Tracing dust provenance, cycling, and history in the Wasatch Mountains using strontium isotopes and tree rings

Update Item Information
Title Tracing dust provenance, cycling, and history in the Wasatch Mountains using strontium isotopes and tree rings
Publication Type thesis
School or College College of Mines & Earth Sciences
Department Geology & Geophysics
Author Miller, Olivia Leigh
Date 2013-08
Description To further our understanding of dust cycling from the Great Basin to the Rocky Mountains, this study uses strontium concentrations and isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) to investigate provenance of dust landing on the Wasatch Mountains and to determine that a dust strontium record is preserved in tree rings. To do this, the strontium isotopic signature of dust landing on the Wasatch Mountains, tree rings, soil, and bedrock have been measured. The tree ring isotopic signature is a reflection of how strontium from dust and bedrock mix within the soil. This can then be used to trace changes in dust sources through time via tree rings. A large fraction of the strontium in soil and tree rings comes from dust, although some bedrock dependent variation exists. Trees get a majority of their strontium from dust, making them a useful record of dust source and deposition. Over time, a tree growing over the Tintic Quartzite shows changes in strontium source, which are interpreted as changes in dust source.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject Dust; Strontium isotopes; Tree rings; Wasatch Mountains
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name Master of Science
Language eng
Rights Management Copyright © Olivia Leigh Miller 2013
Format application/pdf
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 2,761,389 bytes
Identifier etd3/id/2573
ARK ark:/87278/s66h7rkx
Setname ir_etd
ID 196149
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s66h7rkx
Back to Search Results