Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

40Ar/39Ar analysis of supergene yavapaiite and preliminary investigation on Ar closure temperature

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Science China Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Yavapaiite (KFe(SO4)2) is a new sulfate mineral with high potassium content, discovered in the oxidation zone of non-ferrous metal mining in the Tu-Ha Basin, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwestern China. Dating of this mineral by the K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar method allows us to study the time and process of the region’s aridity, and further we can provide some insight into the influence of not only the Tibetan Plateau uplift but also formation and evolution of polar ice caps on climate of this region. However, as the temperature of this region is up to 60°C in summer, it is still questionable whether this high temperature causes the diffusive loss of 40Ar from yavapaiite in a long time, or whether the fine grain of the mineral can lead to diffusive loss of 40Ar from yavapaiite. These are important for interpreting the mineral age data. According to diffusion theory, we use 40Ar/39Ar step heating experiment to determine the apparent Ar diffusivity. Then we present a simple model of diffusive loss and radiogenic in-growth to evaluate the effect of extreme high ambient temperature and the grain size upon the Ar age. The experimental results show that the diffusion parameters as follows: the activation energy E a is 71.30 kcal/mol and the frequency factor logD 0/a 2 is 13.71/s, the corresponding closure temperature T c is 294°C (assuming a cooling rate of 10°C/Ma), and the activation energy and closure temperature are very high. The simulation results show that the high ambient temperature and the grain size have no effect on the Ar age after yavapaiite was precipitated. Furthermore, the reproducibility of the age attests to the suitability of supergene yavapaiite for K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar dating.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

References

  1. Vasconcelos P M. K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology of weathering processes. Annu Rev Earth Planet Sci, 1999, 27: 183–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Vasconcelos P M, Conroy M. Geochronology of weathering and landscape evolution, Dugald River valley, NW Queensland, Australia. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 2003, 67: 2913–2930

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Araibia G, Matthews S J, Arce P D. K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar of supergene process in the Atacama Desert, Northern Chile: Tectonic and climatic relations. J Geol Soc London, 2006, 163: 107–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Sillitoe R H, Mckee E H, Vila T, et al. Reconnaissance K-Ar geochronology of the Maricunga gold-silver belt, Northern Chile. Eco Geol, 1991, 86: 1261–1270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Sillitoe R H, McKee B H. Age of supergene oxidation and enrichment in the Chilean porphyry copper province. Econ Geol, 1996, 91: 164–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Clark A, Tosdal R, Farar E, et al. Geomorphologie environment and age of supergene enrichment of the Cuajone, Quellaveco, and Toquepala Porphyry Copper Deposits, Southeastern Peru. Econ Geol, 1990, 85: 1604–1628

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Alpers C N, Brimhall G H. Middle Miocene climatic change in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile: Evidence from supergene mineralization at La Escondida. Geol Soc Amer Bull, 1988, 100: 1640–1656

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Mote T I, Becker T A, Renne P, et al. Chronology of exotic mineralization at El Salvador, Chile, by 40Ar/39Ar dating of copper wad and supergene alunite. Econ Geol, 2001, 96: 351–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bouzari F, Clark A H. Anatomy, evolution, and metallogenic significance of the supergene orebody of the Cerro Colorado Porphyry Copper Deposit, I Region, Northern Chile. Econ Geol, 2002, 97: 1701–1740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Quang C X, Clark A H, Lee J K W, et al. 40Ar/39Ar ages of hypogene and supergene mineralization in the Cerro Verde-Santa Rosa porphyry Cu-Mo cluster, Arequipa, Peru. Econ Geol, 2003, 98: 1683–1696

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Quang C X, Clark A H, Lee J K W, et al. Response of supergene processes to episodic Cenozic uplift, pediment erosion and ignimbrite eruption in the porphyry copper province of southern Peru. Econ Geol, 2005, 100: 87–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Tu G Z, Li X L. Studies on the characteristic features of the oxidation zone of the sulphite deposites in arid to extremely arid regions: With special reference to observations obtained from five sulphide deposits in the Northwestern China (in Chinese). Acta Geol Sin, 1963, 43: 361–377

    Google Scholar 

  13. Qin K Z, Ding K S, Xu Y X, et al. Tremendous crystal-paracoquimbite and its polytype coquimbite found for the first time in Hong mountain Hs-epithermal Cu-Au deposit, Eastern Tianshan, NW-China, and its significance (in Chinese). Acta Petrol Sin, 2008, 24: 1112–1122

    Google Scholar 

  14. Wen C Q, Xu X H, Mao Y S. A study of ore-forming process of the Xiaorequanzi copper deposit, Xinjiang (in Chinese). J Mineral Petrol, 2002, 22: 29–32

