EOS 335 Flashcards
John Dalton
all matter consists of atoms
1806
William Prout
Law of Constant Proportions
1815
Law of Constant Proportions
atomic weights are integral multiples of the mass of hydrogen
why the Law of Constant Proportions does not always hold
elements with isotopes do not have integer weights
N
number of neutrons
Z
number of protons
atomic number
A
mass number
N + Z
M
atomic mass
I
neutron excess number
N - Z
3H excess = 1
Isotope
same number of protons different number of neutrons
Isobars
same mass number
N + Z
Isotone
same # neutrons, different # protons
amu
atomic mass unit
dalton
defined by 12C = 12 amu
931.5 MeV of energy
types of nucleosynthesis
Big Bang nucleo.
Stellar nucleo.
Explosive nucleo.
Cosmic ray spallation
Big Bang nucleosynthesis
primordial nucleons formed from quark-gluon plasma
first few 100µs
once cooled
length of nucleosynthesis
about 17minutes
after that T and density of universe too low for fusion
Nuclear synthesis of C, O, etc.
in stars (Stellar nucleo.?) by nuclear fusion or nuclear fission up to Fe
formation of elements heavier than Fe
neutron capture (s-, r-processes) fusion of Fe w/ other elements must absorb E rather than release it
simplest atom
proteon
1H
stable
most abundant isotope
hydrogen isotopes
1H - proteon, stable, most common (Z = 1, N = 0)
2H - deuterium, stable (Z=1, N=1)
3H - tritium, unstable, (Z=1, N=2)
atom diameter
about ca. 10^-8 cm (1 Å)
size of nuclei of atom
ca. 10^-12 cm (10^-4 Å)
e-
electron number - # of electrons in atom
neutral atom
Z = e-
Binding energy vs. mass number
binding energy per nucleon (MeV) as a fn of Mass Number, A
Increases straight up, curves to the right = fusion = formation of elements up to (including) Fe
after Fe line is mostly straight across, goes down a bit after A = 110 = Fission
fusion
2+ atomic nuclei form 1+ different atomic nuclei and subatomic particles (neutrons and/or protons)
Difference in mass between products and reactants = release of large amounts of energy
fission
large nuclei breaks apart into two smaller nuclei, releasing a great deal of energy
most tightly bound nucleus
Fe - 8.8 MeV per nucleon binding energy
Isotope notation
^A X
e.g. superscript 13 C = mass number 13, 7 N, 6Z
nuclide
a distinct kind of atom or nucleus characterized by a specific number of protons and neutrons
nuclear isomer
same nuclide, different energy state
types of isotopes
radioactive
stable
radiogenic
radioactive isotopes
spontaneously and predictably change atomic mass
stable isotopes
do not undergo any decay
radiogenic isotopes
may be radioactive or stable
a nuclide that is produced by a process of radioactive decay
Neutron number vs proton number for stable nuclides
follows 1:1 only up to ca. Z = 20-30
N increase more rapidly than Z
need more N for heavier elements to be stable
Nuclear force
holds nucleus together
more powerful than electromagnetic force
only over VERY short distance
radius of nucleon
ca. 10^-13 cm
radius of 4He nucleus
ca. 2*10^-13 cm
radius of 4He atom
ca. 10^-8 cm
Nucleon radius vs force
small radius = repulsion
medium radius = attraction
large radius = 0
Segré chart
protons vs # neutrons
stability in the middle - darker
decreasing stability in both directions out from the dark middle
top right is completely unstable and many undiscovered
Known nuclides
ca. 3000
ca. 275 stable, 270 in nature
ca. 70 unstable (radioactive)
nuclei are stable on what timescale
> 10^15 yrs to
Proton/Neutron energy levels
have energy levels like electrons
Z:N stability depends on energy levels
even numbers most stable
unstable configurations
eventually decay to more stable ones
alpha or beta decay and other processes
magic numbers of protons/neutrons
2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, 126
what are magic numbers
magic # of nucleons = higher average binding energy per nucleon
more stable against decay
analogous to filled shells of electrons (e.g. noble gas)
why are there magic numbers
thought that nuclei do not homogenize, stick their component groups like friends in a class
valley of stability
atoms at edge of parabola most unstable (dripline)
centre of parabola stable, atoms w/ highest nuclear binding energy
cross-section across valley of stability
parabola of binding energies
like x-section (isobar) across Segré chart - low stability, high, low
why are atoms on the dripline most unstable
large amounts of energy are released by their decay
β decay
how are isotopes useful in geoscience
relative Pb proportions tell Earths age
U-Th-Pb measurements used to determine age of crystals
how Lb is used to determine age of Earth
relative proportions of Pb isotopes in meteorites used as proxy
age inferred from Earths bulk Pb isotope composition
determining the age of something
paleotemperature from ice cores
tracers of present processes
Age of Earth
ca. 4.56 bya
t = 0 for Earth
when it ‘coalesced’
somewhat arbitrary
using isotopes to tell the age of the ocean
measure 14C ratios
14C comes from atmosphere (fossil fuels)
tells how long since water was at surface
Isotopes as tracers of present processes, migration
you are what you eat
can track butterfly migration from rainwater source
nucleon
proton or neutron in nucleus
atomic mass
number of nucleons
fermi
10 ^ -15 m
strong force
extremely short-range force between nucleons
alpha particle
helium nucleus, commonly emitted in radioactive disintigration
beta particle
electron, emitted in some radioactive disintegrations
gamma ray
a high-energy photon
electromagnetic radiation
extremely harmful to living organisms
geiger counter
device for measuring radioactivity
scintillation counter
device for measuring radioactivity
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
based on energy levels of H nucleus
N(t)
population at time t
A(t)
activity
number of disintegrations per second
becquerel
one disintegration per second
curie
another unit of activity
number of disintegrations/s/g radium
protons expel each other by
coulombic (electrostatic) force
how do we know nuclear force/strong force has to only act at very short distances
otherwise all matter would collapse into a single nucleus
nuclear force is mediate by
the pion
Pion
type of meson
can exist for a short amount of time
meson
intermediate mass particles which are made up of a quark-antiquark pair
mass decrement of an atom
δm = W - M W = sum of mass of constituent particle (e.g. 6 protons + 6 neutrons + 6 electrons) M = actual mass of atom
binding energy
the mass converted to energy binding the nucleons
measure of nuclear stability
E=δmc^2
magic number features
isotopes and isotopes w/ m.n. are unusually common
m.n. nuclides unusually abundant in nature
heaviest stable nuclides
N=126
Z =83
number of stable nuclei for odd and even Z and N
Z-N # odd-odd 4 odd-even 50 even-odd 55 even-even 165
10^-11 seconds after the Big Bang
universe expanded and cooled enough for quarks and anti-quarks to condense from energy
10^-4 seconds after the Big Bang
cool enough for quarks to associate with each other and form nucleons
10^-2 seconds after the Big Bang
universe cooled to 10^11
neutrinos combined with neutrons to form electrons and protons
s-process
slow neutron capture
neutrons captured slowly (ca. 1000yrs) to produce successively heavier elements, in late generation stars
r-process
rapid neutron capture
tends to form the heavier isotopes
Antoine-Henri Becquerel
discovered radioactivity
placed U salts on photographic plates
produced image by beta particles
Marie and Pierre Curie
discovered polonium and radium by chemical separation from ores
Ernest Rutherford
discovered alpha and beta particles
showed that radioactivity involved transformation of an element in to an entirely different one
J.J. Thomson
discovered the electron
invented the first mass spec. – gave clear evidence of two isotopes of Ne
lowest # element that has natural decay
52
Te
Tellurium
Protons and neutrons are composed of
3 quarks
Proton - 2 up quarks, 1 down quark
Neutron - 1 up quark, 2 down quarks
Stable isotope distribution
relatively mixed in top 5 rows of periodic table
