The chronology of mafic eruptions and their temporal relation to rhyolitic volcanism in the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field are poorly known, thereby limiting our understanding of the way(s) in which mafic magmatism drives rhyolitic activity. To address this, we measured 40Ar/39Ar eruption ages on 13 mafic samples collected from Henrys Fork Caldera (eastern Idaho, western United States), which represents a region of known volcanic activity immediately west of Yellowstone caldera for which the relationship to Yellowstone volcano’s most recent caldera-forming cycle remains unclear. Our new ages indicate that mafic activity was occurring throughout the Henrys Fork Caldera both leading up to and following the emplacement of the Lava Creek Tuff. Furthermore, these ages reveal that mafic volcanism in the Henrys Fork Caldera region occurred concurrently with second- and third-cycle rhyolite volcanism in and around Yellowstone caldera. Our new ages therefore provide unique and definitive evidence that the mafic magmatism of Henrys Fork Caldera played a critical role in the development of shallow-crustal rhyolitic magma chambers that ultimately fueled the large caldera-forming eruptions within the Yellowstone volcanic system.
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Research Article|
January 17, 2025
Early Publication
New 40Ar/39Ar eruption ages reveal an important temporal relationship between mafic and silicic volcanism in the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field
Cole M. Messa;
Cole M. Messa
1
Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA2
Wyoming High Precision Isotope Laboratory, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA
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Kenneth W.W. Sims;
Kenneth W.W. Sims
1
Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA2
Wyoming High Precision Isotope Laboratory, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA
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Mark E. Stelten;
Mark E. Stelten
3
U.S. Geological Survey, Volcano Science Center, 350 N. Akron Road, Moffett Field, California 94035, USA
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Brandi L. Lawler;
Brandi L. Lawler
1
Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA2
Wyoming High Precision Isotope Laboratory, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA
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Mel A. Kuntz
Mel A. Kuntz
4
U.S. Geological Survey, MS 980, Box 25046, Denver, Colorado 80225, USA
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Cole M. Messa
1
Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA2
Wyoming High Precision Isotope Laboratory, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA
Kenneth W.W. Sims
1
Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA2
Wyoming High Precision Isotope Laboratory, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA
Mark E. Stelten
3
U.S. Geological Survey, Volcano Science Center, 350 N. Akron Road, Moffett Field, California 94035, USA
Brandi L. Lawler
1
Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA2
Wyoming High Precision Isotope Laboratory, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA
Mel A. Kuntz
4
U.S. Geological Survey, MS 980, Box 25046, Denver, Colorado 80225, USA
Publisher: Geological Society of America
Received:
25 Aug 2024
Revision Received:
10 Dec 2024
Accepted:
31 Dec 2024
First Online:
17 Jan 2025
Online ISSN: 1943-2682
Print ISSN: 0091-7613
© 2025 Geological Society of America
Geology (2025)
Article history
Received:
25 Aug 2024
Revision Received:
10 Dec 2024
Accepted:
31 Dec 2024
First Online:
17 Jan 2025
Citation
Cole M. Messa, Kenneth W.W. Sims, Mark E. Stelten, Brandi L. Lawler, Mel A. Kuntz; New 40Ar/39Ar eruption ages reveal an important temporal relationship between mafic and silicic volcanism in the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field. Geology 2025; doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G52709.1
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