    Google Scholar 

  15. Han Z X, Luan L J, Wang C Y. Significance of oxidized zone mineral in Kanggu’er tage gold deposit (in Chinese). J Xi’An Univ Sci Tech, 2004, 24: 324–327

    Google Scholar 

  16. Wu X J. Mineralizing geological features of matoutan gold deposit in east Tianshan (in Chinese). XinJiang Geol, 2006, 25: 267–273

    Google Scholar 

  17. Xu Y X, Qin K Z, Ding K S, et al. Geochronology evidence of Mesozoic metallogenesis and Cenozoic oxidation at Hong mountain HS-epithermal Cu-Au deposit, Kalatage region, eastern Tianshan, and its tectonic and paleoclimatic significance (in Chinese). Acta Petrol Sin, 2008, 24: 2371–2383

    Google Scholar 

  18. San J Z, Hui W D, Qin K Z, et al. Geological characteristics of Tulargen magmatic Cu-Ni-Co deposit in eastern Xinjiang and its exploration direction (in Chinese). Mineral Deposits, 2007, 26: 307–316

    Google Scholar 

  19. An Z S, Kutzbach J E, Prell W L, et al. Evolution of Asian monsoon and phased uplift of the Himalaya-Tibetan Plateau since late Miocene times. Nature, 2001, 411: 62–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Guo Z T, Ruddiman W F, Hao Q Z, et al. Onset of Asian desertification by 22 Myr ago inferred from loess deposits in China. Nature, 2002, 416: 159–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Kennrtt J P. Cenozoic evolution of Antarctic Glaciation, the circum-Antarctic ocean, and their impact on global paleoceanography. J Geophys Res, 1977, 82: 3843–3860

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Leckie R M, Webb P N. Late oligocene-early Miocene glacial record of the Ross Sea, Antarctica: Evidence from DSDP Site270. Geology, 1983, 11: 578–582

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Zachos J, Pagani M. Trends, rhythms, and aberrations in global climate 65 Ma to present. Science, 2001, 292: 686–693

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Larsen H C, Saunders A D, Clift P D, et al. Seven million years of glaciation in Greenland. Science, 1994, 264: 952–955

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Roth E S. Temperature and water content as factors in desert weathering. J Geol, 1964, 73: 454–468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. MocDougall I, Harrison M K. Geochronology and Thermochronology by the 40Ar/39Ar Method. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. 1–269

    Google Scholar 

  27. Graeber E J, Rosenzweig A. The crystal structures of yavapaiite KFe(SO4)2, and Goldichite KFe(SO4)2·4H2O. Amer Mineral, 1971, 56: 1917–1933

    Google Scholar 

  28. Berry L G. Powder Diffraction File (Series 6). Philadelphia: Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction Standards. 3, 1974

    Google Scholar 

  29. Fechtig H, Kalbitzer S. The diffusion of argon in potassium bearing solids. In: Schaeffer O A, Zahringer J, eds. Potassium-Argon Dating. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1966. 68–106

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  30. Kulp J L, Adler H H. Thermal study of jarosite. Am. J Sci, 1950, 248: 475–487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Drouet C, Navrotsky A. Synthesis, characterisation and thermochemistry of K-Na-H3O jarosites. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 2003: 2063–2076

  32. Hutton O C. Yavapaiite, an anhydrous potassium, ferric sulphate from Jerome, Arizona. Am Mineral, 1959, 44: 1105–1114

    Google Scholar 

  33. Arno M. Iron oxide from jarosite and similar compounds. Germany Patent, 1984-DD215999

  34. Dodson M H. Closure temperature in cooling geochronological and petrological systems. Mineral Petrol, 1973, 40: 259–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Ozisik M N. Boundary Value Problems of Heat Conduction. New York: Dover Publications, 1989. 504

    Google Scholar 

  36. Wolf R A, Farley K A, Kass D M. Modeling of the temperature sensitivity of the apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronometer. Chem Geol, 1998, 148: 105–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, 100029, China

    Jing Yang, DeWen Zheng & DaMing Li

  2. Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    YingXia Xu

  3. Department of Geology, Hebei Polytechnic University, Tangshan, 063009, China

    YingXia Xu & ShuYan Yu

Authors
  1. Jing Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. DeWen Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. DaMing Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. YingXia Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. ShuYan Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jing Yang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yang, J., Zheng, D., Li, D. et al. 40Ar/39Ar analysis of supergene yavapaiite and preliminary investigation on Ar closure temperature. Sci. China Earth Sci. 55, 1996–2004 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-012-4491-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-012-4491-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation