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Uranium-lead geochronology of the Archean Imataca Series, Venezuelan Guayana Shield

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Abstract

Uranium and lead isotopic analyses of total-rock and feldspar samples from the Imataca Series indicate an early Archean (3.5+ b.y.) age for the basement gneisses. Lead isotopic evolution in most gneiss samples may approximately be described by a three-stage model. The start of the third stage is marked by a pervasive metamorphic event, locally up to pyroxene-granulite grade, at 2 b.y. ago, which commonly resulted in extensive depletion of uranium relative to lead.

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Montgomery, C.W. Uranium-lead geochronology of the Archean Imataca Series, Venezuelan Guayana Shield. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 69, 167–176 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00371859

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