Ar Ages (ar + age)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Palaeomagnetic and rock-magnetic studies of Cretaceous rocks in the Gongju Basin, Korea: implication of clockwise rotation

GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2002
Seong-Jae Doh
Summary Palaeomagnetic and rock-magnetic studies have been carried out for Cretaceous non-marine sedimentary rocks (Gongju Group) and volcanic rocks in the Gongju Basin, located along the northern boundary of the Ogcheon Belt, Korea. K,Ar age dating for the volcanic rocks was also performed. It is found that the Gongju Group was remagnetised during the tilting of the strata with the characteristic remanent magnetisation (ChRM) direction of at 30 per cent untilting of the strata with a maximum value of precision parameter (k), while the volcanic rocks are revealed to acquire primary remanence with the direction of after the tilt-correction. The K,Ar ages of the volcanic rocks range from 81.8 ± 2.4 to 73.5 ± 2.2 Ma, corresponding to the Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous. Electron microscope observations of samples from the Gongju Group show authigenic iron-oxide minerals of various sizes distributed along the cleavage of chlorite and in the pore spaces, indicating that the strata acquired the chemical remanent magnetisation due to the formation of secondary magnetic minerals under the influence of fluids. The palaeomagnetic pole positions are at Lat./Long. = 69.6°N/224.3°E (dp= 3.5°, dm= 5.2°) calculated for the 30 per cent tilt-corrected direction of the Gongju Group and at for the volcanic rocks. Based on the results of this study, it is interpreted that the volcanic rocks acquired the primary magnetisation almost at the same time as the remagnetisation of the Gongju Group in the Late Cretaceous. Comparisons of Cretaceous palaeomagnetic poles from the Korean Peninsula with those from Eurasia implies that the Korean Peninsula underwent clockwise rotation of 21.2°± 5.3° for the middle Early Cretaceous, 12.6°± 5.4° for the late Early Cretaceous, and 7.1°± 9.8° for the Late Cretaceous with respect to Eurasia, due to the sinistral motion of the Tan-Lu Fault. [source]


Amphibolite and blueschist,greenschist facies metamorphism, Blue Mountain inlier, eastern Jamaica

GEOLOGICAL JOURNAL, Issue 5 2008
Richard N. Abbott Jr
Abstract Cretaceous (possibly older) metamorphic rock occurs mainly in the Blue Mountain inlier in eastern Jamaica. Fault-bounded blocks reveal two styles of metamorphism, Westphalia Schist (upper amphibolite facies) and Mt. Hibernia Schist (blueschist (BS),greenschist (GS) facies). Both Westphalia Schist and Mt. Hibernia Schist preserve detailed records of retrograde P,T paths. The paths are independent, but consistent with different parts of the type-Sanbagawa metamorphic facies series in Japan. For each path, phase relationships and estimated P,T conditions support a two-stage P,T history involving residence at depth, followed by rapid uplift and cooling. Conditions of residence vary depending on the level in a tectonic block. For the critical mineral reaction (isograd) in Westphalia Schist, conditions were P ,7.5,kbars, T ,600°C (upper amphibolite facies). Retrograde conditions in Hibernia Schist were P,=,2.6,3.0,kbars, T,=,219,237°C for a(H2O),=,0.8,1.0 (GS facies). Mt. Hibernia Schist may represent a volume of rock that was separated and uplifted at an early time from an otherwise protracted P,T path of the sort that produced the Westphalia Schist. Reset K,Ar ages for hornblende and biotite indicate only that retrograde metamorphism of Westphalia Schist took place prior to 76.5,Ma (pre-Campanian). Uplift may have commenced with an Albian,Aptian (,112,Ma) orogenic event. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Transition from arc- to post-collision extensional setting revealed by K,Ar dating and petrology: an example from the granitoids of the Eastern Pontide Igneous Terrane, Arakl,-Trabzon, NE Turkey

GEOLOGICAL JOURNAL, Issue 4 2005
Sabah Yilmaz-
Abstract The Eastern Pontide Igneous Terrane (EPIT) includes several Cretaceous to Neogene intrusive rocks, ranging in composition from low-K tholeiitic gabbros through calc-alkaline and high-K calc-alkaline metaluminous granitoids or peraluminous leucogranites to alkaline syenites. Such high diversity in age and composition is also accompanied by a broad spectrum in terms of geodynamics,i.e. from arc through syn-collisional thickening to post-collisional extensional regimes. Shallow-seated porphyritic acidic to intermediate rocks are from oldest to youngest, on the basis of field relations, the Gündo,du altered microgranite, the Bo,al, K-feldspar-megacrystic monzogranite and the Uzuntarla porphyritic granodiorite. These rocks, exposed in the southern part of the Arakl, region, east of Trabzon, Turkey, were studied in terms of their mineralogy and petrography, whole-rock geochemistry and hornblende K,Ar dating. The mineralogical and geochemical data reveal an apparent diversity in incompatible-element enrichment and depletion, for the Bo,al, unit and Uzuntarla unit, respectively. The Bo,al, and Uzuntarla units yield hornblende K,Ar ages ranging from 75.7,±,1.55 to 61.4,±,1.47,Ma and from 42.4,±,0.87 to 41.2,±,0.89,Ma, respectively. The diversity in both mineralogy,geochemistry and hornblende K,Ar ages suggests that the Bo,al, and Uzuntarla units are parts of the Cretaceous arc and Eocene post-collision extensional-related igneous activity, respectively, in the EPIT of northern Turkey. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Palaeomagnetic and rock-magnetic studies of Cretaceous rocks in the Gongju Basin, Korea: implication of clockwise rotation

GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2002
Seong-Jae Doh
Summary Palaeomagnetic and rock-magnetic studies have been carried out for Cretaceous non-marine sedimentary rocks (Gongju Group) and volcanic rocks in the Gongju Basin, located along the northern boundary of the Ogcheon Belt, Korea. K,Ar age dating for the volcanic rocks was also performed. It is found that the Gongju Group was remagnetised during the tilting of the strata with the characteristic remanent magnetisation (ChRM) direction of at 30 per cent untilting of the strata with a maximum value of precision parameter (k), while the volcanic rocks are revealed to acquire primary remanence with the direction of after the tilt-correction. The K,Ar ages of the volcanic rocks range from 81.8 ± 2.4 to 73.5 ± 2.2 Ma, corresponding to the Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous. Electron microscope observations of samples from the Gongju Group show authigenic iron-oxide minerals of various sizes distributed along the cleavage of chlorite and in the pore spaces, indicating that the strata acquired the chemical remanent magnetisation due to the formation of secondary magnetic minerals under the influence of fluids. The palaeomagnetic pole positions are at Lat./Long. = 69.6°N/224.3°E (dp= 3.5°, dm= 5.2°) calculated for the 30 per cent tilt-corrected direction of the Gongju Group and at for the volcanic rocks. Based on the results of this study, it is interpreted that the volcanic rocks acquired the primary magnetisation almost at the same time as the remagnetisation of the Gongju Group in the Late Cretaceous. Comparisons of Cretaceous palaeomagnetic poles from the Korean Peninsula with those from Eurasia implies that the Korean Peninsula underwent clockwise rotation of 21.2°± 5.3° for the middle Early Cretaceous, 12.6°± 5.4° for the late Early Cretaceous, and 7.1°± 9.8° for the Late Cretaceous with respect to Eurasia, due to the sinistral motion of the Tan-Lu Fault. [source]


Metamorphic and cooling history of the Shimanto accretionary complex, Kyushu, Southwest Japan: Implications for the timing of out-of-sequence thrusting

ISLAND ARC, Issue 4 2008
Hidetoshi Hara
Abstract Illite crystallinity, K,Ar dating of illite, and fission-track dating of zircon are analyzed in the hanging wall (Sampodake unit) and footwall (Mikado unit) of a seismogenic out-of-sequence thrust (Nobeoka thrust) within the Shimanto accretionary complex of central Kyushu, southwest Japan. The obtained metamorphic temperatures, and timing of metamorphism and cooling, reveal the tectono-metamorphic evolution of the complex, and related development of the Nobeoka thrust. Illite crystallinity data indicate that the Late Cretaceous Sampodake unit was metamorphosed at temperatures of around 300 to 310°C, while the Middle Eocene Mikado unit was metamorphosed at 260 to 300°C. Illite K,Ar ages and zircon fission-track ages constrain the timing of metamorphism of the Sampodake unit to the early Middle Eocene (46 to 50 Ma, mean = 48 Ma). Metamorphism of the Mikado unit occurred no earlier than 40 Ma, which is the youngest depositional age of the unit. The Nobeoka thrust is inferred to have been active during about 40 to 48 Ma, as the Sampodake unit started its post metamorphic cooling after 48 Ma and was thrust over the Mikado unit at about 40 Ma along the Nobeoka thrust. These results indicate that the Nobeoka thrust was active for more than 10 million years. [source]


Metamorphism and metamorphic K,Ar ages of the Mesozoic accretionary complex in Northland, New Zealand

ISLAND ARC, Issue 3 2004
Yujiro Nishimura
Abstract A southwest dipping Mesozoic accretionary complex, which consists of tectonically imbricated turbiditic mudstone and sandstone, hemipelagic siliceous mudstone, and bedded cherts and basaltic rocks of pelagic origin, is exposed in northern North Island, New Zealand. Interpillow limestone is sometimes contained in the basaltic rocks. The grade of subduction-related metamorphism increases from northeast to southwest, indicating an inverted metamorphic gradient dip. Three metamorphic facies are recognized largely on the basis of mineral parageneses in sedimentary and basaltic rocks: zeolite, prehnite-pumpellyite and pumpellyite-actinolite. From the apparent interplanar spacing d002 data for carbonaceous material, which range from 3.642 to 3.564 Å, the highest grade of metamorphism is considered to have attained only the lowermost grade of the pumpellyite-actinolite facies for which the highest temperature may be approximately 300°C. Metamorphic white mica K,Ar ages are reported for magnetic separates and <2 µm hydraulic elutriation separates from 27 pelitic and semipelitic samples. The age data obtained from elutriation separates are approximately 8 m.y. younger, on average, than those from magnetic separates. The age difference is attributed to the possible admixture of nonequilibrated detrital white mica in the magnetic separates, and the age of the elutriation separates is considered to be the age of metamorphism. If the concept, based on fossil evidence, of the subdivision of the Northland accretionary complex into north and south units is accepted, then the peak age of metamorphism in the north unit is likely to be 180,130 Ma; that is, earliest Middle Jurassic to early Early Cretaceous, whereas that in the south unit is 150,130 Ma; that is, late Late Jurassic to early Early Cretaceous. The age cluster for the north unit correlates with that of the Chrystalls Beach,Taieri Mouth section (uncertain terrane), while the age cluster for the south unit is older than that of the Younger Torlesse Subterrane in the Wellington area, and may be comparable with that of the Nelson and Marlborough areas (Caples and Waipapa terranes). [source]


