Radiometric dating of young MORB using the (40)Ar-(39)Ar incremental heating method

Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

22

Argon Isotopes, Basalt, Magma, Mid-Ocean Ridges, Radioactive Age Determination, Tectonics, Crystallization, Earth Mantle, Geochronology, Mass Spectrometers, Outgassing, Sea Floor Spreading

Scientific paper

Determination of reliable crystallization ages by K-Ar methods for young (is less than 1 Ma), fresh basalts from the seafloor (mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs)) has been frustrated by several effects. The small amounts of radiogenic Ar-40 developed over these timescales in such low-K rocks are difficult to resolve from predominantly atmospheric Ar-40. An additional concern is that mantle-derived Ar-40 may not be totally outgassed when magmas quench at seafloor hydrostatic pressures. We have developed a successful strategy for partially separating atmospheric from radiogenic Ar-40 in (40)Ar-(39)Ar incremental heating experiments on mid-ocean ridge basalts, from the East Pacific Rise near the Clipperton Fracture Zone. Pre-heating samples to 400 C removes surficial atmospheric Ar-40, while subsequent heating at 600-1000 C produces favorable proportions of radiogenic Ar-40. Experiments using 'zero-age' glassy and holocrystalline samples show that mantle-derived Ar-40 is retained only in the outermost few cm of rapidly cooled pillow basalts.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Radiometric dating of young MORB using the (40)Ar-(39)Ar incremental heating method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Radiometric dating of young MORB using the (40)Ar-(39)Ar incremental heating method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Radiometric dating of young MORB using the (40)Ar-(39)Ar incremental heating method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1789583

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.