83-118 have no stable configurations (Period 7 and Actinide series)
Proton number vs neutron number, decay
stable region in middle
proton > neutron = beta + decay
proton
Isotope half-life distribution
> 10^15s in the middle
half-life decreases out in each direction from middle
Primary modes of radioactive decay
Alpha decay
Beta decay - positron decay, negatron decay, electron capture
Other forms of decay that we will not worry about
gamma decay
proton decay
cluster decay
Alpha decay is predominantly
in higher atomic number elements
also in Li, Be
Nuclide chart
normal plot of Z vs N
shows radioactive decay processes
nuclide has coordinates Z, N
decay will change coordinates
Alph decay
spontaneous emission of alpha particle from nucleon
occurs for nuclides with atomic number > 58 and 5He, 5Li, 6B
what is happening during alpha decay
a He nucleus is emitted (2protons, 2 neutrons)
no electrons expelled
change in mass
change in E = heat
change in parent from alpha decay
Z - 2
N - 2
A - 4
daughter product
mass difference between 2Z+2N and 1 alpha particle
equivalent to energy lost in alpha decay:
kinetic energy of alpha particle
kinetic energy of remaining nucleus - conservation of momentum and nucleus recoil)
gamma ray emitted
standard model (element formation)
quark - meson (2quarks), baryon (3q) (both hadrons)
baryon – protons, neutrons
meson – pion
lepton - electron, muon, tau, neutrinos
In nuclide chart what is the direction of change associated with alpha decay
left two, down two
Z - 2, N - 2
why does alpha decay only occur at high atomic numbers
nuclei must have masses above maximum in binding energy curve (56Fe)
proton mass
1.00728 u
neutron mass
1.00866 u
mass of alpha particle
4.00153
(but 2protons + 2neutrons = 4.03188)
mass difference is converted energy
238U alpha decay
238,92U – 234,90Th + 4,2He + Q
A - 4
Z - 2
alpha decay branched reactions
may not go to lowest energy state right away
intermediate levels are unstable
may evolve gamma emission
depends on where the alpha particle is coming from in the nucleus
beta decay
changes charge of nucleus
does not change # of nucleons
daughter product is an isobar
emission of electron or positron
types of beta decay
negatron decay
positron decay
electron capture
beta decay stability valley
stable nuclei exist in energy valley
α-decay moves nucleus down valley axis
β-decay moves nucleus down walls toward valley axis, depends on which side of the valley the parent lies (Z>N on left)
Negatron decay
β- decay
tranform neutron into proton + electron (N – P + e-)
emission of β- from nucleon, antineutrino, energy, γ-ray
results of β- decay
Z + 1
N - 1
A = A
movement on nuclide chart from negatron decay
up 1, left 1
40K negatron decay
40,19K – 40,20Ca + β- + v^ + Q
Z + 1
A = A
Negatron decay daughter
gains one proton, Z + 1
same atomic number as parent, isobaric
Positron decay
β+ decay
transformation of proton into neutron
emission of +charged electron (positron, β+) from nucleon, neutrinos, radiant energy, gamma rays
results of β+ decay
Z - 1
N + 1
A = A
40K β+ decay
40,19K – 40,18Ar + β+ + v + Q
movement on nuclide chart from positron decay
right 1, down 1
Isobaric
Electron capture
capture of extranuclear electron (e.g. K-shell capture)
electron reacts with a proton, forms neutron + neutrino
isobaric decay
results of electron capture
Z - 1
N + 1
A = A
same as β+ decay
how electron capture is fundamentally different than β+ decay
neutralize a charge rather than throwing it out
why is there lots of harmful rays associated with electron capture
excited state = gamma rays
replacement of lost electron = x-rays
125I electron capture
125,53I + e- – 125,52Te + v + Q
Z - 1
A = A
movement on nuclide chart from electron capture
down 1 right 1 Z - 1 A = A same as β+ decay
Adjacent isobars
can not be stable (up/down 1, over 1)
atomic number difference must be > 1
two isobars have
different masses
different binding energies
one isobar is converted in to another by
β decay
stable isobars
must be separate by a radioactive isobar
