Age measurements of potassium-bearing sulfide minerals by the 40Ar/39Ar technique

Earth and Planetary Science Letters
By: , and 

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Abstract

K-Ar ages have been determined for sulfide minerals for the first time. The occurrence of adequate amounts of potassium-bearing sulfides with ideal compositions K3Fe10S14 (∼10 wt.% K) and KFe2S3 (∼16 wt.% K) in samples from a mafic alkalic diatreme at Coyote Peak, California, prompted an attempt to date these materials. K3Fe10S14, a massive mineral with conchoidal fracture, gives an age of 29.4 ± 0.5m.y.(40Ar/39Ar), indistinguishable from the 28.3 ± 0.4m.y.(40Ar/39Ar) and 30.2 ± 1.0m.y.8 (conventional K-Ar) ages obtained for associated phlogopite (8.7 wt.% K). KFe2S3, a bladed, fibrous sulfide, gives a younger age, 26.5 ± 0.5m.y.(40Ar/39Ar), presumably owing to Ar loss.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Age measurements of potassium-bearing sulfide minerals by the 40Ar/39Ar technique
Series title Earth and Planetary Science Letters
DOI 10.1016/0012-821X(78)90079-1
Volume 40
Issue 1
Year Published 1978
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
Description 4 p.
First page 107
Last page 110
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