K,Ar ages of the Ohmine Granitic Rocks, south-west Japan

ISLAND ARC, Issue 4 2003
Tomoaki Sumii
Abstract The Ohmine Granitic Rocks are a series of granitic rocks that are distributed in a chain stretching along the central axis of the Kii Peninsula. Their precise ages have not been determined, although precise ages have been reported for other geological units of the early to middle Miocene distributed over the peninsula. In this study, biotite K,Ar ages were obtained for the six major granitic plutons of the Ohmine Granitic Rocks: Dorogawa, Shirakura, Kose, Asahi, Tenguyama and Shiratani. Most are aged from 14.8 to 14.6 Ma. Although one pluton is older (15.4 ± 0.2 Ma) and two are younger (14.0 ± 0.2 Ma and 13.4 ± 0.1 Ma), these ages are excluded from the discussion of the mutual correlation among the plutons because some ambiguities exist in their ages. The age of the southernmost unit, the Katago,Mukuro Dykes, was not determined because of its intense alteration, but stratigraphic constraints suggest that it is younger than 16.1 Ma. The majority of the Ohmine Granitic Rocks concentrate within a narrow age window of approximately 14.8,14.6 Ma, although their geochemical/petrographical characteristics suggest that they were generated by multiple magma batches. The results of this study also reveal the simultaneous occurrence of the major activities of the Ohmine Granitic Rocks and the gigantic felsic igneous activities in the Kii Peninsula, such as the Kumano Acidic Rocks and the Muro Pyroclastic Flow Deposit. [source]


A comparative U,Th,Pb (zircon,monazite) and 40Ar,39Ar (muscovite,biotite) study of shear zones in northern Victoria Land (Antarctica): implications for geochronology and localized reworking of the Ross Orogen

JOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 6 2007
G. DI VINCENZO
Abstract Mylonitic granites from two shear zones in northern Victoria Land (Antarctica) were investigated in order to examine the behaviour of the U,Th,Pb system in zircon and monazite and of the 40Ar,39Ar system in micas during ductile deformation. Meso- and micro-structural data indicate that shear zones gently dip to the NE and SW, have an opposite sense of shear (top-to-the-SW and -NE, respectively) and developed under upper greenschist facies conditions. In situ U,Pb dating by laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry of zircon areas with well-preserved igneous zoning patterns (c. 490 Ma) confirm that granites were emplaced during the Early Cambrian to Early Ordovician Ross,Delamerian Orogeny. Monazite from the Bier Point Shear Zone (BPSZ) mainly yielded U,Th,Pb ages of c. 440 Ma, in agreement with in-situ Ar laserprobe ages of syn-shear muscovite and with most Ar ages of coexisting biotite. The agreement of ages derived from different decay schemes and from minerals with different crystal-chemical features suggests that isotope transport in the studied sample was mainly controlled by (re)crystallization processes and that the main episode of ductile deformation in the BPSZ occurred at c. 440 Ma. Cathodoluminscence imaging showed that zircon from the BPSZ contains decomposed areas with faint relics of oscillatory zoning. These areas yielded a U,Pb age pattern which mimics that of monazite but is slightly shifted towards older ages, supporting previous studies which suggest that ,ghost' structures may be affected by inheritance. In contrast, secondary structures in zircon from the Mt. Emison Shear Zone (MESZ) predominantly consist of overgrowths or totally recrystallized areas and gave U,Pb ages of c. 450 and 410 Ma. The c. 450-Ma date matches within errors most monazite U,Th,Pb ages and in-situ Ar ages on biotite aligned along the mylonitic foliation. This again suggests that isotope ages from the different minerals are (re)crystallization ages and constrains the time of shearing in the MESZ to the Late Ordovician. Regionally, results indicate that shear zones were active in the Late Ordovician,Early Silurian and that their development was partially synchronous at c. 440 Ma, suggesting that they belong to a shear-zone system formed in response to ,NE,SW-directed shortening. Taking into account the former juxtaposition of northern Victoria Land and SE Australia, we propose that shear zones represent reactivated zones formed in response to stress applied along the new plate margin as a consequence of contractional tectonics associated with the early stages (Benambran Orogeny) of the development of the Late Ordovician,Late Devonian Lachlan Fold Belt. [source]