Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

K-Ar Age Constraints on the Origin Of Micaceous Minerals in Savannah River Site Soils, South Carolina, Usa

  • Published:
Clays and Clay Minerals

Abstract

K-Ar measurements were used in this study of upland Savannah River Site soils to distinguish between sorbed K and the K remaining in remnants of primary minerals. Study of sorbed K contributes to understanding further the interaction of alkali metals (Cs in particular) with the soils. Primary mineral K and the associated radiogenic Ar were studied to characterize soil mica with respect to its provenance and its relationship to hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite. K-Ar age values of Na-saturated clay fractions from five samples of these soils range in age from 270 to 370 Ma. After a moderate acid treatment (6% HNO3 v/v, ~1 mol dm-3, 3 h, 80°C) of the clay fractions, K-Ar age values (270-325 Ma) were little changed on the whole, but they were more closely grouped near 300 Ma. Earlier work had shown that most of the K in these soils is found in material resistant to moderate acid extraction. The K-Ar age values show that this acid-resistant material is much older than any pedogenic minerals could be, even much older than the sedimentary parent rocks from which the soils were derived. These observations support earlier inferences by others that the K in these well leached soils is largely in remnants of primary muscovite from the parent sediments. Age values near 300 Ma suggest that the muscovite is largely from proximal Piedmont terranes of the Appalachian orogen, where the K-Ar relationship in most micas was set by Alleghanian tectonic processes late in the Paleozoic Era. The structural location of the K within mica, shown by the retention of the associated radiogenic Ar, is in contrast to the sorption-dominated behavior of the Cs and most of the Rb in these soils during pedogenesis. Stronger acid treatment (~6 mol dm-3 HNO3, 3 h, 100°C) extracted substantial fractions of both the K and the radiogenic Ar from bulk-soil portions, indicating destruction of some of the primary mica. K-Ar age values for the sand-rich bulk soils were not useful for this study because the sand contains excess radiogenic Ar, probably in sand-sized vein quartz.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aronson, J.L. and Douthitt, C.B. (1986) K/Ar systematics of an acid-treated illite/smectite: implications for evaluating age and crystal structure. Clays and Clay Minerals, 34, 473–482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Awuah, A.K. and Wampler, J.M. (1982) Variability of argon and helium in quartz and calcite vein minerals from sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. Georgia Journal of Science, 40, 19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnhisel, R.I. (1978) Analyses of clay, silt, and sand fractions of selected soils from Southeastern United States. Southern Cooperative Series Bulletins No. 219, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

  • Barnhisel, R.I. and Bertsch, P.M. (1989) Chlorites and hydroxyinterlayered vermiculite and smectite. Pp. 729–788 in: Minerals in Soil Environments, 2nd edition. (J.B. Dixon and S.B. Weed, editors). Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brouwer, E., Baeyens, B., Maes, A., and Cremers, A. (1983) Cesium and rubidium ion equilibria in illite clay. Journal of Physical Chemistry, 87, 1213–1219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bryant, J.P. and Dixon, J.B. (1963) Clay mineralogy and weathering of red-yellow podzolic soil from quartz mica schist in the Alabama Piedmont. Clays and Clay Minerals, 12, 509–521.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, S.B., Bryce, A.L., Leuking, A.D., Gariboldi, J., and Serkiz, S.M. (1998) Factors affecting trivalent f-element adsorption to an acidic sandy soil. Pp. 149–164 in: Adsorption of Metal by Geomedia: Variables, Mechanisms, and Model Applications (E.A. Jenne, editor). Academic Press, San Diego, California, USA.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Comans, R.N.J. and Hockley, D.E. (1992) Kinetics of cesium sorption on illite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 56, 1157–1164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dallmeyer, R.D., Wright, J.E., Secor, D.T., and Snoke, A.W. (1986) Character of the Alleghanian orogeny in the southern Appalachians: Part II. Geochronological constraints on the tectonothermal evolution of the eastern Piedmont in South Carolina. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 97, 1329–1344.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dalrymple, G.B. and Lanphere, M.A. (1969) Potassium-Argon Dating: Principles, Techniques, and Applications to Geochronology. W.H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Man, E., Van Simaeys, S., Vandenberghe, N., Harris, W.B., and Wampler, J.M. (2010) On the nature and chronostratigraphic position of the Rupelian and Chattian stratotypes in the southern North Sea Basin. Episodes, 33, 3–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derkowski, A., Środoń, J., Franus, W., Uhlík, P., Banaś, M., Zieliński, G., Čaplovičová, M., and Franus, M. (2009) Partial dissolution of glauconite samples: implications for the methodology of K-Ar and Rb-Sr dating. Clays and Clay Minerals, 57, 531–554.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dymond, J., Biscaye, P.E., and Rex, R.W. (1974) Eolian origin of mica in Hawaiian soils. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 85, 37–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, W.C., Savin, S.M., Dong, H., and Peacor, D.R. (1997) A paleoclimate interpretation derived from pedogenic clay minerals from the Piedmont province, Virginia. Chemical Geology, 142, 201–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, W.C., Krogstad, E.J., and Wampler, J.M. (2009) A comparison of Cs/K mass ratios in select micas, soils and kaolins from the Southern Appalachian Piedmont and coastal plain. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 73, A326.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elprince, A.M., Rich, C.I., and Martens, D.C. (1977) Effect of temperature and hydroxy aluminum interlayers on the adsorption of trace radioactive cesium by sediments near water-cooled nuclear reactors. Water Resources Research, 13, 375–380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elser, A.M. (2004) The provenance and weathering of muscovite from the Georgia kaolin deposits. PhD thesis, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, D.W., Alberts, J.J., and Clark, R.A. (1983) Reversible ion-exchange fixation of cesium-137 leading to mobilization from reservoir sediments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 47, 1041–1049.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fallaw, W.C. and Price, V. (1995) Stratigraphy of the Savannah River Site and vicinity. Southeastern Geology, 35, 21–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Findley, M. (1998) Characterizing the environmental availability of trace metals in soils at the Savannah River Site. M.S. thesis, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiskell, J.G.A. and Perkins, H.F. (1970) Selected Coastal Plain soil properties. Southern Cooperative Series Bulletin, No. 148, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.

