Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

High-precision 40Ar/39Ar sanidine geochronology of ignimbrites in the Mogollon-Datil volcanic field, southwestern New Mexico

  • Published:
Bulletin of Volcanology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

40Ar/39Ar age spectra have been obtained from 85 sanidine separates from 36 ignimbrites and one rhyolitic lava in the latest Eocene-Oligocene Mogollon-Datil volcanic field of southwestern New Mexico. Of the 97 measured age spectra, 94 yield weighted-mean plateau ages each giving single-spectrum 1σ precision of±0.25%–0.4% (±0.07–0.14 Ma). Replicate plateau age determinations for eight different samples show within-sample 1σ precisions averaging ±0.25%. Plateau ages from multiple (n=3–8) samples of individual ignimbrites show 1σ within-unit precision of ±0.1%–0.4% (±0.04–0.13 Ma). This within-unit precision represents a several-fold improvement over published K-Ar data for the same ignimbrites, and is similar to the range of precisions reported from single-crystal laser fusion studies. A further indication of the high precision of unit-mean 40Ar/30Ar ages is their close agreement with independently established stratigraphic order. Two samples failed to meet plateau criteria, apparently due to geologic contamination by older feldspars. Effects of minor contamination are shown by six other samples, which yielded slightly anomalous plateau ages. 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages permit resolution of units differing in age by 0.5% (0.15 Ma) or less. This high resolution, combined with paleomagnetic studies, has helped to correlate ignimbrites among isolated ranges and has allowed development of an integrated timestratigraphic framework for the volcanic field. Mogollon-Datil ignimbrites range in age from 36.2 to 24.3 Ma. Ignimbrite activity was strongly episodic, being confined to four brief (<2.6 m.y.) eruptive episodes separated by 1–3 m.y. gaps. Ignimbrite activity generally tended to migrate from the southeast toward the north and west.

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

  • Bogaard PVD, Hall CM, Schmincke H, York D (1987) 40Ar/39Ar Laser dating of single grains: ages of Quaternary tephra from the East Eifel volcanic field, FRG. Geophys Res Lett 14:1211–1214

    Google Scholar 

  • Cather SM, Johnson BD (1984) Eocene tectonics and depositional setting of west-central New Mexico and eastern Arizona. NM Bur Mines Miner Resour Circ 192:1–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Cather SM, McIntosh WC, Chapin CE (1987) Stratigraphy, age, and rates of deposition of the Datil Group (Upper Eocene-Lower Oligocene), west-central New Mexico. NM Geol 9:50–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapin CE, Lindley JI (1986) Potassium metasomatism of igneous and sedimentary rocks in detachment terranes and other sedimentary basins: Economic implications. Ariz Geol Soc Dig 16:118–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Clemons RE (1976) Sierra del las Uvas ash-flow field, south central New Mexico. NM Geol Soc Spec Pub 6:115–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalrymple GB, Duffield WA (1988) High-Precision 40Ar/39Ar dating of Oligocene rhyolites from the Mogollon-Datil volcanic field using a continuous laser system. Geophys Res Lett 15:463–466

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalrymple GB, Lanphyre MA (1969) Potassium-argon dating. Principles, techniques, and applications to geochronology. WH Freeman, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalrymple GB, Lanphere MA (1988) Correlation diagrams in 40Ar/39Ar dating: is there a correct choice? Geophys Res Lett 15:589–591

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalrymple GB, Alexander EC, Lanphyre MA, Kraker GP (1981) Irradiation of samples for 40Ar/39Ar dating using the Geological Survey TRIGA reactor. US Geol Surv Prof Pap 1176:1–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Deino AL (1989) Single-crystal 40Ar/39Ar dating as an aid in correlation of ash flows: examples from the Chimney Spring/New Pass Tuffs and the Nine Hill/Bates Mountain Tuffs of California and Nevada. Continental magmatism abstracts. NM Bur Mines Miner Res Bull 131:70

    Google Scholar 

  • Deino AL, Best MG (1988) Use of high-precision single-crystal 40Ar/39Ar ages and TRM data in correlation of an ash-flow deposit in the Great Basin. Geol Soc Am Abstr with Progr 20:397

    Google Scholar 

  • Duffield WA, Richter DH, Preist SS (1987) Preliminary geologic map of the Taylor Creek Rhyolite, Catron and Sierra Counties, New Mexico: US Geol Surv, Open File Rep 87-515, 1:50,000

