Cosmogenic 3He surface-exposure dating of stone pavements: Implications for landscape evolution in deserts

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 1995 Cosmogenic 3He surface-exposure dating of stone pavements: Implications for landscape evolution in deserts Stephen G. Wells; Stephen G. Wells 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Leslie D. McFadden; Leslie D. McFadden 2Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jane Poths; Jane Poths 3Isotope Chemistry, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Chad T. Olinger Chad T. Olinger 3Isotope Chemistry, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1995) 23 (7): 613–616. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0613:CHSEDO>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Stephen G. Wells, Leslie D. McFadden, Jane Poths, Chad T. Olinger; Cosmogenic 3He surface-exposure dating of stone pavements: Implications for landscape evolution in deserts. Geology 1995;; 23 (7): 613–616. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0613:CHSEDO>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The formation of stone pavements, a ubiquitous gravel armor mantling landforms in arid regions of the world, has been previously attributed to erosion by wind and water or alternating shrinking and swelling of soil horizons, implying that gravel is concentrated at the land surface in a time-transgressive manner. A newly proposed model for pavement evolution differs from these models in that pavement clasts are continuously maintained at the land surface in response to deposition and pedogenic modification of windblown dust. In-situ cosmogenic 3He surface-exposure ages on volcanic and alluvial landforms in the Mojave Desert of California are used to understand pavement evolution over geologic time scales and to test this new model. These exposure ages are stratigraphically consistent, show internal consistency at each site, and, for stone pavements adjacent to pristine, continuously exposed volcanic bedrock, are indistinguishable at the 1 sigma level. We conclude that stone pavements are born at the surface and that pavements may provide one of the longest-term records of geologic, hydrologic, and climatic processes operating on desert surfaces. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.