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Geochemical Evidence for an Eolian Sand Dam across the North and South Platte Rivers in Nebraska

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Daniel R. Muhs ,
James B. Swinehart ,
David B. Loope ,
Josh Been ,
Shannon A. Mahan  and
Charles A. Bush
Daniel R. Muhs
Affiliation:
United States Geological Survey, MS 980, Box 25046, Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225
James B. Swinehart
Affiliation:
Conservation and Survey Division, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588
David B. Loope
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588
Josh Been
Affiliation:
United States Geological Survey, MS 980, Box 25046, Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225
Shannon A. Mahan
Affiliation:
United States Geological Survey, MS 980, Box 25046, Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225
Charles A. Bush
Affiliation:
United States Geological Survey, MS 980, Box 25046, Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225
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Abstract

Geochemical and geomorphic data from dune fields in southwestern Nebraska provide new evidence that the Nebraska Sand Hills once migrated across the North and South Platte rivers and dammed the largest tributary system to the Missouri River. The Lincoln County and Imperial dune fields, which lie downwind of the South Platte River, have compositions intermediate between the Nebraska Sand Hills (quartz-rich) and northeastern Colorado dunes (K-feldspar-rich). The most likely explanation for the intermediate composition is that the Lincoln County and Imperial dunes are derived in part from the Nebraska Sand Hills and in part from the South Platte River. The only mechanism by which the Nebraska Sand Hills could have migrated this far south is by complete infilling of what were probably perennially dry North Platte and South Platte river valleys. Such a series of events would have required an extended drought, both for activation of eolian sand and decreased discharges in the Platte River system. A nearby major tributary of the North Platte River is postulated to have been blocked by eolian sand about 12,000 14C yr B.P. We propose that an eolian sand dam across the Plattes was constructed at about this same time.

Keywords

Great PlainsNebraska Sand HillsColorado sand dunesgeochemistry
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 53 , Issue 2 , March 2000 , pp. 214 - 222
Copyright
University of Washington

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