branching decay
decay of isotope by different methods to 2 or more different daughters
e.g. 40K – 40Ar by β+ decay, or to 40Ca by β- decay
ratio of decay directions is fixed
daughters are diagonal in each direction away from parent on nuclide chart
branched decay equation
40,19K – 40,18Ar (+ β+ + e-) + 40,20Ca (+ β-) + Q
atomic numbers of daughters for the 4 decay processes
alpha = Z - 2
EC = Z - 1
beta + = Z - 1
beta - = Z + 1
U decay series
3 clocks - 238U, 235U, 232Th
U (or Th) is rate determining step
multiple alpha and beta decay steps to reach stability
paths of the diff. clocks do not overlap
238U decays to
206Pb
8 alpha decays (length of chain)
6 beta decays
235U decays to
207Pb
7 alpha decays (chain length)
4 beta decays
232Th decays to
206Pb
6 alpha decays (chain length)
4 beta decays
decay end member features
stable
high enough in atomic number to be able to avoid contamination
semimetals
B, Si, Ge, As, Sb, Te
non-metals
noble gases
halogens
C, N, O, P, S, Se
halogens
group 17
beside noble gases
F, Cl, Br, I, At
noble gases
period 18
He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn
mass spectrometer
separates atoms or molecules according to mass
basic parts: ion source, mass analyzer, detector
application of radioactive isotopes
geochronology tracers medical imaging - trace, treatment energy weapons
radioactive isotopes, tracers
agriculture - plant fertilizers
industry - engine parts
geo-processes and characters
elements that make good radioactive models
not extremely short or long 1/2t
common enough for use
well represented in typical rock groups, abundant
Law of radioactivity, Rutherford and Soddy
rate of decay of radioactive nuclides is proportional to # of that nuclide remaining at any time (t)
lots of parent = faster decay
Basic Decay Equation (exponential decay)
-dN/dt ∝ N_t
λ is proportionality constant so -dN/dt = λN_t
variables in basic decay equation
N = number of nuclides that will decay (parent) -dN/dt = rate of decay λ = decay constant (time^-1) λN = activity (A) or 'rate of decay'
λ
decay constant
probability a given constant will decay at time t
typically independent of T, P
experimentally determined, accepted by consensus, not empirical
integrating basic decay equation
-dN/dt = λN
-dN/N = λdt
-∫dN/N = λ∫dt
-lnN = λt + C
at t_0 N = N_0 – C = -lnN_0
-lnN = λt - lnN_0
N_0
N at t=0
all parent is still present
no decay has taken place yet
Standard/Basic decay equation, working form
N = N_0 e^-λt
half life
time required for half of radio-nuclides to decay t = T_1/2, N = No/2 No/2 = No e^-λT_1/2 1/2 = e^-λT_1/2 -ln(2) = -λT_1/2 T_1/2 = ln2 / λ
rate of decay is proportional to
N (amount of parent nuclides)
larger N = more decay
rate decreases exponentially
half life working equation
T1/2 = ln2/λ
max number of 1/2 lives
5-10
>5 half lives and theres likely not enough parent left for data analysis
low N
lower activity
lower decay
lower quality data - less accuracy
14C T1/2
5730 yrs
exhausted in ca. 70kyr
40K T1/2
1.28Gyr
good for dating 10kyr - 100’s Myr
238U T1/2
4.47Gyr
used to date Myr to Gyr
growth of stable daughter
D* = No - N D* = No - No e^-λt D* = No (1 - e^-λt) D* = how much daughter produced with none present initially
example of when D* is an alright assumption
K-Ar dating, Ar is a gas and therefore escapes before rock solidifies
Growth curve of daughter
number of atoms vs. time, half lives
exponentially increasing
opposite to decay curve, exponentially decreasing
Geochronology equation
D* = N(e^λt - 1) D = Do + N(e^λt - 1)
If there is daughter material to start with that is not accounted for
rock will ‘appear’ older than it is
Graphing D = Do + N (e^λt -1 )
87Sr = 87Sro + 87Rb (e^λt - 1)
y (D) = c (Do) + mx (e^λt - 1)(N)
87Sr is y axis, 87Rb is x, (e^λt - 1) is slope, 87Sro is intercept
If 87Sro = D* = no daughter to begin with, then intercept is at 0
If 87Sro≠D* then there was daughter to start with
How to graphing D = Do + N (e^λt -1 )
take multiple samples in same outcrop
rock heterogeneity will give different values