  • Elston WE (1957) Geology and mineral resources of Dwyer quadrangle, Grant, Luna, and Sierra Counties, New Mexico. NM Bur Mines Miner Res Bull 37:1–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Elston WE (1984) Mid-Tertiary ash flow tuff cauldrons, south-western New Mexico. J Geophys Res 89:8733–8750

    Google Scholar 

  • Elston WE, Seager WR, Clemons RE (1975) Emory Cauldron, Black Range, New Mexico: source of the Kneeling Nun Tuff. NM Geol Soc Field Conf Guideb 26:283–292

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson CA (1986) Geology of the east-central San Mateo Mountains, Socorro County, New Mexico. NM Bur Mines Miner Res Open File Rep 252:1–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Finnell TL (1976) Geologic map of the Twin Sisters quadrangle, Grant County, New Mexico. US Geol Surv, Miscellaneous Field Studies MF-779, 1:24,000

    Google Scholar 

  • Fleck RJ, Sutter JF, Elliot DH (1977) Interpretation of discordant 40Ar/39Ar age-spectra of Mesozoic tholeiites from Antarctica. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 41:15–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Foland KA (1974) 40Ar diffusion in homogeneous orthoclase and an interpretation of Ar diffusion in K-feldspars. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 38:151–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldich SS, Fischer LB (1986) Air-abrasion experiments in U-Pb dating of zircon. Isotope Geosci 58:195–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison TM, Bé K (1983) 40Ar/39Ar age spectrum analysis of detrital microclines from the southern San Joaquin Basin, California: an approach to determining the thermal evolution of sedimentary basins. Earth Planet Sci Lett 64:244–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedlund DC (1978) Geologic map of the C-Bar Ranch quadrangle, Grant County, New Mexico. US Geol Surv, Miscellaneous Field Studies MF-1039, :24,000

  • Hildreth W, Mahood G (1985) Correlation of ash-flow tuffs. Geol Soc Am Bull 96:968–974

    Google Scholar 

  • Hildreth W, Mahood G (1986) Ring fracture eruption of the Bishop Tuff. Geol Soc Am Bull 97:396–403

    Google Scholar 

  • Kedzie LL (1984) High precision 40Ar/39Ar dating of major ash-flow tuff sheets, Socorro, New Mexico. MS Dissertation, NM Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro

  • Kroll H, Ribbe PH (1987) Determining (Al, Si) distribution and strain in alkali feldspars using lattice parameters and diffraction-peak positions: A review. Am Mineral 72:491–506

    Google Scholar 

  • Kunk MJ, Sutter JF, Naeser CW (1985) High-precision 40Ar/39Ar ages of sanidine, biotite, hornblende, and plagioclase from the Fish Canyon Tuff, San Juan volcanic field, south-central Colorado. EOS Trans AGU 17:636

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanphere MA (1988) High-resolution 40Ar/39Ar geochronology of Oligocene volcanic rocks, San Juan Mountains, Colorado. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 52:1425–1434

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindley JI (1985) Potassium metasomatism of Cenozoic volcanic rocks near Socorro, New Mexico. Ph D Dissertation, Univ North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  • Lipman PW, Doe BR, Hedge CE, Steven TA (1978) Petrologic evolution of the San Juan volcanic field, southwestern Colorado: Pb and Sr isotopic evidence. Geol Soc Am Bull 89:59–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippolt HJ, Fuhrmann U, Hradetzky H (1986) 40Ar/39Ar age determinations on sanidines of the Eifel volcanic field (Federal Republic of Germany): constraints on age and duration of a middle Pleistocene cold period. Chem Geol 59:187–204

    Google Scholar 

  • LoBello P, Féraud G, Hall CM, York D, Lavina P, Bernat M (1987) 40Ar/39Ar step-heating and laser fusion dating of a Quaternary pumice from Neschers, Massif Central, France: the defeat of xenocrystic contamination. Chem Geol 66:61–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Marvin RF, Naeser CW, Bikerman M, Mehnert HH, Ratté JC (1987) Isotopic ages of post-Paleocene igneous rocks within and bordering the Clifton 1°x2° quadrangle, Arizona-New Mexico. NM Bur Mines Miner Res Bull 118:1–63

    Google Scholar 

  • McDowell FW (1983) K-Ar dating: incomplete extraction of radiogenic argon from alkali feldspar. Isot Geosci 1:119–126

    Google Scholar 

  • McIntosh WC (1989) Ages and distribution of ignimbrites in the Mogollon-Datil volcanic field: a stratigraphic framework using 40Ar/39Ar dating and paleomagnetism. Ph D Dissertation, NM Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro

