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Chemical weathering and lithologic controls of water chemistry in a high‐elevation river system: Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone River, Wyoming and Montana
Author(s) -
Horton Travis W.,
Chamberlain C. Page,
Fantle Matt,
Blum Joel D.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/1998wr900103
Subject(s) - weathering , geology , lithology , bedrock , denudation , gneiss , sedimentary rock , andesite , drainage basin , geochemistry , hydrology (agriculture) , carbonate rock , carbonate , volcanic rock , geomorphology , volcano , chemistry , metamorphic rock , paleontology , cartography , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , geography , tectonics
Seasonal analyses of surface water geochemistry were conducted in the Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone watershed to determine whole‐rock weathering rates. The Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone is a high‐elevation catchment with distinct bedrock lithologies. Using dissolved solute concentrations and stream flow data, we calculated cation denudation rates of 119 g m −2 yr −1 (65,900 eq ha −1 yr −1 ) for carbonate‐rich sedimentary rocks, 16.6 g m −2 yr −1 (8200 eq ha −1 yr −1 ) for andesitic volcanics, and 9.8 g m −2 yr −1 (5300 eq ha −1 yr −1 ) for granitic gneisses. Ca/Na ratios indicate that chemical weathering of disseminated calcite in granitic rocks contributes to the total solute load in these subcatchments. Removal of this c(2100 eq ha −1 yr −1 ).