plot all the values (parent, daughter)
if rocks are same age, should plot along straight line and have same to
In graphing D = Do + N (e^λt -1 ), the slope (e^λt -1 ) is what
an isochron
it means all rocks that plot along that line have the same age
overcoming mass spec measurement constraints
difficult to measure amounts discretely so isotope measurements are generally made as ratios (R)
use stable, nonradiogenic isotope for normalization
87Sr normalization for mass spectrometry
86Sr is the stable isotope = normalizer
R = Ro + R_P/D (e^λt - 1)
87Sr/86Sr = 87Sro/86Sro + 87Rb/86Sr (e^λt - 1)
just divide each term by the normalizer
normalizer must be common and not in the decay system
86Sro should technically = 86Sr (Stable)
R P/D plot
R = Ro + R_P/D (e^λt - 1) y = c + xm y is the 'now' ratio x is the Parent/Daughter (e^λt - 1) is the slope = isochron c is the intercept
Assumptions for R vs. P/D plots
isotopic equilibrium of system at t=0, i.e. homogeneous value of Ro, generally thermal/diffusional constraint (blocking T)
closed system, i.e. no loss or gain of material (parent or daughter) with time
Rb-Sr commonly used to date
Rb-rich minerals: muscovite, biotite, k-feldspar
these minerals do not incorporate much Sr at time of formation
Rb-Sr dating compared with K-Ar
Rb-Sr has a greater blocking T - usually gives somewhat older age thank K-Ar (minerals formed slightly later)
minerals form at cooler T according to Bowens reaction series
Using isochron method for Rb-Sr
plot multiple rock samples 87Sr/86Sr vs 87Rb/86Sr at to
should be a horizontal line
wait… plot values again at t1
wait.. plot again at t2
should plot co-linearly to the same intercept (if same age)
In isochron dating methods why does the isochron become more steep with time?
increasing across x-axis we have rock A, B, C
rock A has the lowest N (initial amount of parent) so its Activity will be lowest
rock C has highest N which equals larger A
more atoms = more decay
the daughter product from rock C is increasing faster than the daughter product from rock A
blocking T
temperature below which a mineral becomes a closed chemical system for a specific radioactive decay series
what do we get from the isochron dating method
the age of the rock (from the slope)
the initial value, Ro (from the intercept)
what does it mean for rocks to be co-genetic
derived from same parent material
how do we know if rocks are co-genetic
same, single initial isotope ratio, Ro
Assumptions in radiometric dating
N, D have changed only as a result of radioactive decay (closed system)
there was an isotopic equilibrium within the system at the outset (homogenous 87Sr/86Sr)
Parent isotope composition not altered by fractionation at time of formation of rock
decay constant is known accurately
the isochron is not a mixing line
the analytical data are accurate
disintegration rate
A ≡ λ N also activity can be measured with scintillation counter A = Ao e^-λt ln A = ln Ao - λt y = c +mx
Problems with isochrons
two sets of rocks with same age may have different Ro
difficult to fit lines of best fit
metamorphic events after formation of rocks
Meaningful isochrons require
large P/D (e.g. 87Rb/87Sr of 5) large range in P/D in suite or minerals (i.e., Ca + K minerals) closed system homogenous D no fluids and/or metamorphic resetting
dN/dt depends on
number of nuclides available to decay
λ is fixed
-dN/dt = λN_t
why K-Ca-Ar work focus on Ar
40K/40Ar ratio much higher than 40K/40Ca
Easier to measure differences
Why is 40K/40Ca ratio so low (0.00011)
40K least abundant K isotope (0.012%)
40Ca most abundance Ca isotope (96.92%)
Ca is more abundant than K
40K has one of shortest t1/2 of long-lived radio isotopes
∴ ratio is small, signal is hard to detect
Potassium
K, Z = 19
alkali metal, group 1A (w/ Li, Na, Rb, Ce)
1 of 8 most abundant crust elements
key component in rock forming minerals
K isotopes
39K - stable, 93.3%
40K - radiogenic, 0.012%
41K - stable, 6.73%
Argon
Ar, Z = 18
noble gas, group 8 (w/ He, Xe)
mostly gaseous in atmos.