  • Goto, M. (2001) Development of a quantitative model for binding cesium to SRS soils. MS thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goto, M., Rosson, R., Wampler, J.M., Elliott, W.C., Serkiz, S., and Kahn, B. (2008a) Freundlich and dual Langmuir isotherm models for predicting 137Cs binding on Savannah River Site soils. Health Physics, 94, 18–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goto, M., Rosson, R., Wampler, J.M., Elliott, W.C., Kahn, B., and Serkiz, S. (2008b) A quantitative model for binding Cs- 137 on SRS soil. WSRC-STI-2008-00114, Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Aiken, South Carolina, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, W.G., Morrone, A.A., and Coleman, S.E. (1992) Occluded mica in hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite grains from a highly-weathered soil. Clays and Clay Minerals, 40, 32–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hassanipak, A.A. (1980) Isotopic geochemical evidence concerning the origin of Georgia kaolin deposits. PhD thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatcher, R.D., Bream, B.R., and Merschat, A.J. (2007) Tectonic map of the Southern and Central Appalachians: a tale of three orogens and a complete Wilson cycle. Geological Society of America Memoir 200, pp. 595–632.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, M.L. (1969) Soil Chemical Analysis — Advanced Course. Published by the author, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, D.I., Bertsch, P.M., and Adriano, D.C. (1997) Mineralogical and physicochemical differences between mobile and nonmobile colloidal phases in reconstructed pedons. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 61, 641–649.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karathanasis, A.D. and Hajek, B.F. (1982) Revised methods for rapid quantitative determination of minerals in soil clays. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings, 46, 419–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karathanasis, A.D., Adams, F., and Hajek, B.F. (1983) Stability relationships in kaolini te, gibbsite, and Al-hydroxyinterlayered vermiculite soil systems. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 47, 1247–1251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirkland, D.L. and Hajek, B.F. (1972) Formula derivation of Al-interlayered vermiculite in selected soil clays. Soil Science, 114, 317–322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kunze, G.W. and Dixon, J.B. (1986) Pretreatment for mineralogical analysis. Pp. 91–99 in: Methods of Soil Analysis, 2nd edition, Part 1 — Physical and Mineralogical Methods (A. Klute, editor). American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leonard, R.A. and Weed, S.B., (1970) Mica weathering rates as related to mica type and composition. Clays and Clay Minerals, 18, 187–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Looney, B.B., Eddy, C.A., Ramdeen, M., Pickett, J., Rogers, V., Scott, M.T., and Shirley, P.A. (1990) Geochemical and physical properties of soils and shallow sediments at the Savannah River Site. WSRC-RP-90-1031, Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Aiken, South Carolina, USA.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Mora, C.I., Sheldon, B.T., Elliott, W.C., and Driese, S.G. (1998) An oxygen isotope study of illite and calcite in three Appalachian Paleozoic vertic Paleosols. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 68, 456–464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naumann, T.E. (2010) K-Ar age values of bulk soil samples and clay fractions: Effects of acid extraction and implications for the origin of micaceous clay in Savannah River Site soils, South Carolina, USA. MS thesis, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. https://doi.org/digitalarchive.gsu.edu/geosciences_theses/27

