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James R. O’Neil

Publications and source records attributed to James R. O’Neil.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2012

Geochemical evidence for water‐rock interaction along the San Andreas and Garlock Faults of California

Mesozoic granitoid rocks adjacent to the San Andreas fault in central California have retained their radiogenic Ar for the last 70 m.y. but have, generally, the highest 18 O and H 2 O + contents and the lowest D contents of all the granitoid rocks in California. The geographical coincidence of the D, 18 O, and H 2 O + patterns with the present trace of the San Andreas fault leave little doubt that some kind of groundwater circulation system has operated in the vicinity of the fault in central California. Similar isotopic patterns exist in rocks along the Garlock fault. These water‐rock interactions probably took place at temperatures <200°C, although depth, extent, and timing are not resolved. Stable isotope compositions of rocks from many localities of the earth have provided unambiguous proof that meteoric waters have descended to depths at least as great as 8 to 10 km when a heat source such as a cooling pluton was present. Massive circulation of groundwater is common in the upper crust of tectonically active areas and may affect the frictional stress state along major faults. The geochemical evidence for extensive deep circulation of groundwater and the relatively high permeabilities for most rocks of the upper crust recently compiled by Brace (1980) argues against nearly lithostatic fluid pressures as an ambient condition of the upper crust. Groundwater circulation along the San Andreas provides an efficient mechanism for diffusing the heat flow anomaly that arises in heat transport calculations that are based on thermal conduction alone.

California↗
USGS1986

THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ASPECTS OF ISOTOPIC FRACTIONATION.

Essential to the interpretation of natural variations of light stable isotope ratios is knowledge of the magnitude and temperature dependence of isotopic fractionation factors between the common minerals and fluids. These fractionation factors are obtained in three ways: (1) Semi-empirical calculations using spectroscopic data and the methods of statistical mechanics. (2) Laboratory calibration studies. (3) Measurements of natural samples whose formation conditions are well-known or highly constrained. In this chapter methods (1) and (2) are evaluated and a review is given of the present state of knowledge of the theory of isotopic fractionation and the fraction that influence the isotopic properties of minerals.

Reviews in Mineralogy↗
USGS1973

Petrogenesis of the Superstition-Superior volcanic area as inferred from strontium- and oxygen-isotope studies

Apparent initial Sr 87 /Sr 86 ratios of five ash-flow tuffs (0.7063 to 0.7139) and several mafic to silicic lavas (0.7055 to 0.7131) indicate that the magmas were derived below the base of the Precambrian granitic crust (0.7231 to 1.0906). Liquidus compositions in the system Q-Or-Ab-H 2 O and oxygen-isotope geother-mometry suggest that the silicic magmas started to crystallize quartz, magnetite, and two feldspars in a water-undersaturated environment of high pressure (∼10 kb) and moderate temperature of at least 830°C. During or after ascent into the crust, the magmas underwent varying degrees of crystal-melt re-equilibration. Measured plagioclase-biotite O 18 fractionations (0.5 to 0.7) imply a temperature that is too high for the observed mineral assemblage, and the inference is that the two minerals did not crystallize in equilibrium. Prior to eruption, the upper part of the magma column assimilated crustal Sr such that the base of each ash flow is now enriched in Sr 87 . In some cases, this assimilation was too rapid to allow crystal-melt equilibration of Sr isotopes. δO 18 values for the magmas are within the range typical of similar magma types, indicating that no significant interaction took place between the melts and meteoric water; however, some rocks have exchanged oxygen isotopes with meteoric water at low temperatures after eruption. Some of the magma appears to have had a long residence in the crust at lower pressure (1 kb) and temperature (750°C), because two of the ash-flow tuffs and one lava are greatly enriched in Sr 87 and have largely re-equilibrated under the P-T conditions of a shallow magma chamber. Even these, however, have retained evidence for a multistage genesis.

Geological Society of America Bulletin↗
USGS1973

Thermal and mineral waters of nonmeteoric origin, California Coast Ranges

Recent isotope studies show that the waters involved in a variety of geologic processes are dominantly the local meteoric water of each area. In most active geothermal systems, the D/H ratio of the hot water is nearly identical with the local cold meteoric water, but the O 18 /O 16 ratio has been shifted to a more positive value because of subsurface exchange with rocks. The numerous thermal springs of the Wilbur Springs mercury district, although rich in CO 2 , are otherwise similar in Cl content and isotopic composition to analyzed California oil-field waters. Some of the springs discharge near the tops of ridges. These relations cannot be explained by normal meteoric recharge. Water of isotopic composition similar to that of Wilbur Springs occurs in the Sulphur Bank mercury district 15 mi west of Wilbur Springs, but the Sulphur Bank water is higher in B and NH 3 and much lower in Cl than are the Wilbur and most oil-field waters. The Wilbur Springs and Sulphur Bank waters are enriched by ∼40‰ in δD and ∼13‰ in δO 18 relative to local meteoric waters of each area, and thus require processes that differ, at least in part, from most previously studied geothermal systems. The D enrichment, chemical composition, and ridge-top discharge are best explained by large proportions of nonmeteoric water. Wilbur Springs and Sulphur Bank may be dominated, respectively, by waters of connate and metamorphic origin, derived from reaction of ancient ocean waters and marine sediments, and now being forced out by pressures that are higher than hydrostatic. Present data indicate that the most saline of each of these types is more restricted in range of δD than are present-day meteoric waters of the same areas; complete flushing by existing or ancient meteoric waters is unlikely. Many springs in the region are chemically intermediate between the high- and low-chloride types and commonly mix near the surface in different proportions with local meteoric water. Many of these springs are associated with mercury deposits and Alpine serpentinites.

California↗