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Lake Levels and Sedimentary Environments During Deposition of the Trego Hot Springs and Wono Tephras in the Lake Lahontan Basin, Nevada, USA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Kenneth D. Adams
Kenneth D. Adams*
Affiliation:
Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512, USA
*
*Fax: +1 775 673 7397. E-mail address:kadams@dri.edu.
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Abstract

The Wono and Trego Hot Springs (THS) tephras are widespread in the Lahontan basin and have been identified in a variety of sedimentary environments at different elevations. Davis (1983) reported lake level to be at about 1256 m when the THS tephra was deposited, an interpretation questioned by Benson et al. (1997) who interpreted lake level to be ≤1177 m at that time. This is a significant difference in lake size with important implications for interpreting the climate that prevailed at that time. Based on new interpretations of depositional settings of the THS bed at multiple sites, the larger lake size is correct. Additional sites containing the Wono tephra indicate that it was deposited when lake level was at about 1217 m in the western subbasins and at about 1205 m in the Carson Sink. Sedimentary features associated with progressively deeper paleowater depths follow a predictable pattern that is modulated by proximity to sediment sources and local slope. Fine to coarse sands with wave-formed features are commonly associated with relatively shallow water. Silty clay or clay dominates in paleowater depths >25 m, with thin laminae of sand and ostracods at sites located adjacent to or downslope from steep mountain fronts.

Keywords

Lake LahontanTrego Hot Springs tephraWono tephrapaleowater depthsedimentary features
Type
Original Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 73 , Issue 1 , January 2010 , pp. 118 - 129
Copyright
University of Washington

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