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K-Ar and Rb-Sr Dating of blue amphiboles, micas, and associated minerals from the Western Alps

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Abstract

The results of 63 new radiometric K-Ar and Rb-Sr measurements on metamorphic minerals from the internal units of the Western Alps show Hercynian, Permian, as well as three Alpine age groups. The first of the Alpine ages cover the period between 78 and 100 m.y. and refer to high pressure parageneses. The second group comprises K-Ar 39 to 50 m.y. ages; these values are affected by some inherited argon, as indicated by Rb-Sr measurements which point to 35–36±4–5 m.y., i.e. similar to the culmination of the Lepontine crystallization. The final group includes 15 to 30 m.y. ages. It is not yet clear which geologic processes have led to this isotope re-equilibration. Large amounts of inherited argon have been found in Alpine metamorphic minerals of the basement rocks.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Géologie Alpine, Grenoble

    Jacqueline Bocquet

  2. Département de Minéralogie de l'Université de Genève, Die Schweiz

    Michel Delaloye

  3. Mineralogisch-Petrographisches Institut der Universität Bern, Die Schweiz

    Johannes C. Hunziker

  4. Department of Geology, San Diego State College, USA

    Daniel Krummenacher

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  1. Jacqueline Bocquet
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  2. Michel Delaloye
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  4. Daniel Krummenacher
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Bocquet, J., Delaloye, M., Hunziker, J.C. et al. K-Ar and Rb-Sr Dating of blue amphiboles, micas, and associated minerals from the Western Alps. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 47, 7–26 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00418554

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