EXAMINATION OF BULK SEDIMENT SAMPLES, MICROCHARCOAL EXTRACTION, AND AMS RADIOCARBON ANALYSIS OF ALLUVIUM FROM PALEOSEISMIC TRENCHES AT PAHRUMP, NEVADA

A total of six sediment samples were collected at the interface between a distal alluvial fan and playa surface in paleoseismic trenches at Pahrump, Nevada. These samples were examined for the presence of charred organic material suitable for AMS radiocarbon dating. In the absence of larger-sized charred remains, five the samples were extracted to recover microscopic charcoal/particulate soil organics for dating. One of these samples did not yield sufficient particulate soil organics; therefore, humates were extracted and submitted for dating. AMS radiocarbon dating of material from these sediments will be used to constrain the age of the sediments to establish recent activity of fault strands observed in the trenches. A total of six AMS radiocarbon dates were obtained – one from macroscopic charcoal, four from particulate soil organics, and one from humates.