    Google Scholar 

  • Odin, G.S. et al. (1982) Interlaboratory standards for dating purposes. Pp. 123–150 in: Numerical Dating in Stratigraphy, Part I (G.S. Odin, editor). John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK, 630 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prowell, D.C. (1996) Geologic map of the Savannah River Site, Aiken, Allendale, and Barnwell Counties, South Carolina. U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C., USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rama, S.N.I., Hart, S.R., and Roedder, E. (1965) Excess radiogenic argon in fluid inclusions. Journal of Geophysical Research, 70, 509–511.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rich, C.I. (1968) Hydroxy interlayers in expansible layer silicates. Clays and Clay Minerals, 16, 15–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rich, C.I. and Black, W.R. (1964) Potassium exchange as affected by cation size, pH, and mineral structure. Soil Science, 97, 384–390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, V.A. (1990) Soil survey of the Savannah River Plant area, parts of Aiken, Barnwell, and Allendale Counties, South Carolina. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Washington, D.C., USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Segall, M.P., Siron, D.L., and Colquhoun, D.J. (2000) Depositional and diagenetic signatures of Late Eocene-Oligocene sediments, South Carolina. Sedimentary Geology, 134, 27–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steiger, R.H. and Jäger, E. (1977) Subcommission on Geochronology: Convention on the use of decay constants in geo- and cosmochronolgy. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 36, 359–362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stephens, E.C., Anderson, J.R., Gullet-Young, C., Wampler, J.M., and Elliott, W.C. (2007) Age of the Ocmulgee Limestone (Georgia Coastal Plain) based on revised methodology for the K-Ar age of glaucony. Southeastern Geology, 45, 15–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stroker, T. (2009) K-Ar dating of authigenic illite: integrating the diagenetic history of the fluvial Williams Fork Formation, Mesaverde Group, Piceance Basin, NW Colorado. MS thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Šucha, V., Środoń, J., Clauer, N., Elsass, F., Eberl, D.D., Kraus, I., and Madejová, J. (2001) Weathering of smectite and illite-smectite under temperate climatic conditions. Clay Minerals, 36, 403–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, G.R. and Hower, J. (1973) An explanation for low radiometric ages from glauconite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 37, 1473–1491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wampler, J.M., Krogstad, E.J., Elliott, W.C., Kahn, B., and Kaplan D.I. (2012) Long-term selective retention of natural Cs and Rb by highly weathered coastal plain soils. Environmental Science & Technology, 46, 3837–3843.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weed, S.B. and Nelson, L.A. (1962) Occurrence of chlorite-like intergrade clay minerals in Coastal Plains, Piedmont, and Mountains soils of North Carolina. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings, 26, 393–398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, M.J. (1999) The origin and formation of clay minerals in soils: past, present and future perspectives. Clay Minerals, 34, 7–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, L.K. and De Turk, E.E. (1940) The absorption of potassium in soil in non-replaceable forms. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings, 5, 152–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wyatt, D.E. and Harris, M.K. (2004) Overview of the history and geology of the Savannah River Site. Environmental Geosciences, 11, 181–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302-4105, USA

    Thomas E. Naumann, W. Crawford Elliott & J. M. Wample

  2. Environmental Resources Management, ERM, Atlanta, GA, 30339, USA

    Thomas E. Naumann

Authors
  1. Thomas E. Naumann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. Crawford Elliott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. M. Wample
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to W. Crawford Elliott.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Naumann, T.E., Elliott, W.C. & Wample, J.M. K-Ar Age Constraints on the Origin Of Micaceous Minerals in Savannah River Site Soils, South Carolina, Usa. Clays Clay Miner. 60, 496–506 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1346/CCMN.2012.0600506

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1346/CCMN.2012.0600506

Key Words

Search

Navigation