendix A ................................................................................................................... 89 Appendix B.................................................................................................................... lOl Analytical Techniques ................................................................................................ 101 References ...................................................................................................................... 106 v List of Figures Figure 1-1. General geologic Map of northwestern Arizona. 8 Figure 2-1. Schematic stratigraphic cross-sections of the northern