Geochemical Data for Selected Rivers, Lake Waters, Hydrothermal Vents, and L Subaerial Geysers in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming and Vicinity, 1996–2004 By Pamela A. Gemery-Hill, Wayne C. Shanks, III, Laurie S. Balistrieri, and Gregory K. Lee Chapter L of Integrated Geoscience Studies in the Greater Yellowstone Area— Volcanic, Tectonic, and Hydrothermal Processes in the Yellowstone Geoecosystem Edited by Lisa A. Morgan Professional Paper 1717 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................................................367 Introduction.................................................................................................................................................367 Study Area...................................................................................................................................................368 Methods.......................................................................................................................................................368 Field Methods ....................................................................................................................................368 Laboratory Methods .........................................................................................................................371 Results .........................................................................................................................................................373 Summary......................................................................................................................................................377 Acknowledgments .....................................................................................................................................379 References Cited .......................................................................................................................................379 Figures 1. Map showing Yellowstone National Park with sampling areas .......................................369 2. Detailed map of Yellowstone Lake with sample locations .................................................370 3–6. Maps showing sample locations in: 3. Norris Geyser Basin ..........................................................................................................375 4. Heart Lake Geyser Basin ..................................................................................................376 5. Gibbon and Monument Geyser Basins area .................................................................377 6. Turbid Lake area ................................................................................................................378 Table 1. Analytical methods ...................................................................................................................372 Appendixes 1. Creeks and water-column profiles .........................................................................................382 2. Hydrothermal vents in Yellowstone Lake ..............................................................................398 3. 1999 mixing experiments .........................................................................................................409 4. Subaerial hydrothermal features ...........................................................................................419 Geochemical Data for Selected Rivers, Lake Waters, Hydrothermal Vents, and Subaerial Geysers in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming and Vicinity, 1996–2004 By Pamela A. Gemery-Hill,1 Wayne C. Shanks, III,1 Laurie S. Balistrieri,2 and Gregory K. Lee1 Abstract The data reported in this paper clearly show the influence of hydrothermal processes on waters within Analyses of more than 400 water samples collected Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone Lake hydrothermal- indicator elements (As, B, Cl, Cs, Cu, Ge, Hg, Li, Mo, Sb, from creeks and rivers draining into Yellowstone Lake, and W) as defined by Balistrieri and others (this volume) hydrothermal vents and water-column profiles within delineate areas of hydrothermal influx. The differences in Yellowstone Lake, and subaerial hot springs and geysers the levels of these elements between the creek data and throughout Yellowstone National Park (the Park) are water-column profiles indicate an influx of hydrothermal reported. The samples were collected from 1996 to 2004. water within Yellowstone Lake. The water-column All of the water samples were collected and analyzed as samples have higher values of the hydrothermal-indicator part of the USGS Mineral Resources Program Project, elements than the creeks flowing into the lake; therefore Integrated Geoscience Studies of the Greater Yellowstone significant input of hydrothermal-indicator elements from Area. Goals of this study are to provide state-of-the-art the hydrothermal vents within the lake is indicated. chemical determinations of more than 45 elements and There are large variations in the values of the indicator species to help understand the influences of hydrothermal elements among vents in Yellowstone Lake. The values of processes within Yellowstone National Park. the hydrothermal-indicator elements are elevated for all Hydrothermal vents within Yellowstone Lake were of the vent samples, but a group of the West Thumb vents sampled during 1996–2004. Sampling of creeks contrib- contain the highest values. This could indicate more active uting to Yellowstone Lake began in 1997 and continued vents and (or) less mixing with lake water during sampling through 1999. Four water-column profiles were collected or during ascent to the lake floor. The subaerial features within Yellowstone Lake in both 1997 and 1998. Water in the Park also show considerable variations in the values samples were collected from subaerial geysers and hot of the indicator elements. Some thermal features in the springs throughout Yellowstone National Park during Park, such as Porkchop and Green Dragon Geysers in 1998–2002. Norris Geyser Basin, have highly elevated hydrothermal- In 1999, mixing experiments were conducted using indicator-element values, while other features have water samples collected from four subaerial hot springs: values similar to Yellowstone Lake water, which is 99 three in Norris Geyser Basin and one at West Thumb percent meteoric water. These differences must reflect Geyser Basin. These thermal-water samples were mixed with varying amounts of hydrothermal activity and input in Yellowstone Lake water to simulate processes at sublacus- these areas. trine vents and to evaluate conservative–nonconservative behavior of elements during mixing. The results of these experiments are discussed in Balistrieri and others (this Introduction volume), and the full data sets are presented here. Yellowstone National Park (the Park) was first desig- 1U.S. Geological Survey, Box 25046, MS 973, Denver Federal Center, nated as a National Park in 1872 for its scenic beauty and Denver, CO 80225. spectacular hydrothermal activity. Ten thousand thermal 2U.S. Geological Survey, University of Washington, School of Oceanogra- features and 300 geysers in the more than 2-million-acre phy, Box 357940, Seattle, WA 98195. park represent over half of the Earth’s known hydrothermal 368 Integrated Geoscience Studies in the Greater Yellowstone Area features and provide unique opportunities for research. Methods Gooch and Whitfield (1888) were the first to carry out chemical analyses of thermal and surficial waters, and Allen and Day (1935) did the first extensive work. Field Methods Beginning in the 1960s, the intensity of aqueous geochemical studies in Yellowstone has steadily increased Because very few water-quality data or discharge measurements were available for surface water flow into (Ball, Nordstrom, Cunningham, and others, 1998; Ball, Yellowstone Lake, samples were collected during July Nordstrom, Jenne, and Vivit, 1998; Ball and others, 2001, 1997, August–September 1998, and July 1999 from the 2002; Balistrieri and others, this volume; Fournier, 1989; major streams that enter the lake (fig. 2). Locations were Kharaka and others, 1991, 2000; Thompson and others, obtained by global positioning satellite (GPS), and the 1975; Thompson and Yadav, 1979; Thompson and temperature and pH of the water were determined at each DeMonge, 1996; White and others, 1970, 1971, 1988). site. Point-source or integrated water samples were However, the development and widespread use of collected in 500-mL polyethylene bottles and brought to inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrographic methods a field-based laboratory for processing. The bottles had in the late 1980s and early 1990s has led to a renaissance in been acid-washed and well rinsed with distilled, deionized trace-element geochemistry, with many more elements water before use. determined than by previous methods. For example, Estimates of stream discharge were made by timing Balistrieri and others (this volume) have clearly shown floats and determining the cross-sectional area of the that Mo and W are important geothermal elements, stream (in 1998) or by measuring the flow rate at 1 to 20 whereas most previous studies did not analyze for these locations in a cross section of the stream using a velocity elements. Balistrieri and others (this volume) conclude meter (in 1999). The accuracy of the flow estimates varied that As, B, Cl, Cs, Cu, Ge, Hg,