Silicified wood from around Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone National Park

Old Faithful Geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park is one of the best studied geysers in the world. Under research permit YELL-SCI-8030, samples from 13 silicified tree remnants were collected adjacent to the Old Faithful Geyser cone in April and November 2019. The silicified wood samples were dated using the radiocarbon (14C) method and were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) to determine the extent of wood silicification. This study was conducted in order to provide new information on the geyser’s past long-term (decadal to centennial) eruptive activity. Understanding Old Faithful’s past could provide a baseline for understanding future changes in its eruption intervals.