Interpretation of K-Ar dates of illitic clays from sedimentary rocks aided by modeling

American Mineralogist
By: , and 

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Abstract

K-Ar dates of illitic clays from sedimentary rocks may contain "mixed ages," i.e., may have ages that are intermediate between the ages of end-member events. Two phenomena that may cause mixed ages are: (1) long-lasting reaction during the burial illitization of smectite: and (2) physical mixing of detrital and diagenetic components. The first phenomenon was investigated by simulation of illitization reactions using a nucleation and growth mechanism. These calculations indicate that values for mixed ages are related to burial history: for an equivalent length of reaction time, fast burial followed by slow burial produces much older mixed ages than slow burial followed by fast. The type of reaction that occurred in a rock can be determined from the distribution of ages with respect to the thickness of illite crystals. Dating of artificial mixtures confirms a non-linear relation between mixed ages and the proportions of the components. Vertical variation of K-Ar age dates from Gulf Coast shales can be modeled by assuming diagenetic illitization that overprints a subtle vertical trend (presumably of sedimentary origin) in detrital mineral content.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Interpretation of K-Ar dates of illitic clays from sedimentary rocks aided by modeling
Series title American Mineralogist
DOI 10.2138/am-2002-11-1202
Volume 87
Issue 11-12
Year Published 2002
Language English
Publisher De Gruyter
Description 8 p.
First page 1528
Last page 1535
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