  • McIntosh WC, Kedzie LL (1990) Paleomagnetic and 40Ar/39Ar dating database for Mogollon-Datil ignimbrites, southwestern New Mexico. NM Bur Mines Miner Res Bull 135 (in press)

  • McIntosh WC, Sutter JF, Chapin CE, Osburn GR, Ratté JC (1986) A stratigraphic framework for the Mogollon-Datil volcanic field based on paleomagnetism and high-precision 40Ar/39Ar dating of ignimbrites — a progress report. NM Geol Soc Field Conf Duideb 37:183–195

    Google Scholar 

  • McIntosh WC, Chapin CE, Ratté JC, Sutter JF (1990) Ages and distribution of ignimbrites in the Mogollon-Datil volcanic field, southwest New Mexico: a stratigraphic framework using 40Ar/39Ar dating and paleomagnetism. Geol Soc Am Bull (in press)

  • Osburn GR, Chapin CE (1983a) Ash-flow tuffs and cauldrons in the northeast Mogollon-Datil volcanic field: a summary. NM Geol Soc Field Conf Guideb 34:197–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Osburn GR, Chapin CE (1983b) Nomenclature for Cenozoic rocks of the northeast Mogollon-Datil volcanic field, New Mexico. NM Bur Mines Miner Res Strat Chart 1:1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Ratté JC, Gaskill DL (1975) Reconnaisance geologic map of the Gila Wilderness study area, southwestern New Mexico. US Geol Surv, Miscellaneous Investigations I-886, 1:50,000

  • Ratté JC, Marvin RF, Naeser CW (1984) Calderas and ash-flow tuffs of the Mogollon Mountains. J Geophys Res 89:8713–8732

    Google Scholar 

  • Ratté JC, McIntosh WC, Houser BB (1989) Geologic map of the Horse Springs West quadrangle. US Geol Surv, Open File Rep 89-210, 1:24,000

  • Richter DH (1978) Geologic map of the Spring Canyon quadrangle, Catron County, New Mexico. US Geol Surv, Miscellaneous Field Studies MF-966, 1:24,000

  • Roddick JC (1983) High precision inter calibration of 40Ar/39Ar standards. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 47:887–898

    Google Scholar 

  • Roddick JC, Cliff RA, Rex DC (1980) The evolution of excess argon in Alpine biotites — 40Ar/39Ar analysis. Earth Planet Sci Lett 48:185–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Samson SD, Alexander CE (1987) Calibration of the interlaboratory 40Ar/39Ar dating standard, MMhb-1. Isot Geosci 66:27–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Seager WR, McCurry M (1988) The cogenetic Organ cauldron and batholith, south central New Mexico: evolution of a large-volume ash flow cauldron and its source magma chamber. J Geophys Res 93:4421–4433

    Google Scholar 

  • Seager WR, Kottlowski FE, Hawley JW (1976) Geology of the Doña Ana Mountains, New Mexico. NM Bur Mines Miner Res Circ 147:1–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Seager WR, Clemons RE, Hawley JW, Kelley RE (1982) Geology of the northwest part of Las Cruces 1°x2° sheet, New Mexico. NM Bur Mines Min Res, Geologic Map GM-53, 1:125,000

  • Snow E, Yund RA (1985) Thermal history of a Bishop Tuff Section as determined from the width of cryptoperthite lamellae. Geology 13:50–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner G (1968) The distribution of potassium and argon in chondrites. In: Ahrens LH (ed) Origin and distribution of the elements. Pergamon, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodard TW (1982) Geology of the Lookout Mountain area, Black Range, Sierra County, New Mexico. MS Dissertation, Univ New Mexico, Albuquerque

  • Zeitler PK (1987) Argon diffusion in partially outgassed alkali feldspars: insights from 40Ar/39Ar analysis. Chem Geol 65:167–181

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. N. M. Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, N. M. Institute of Mining and Technology, 87 801, Socorro, NM, USA

    William C McIntosh, Charles E Chapin & Laura L Kedzie

  2. U. S. Geological Survey, 22 092, Reston, VA, USA

    John F Sutter

Authors
  1. William C McIntosh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John F Sutter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Charles E Chapin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Laura L Kedzie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McIntosh, W.C., Sutter, J.F., Chapin, C.E. et al. High-precision 40Ar/39Ar sanidine geochronology of ignimbrites in the Mogollon-Datil volcanic field, southwestern New Mexico. Bull Volcanol 52, 584–601 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301210

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301210

Keywords

Search

Navigation