Archean orthogneiss lithologies of Northern Yellowstone National Park and their geochemical contribution to the younger rhyolites

The Archean rocks within the northern section of Yellowstone National Park have yet to be thoroughly analyzed so that their role in the genesis of the young rhyolite magmas that erupted from calderas in the Park can be evaluated. Major and trace element concentrations and stable and radiogenic isotope ratios have been measured for three separate orthogneiss units that are representative of the Park's dominant Archean units. Preliminary major element analyses indicate that partial melting of more primitive Archean lithologies may have produced the more evolved Archean igneous units. This is illustrated by a large gap in the silica compositions (between 54 and 64 wt. percent) of exposed plutonic rocks. REE data indicate enrichment of the HREE to variable degrees and both positive and negative Eu anomalies. Aside from one unit that displays a negative Eu anomaly, these lithologies are not readily distinguishable by REE compositions alone. The young Lava Creek and Canyon Flow Tuff rhyolites have similar HREE patterns and slightly enriched LREE when compared to the orthogneiss samples. Partial melting or assimilation of the Archean granites can produce the observed increase in the young rhyolites LREE. Primary feldspar O isotope ratios range from 6.8 to 8.9 per mil, which are significantly higher than the low O ratios found in some of the young rhyolites. Epsilon Nd values for the Archean rocks are very low and range from -35.8 to -41.5. The young rhyolites have low epsilon Nd values but not as low as the range of the Archean rocks. We can now begin to assess the role that these units have as components in the younger rhyolitic magmas. Preliminary models show that partial melting or assimilation of the Archean rocks can reasonably contribute a significant part to the young rhyolites. In addition to identifying a major contributor to the Yellowstone rhyolites, these data provide insight to the main facies that constitute the basement rocks buried beneath the younger calderas. Figure 1: REE diagram comparing Archean orthogneiss units and two younger rhyolitic units within Yellowstone National Park showing similar HREE and slightly enriched LREE.