Ar isotopes
40Ar - 99.6% (radiogenic)
38Ar - 0.063%
36Ar - 0.337%
all stable
Ar tracer
36Ar - not formed from decay
40Ar/36Ar = 295.5 - any deviation = radioactivity
K branching decay
40K –> 40Ar + ß+ (positron, e.c.)
40K –> 40Ca + ß- (negatron)
40K –> 40Ar
electron capture + gamma rays (11%, 1.46MeV)
e.c. directly to ground state (0.16%)
positron + 2gamma (0.001%)
total ∆E=1.51MeV
40K –> 40Ca
negatron emission (∆E = 1.32MeV, 88.8%)
K-Ar-Ca λ
λ_T = λec (Ar) + λ_ß (Ca)
fraction of 40K that goes to 40Ca, 40Ar
40Ca = λ_ß / λ_T*40K 40Ar = λ_ec / λ_T*40K
branching ratio
R = λ_ec / λ_ß = 0.0117
K-Ar-Ca equations w/ no initial daughter
40Ar* + 40Ca* = 40K(e^λ_t - 1)
40Ar* = (λ_ec/λ)40K(e^λ_t - 1)
40Ca* = (λ_ß/λ)40K(e^λ_t - 1)
40Ar_0
often assume Ar_initial = 0 b/c gas escapes to atmosphere
K-Ar benefits
Ar is noble gas - escapes, volatile, not bound in lattice
can measure Ar-Ar
Measuring 40K/40Ar
40Ar - melt rock - measure gas composition w/ MS
40K -sample content measured by flame photometry, atomic absorption, ICPMS
key principle behind K-Ar dating
40K/40Ar ratio related to t since rock was cool enough to trap Ar
Rock-forming minerals suitable for dating by K-Ar
feldspars, micas, amphibole (hornblende)
K-Ar assumptions
40K decays independent of P, T
40K/K_T constant in nature
40Ar* produced by in situ 40K decay since crystallization
corrections can be made for nonradiogenic 40Ar
sample in closed system since t_o - i.e. no losses or gains
violation example of 40Ar* produced by in situ 40K decay since crystallization assumption
partial melting
corrections for nonradiogenic 40Ar
36Ar from atmos. not decay - amount diffused in is proportional to 40Ar that diffused in (contamination)
40Ar/36Ar = 295.5
K-Ar additional assumptions
1 no 40Ar* has escaped
2 mineral closed quickly to 40Ar* after formation
3 no 40Ar_initial or 40Ar incorporated later
4 correction for atmos. 40Ar* leak into mineral
5 normal 39K, 40K, 41K abundances, no fractionation during formation
6 λ, λ_ec, λ_ß accurately known
7 [40K], 40Ar* accurately determined
40Ar* escape
remelting solution/precipitation alteration mechanical weathering metamorphism burial P/T
40Ar* is measured how
on mass spec by isotope dilution - enriched with 38Ar so there is enough material to measure
40Ar/38Ar
38Ar/36Ar (to correct for atmos. contamination)
Correction for Ar contamination
40Ar* = 40Ar_t - (295.5)(36Ar)
note that if there is no contamination 40Ar* = 40Ar_t
Ar example, why you need large # samples
Radiogenic 40Ar content vs. distance inward from pillow rim
decrease in 40Ar inward from rim - 40Ar contamination added to pillow rim
40Ar/36Ar vs 40K/36Ar R-P/D plot, y-intercept
y-int = (40Ar/36Ar)o = initial ratio = atmospheric contamination
Ar diffusion
K-Ar thermally reset if T high enough to allow Ar diffusion
Ar diffusion dependent on
diffusion coefficient (D) - material dependent temperature (T) E_a = activation energy Arrhenius equation: D = Do * e^(-E_a / RT)
Ar diffusion consideration
closure T
cooling rate, closure rate
dependence on mineral used for dating
Diffusion of Ar, Temperature
higher T = faster diffusion (good)
in melted rock - 36Ar should escape
in cool rock Ar should stay put
Ar Blocking temperature
T wt which mineral becomes ‘closed’ w.r.t. Ar loss
Problem w/ Ar blocking T
date obtained will be less than true age unless rock cooled very rapidly
blocking T dependent on
diffusion
cooling rate
grain size
grain shape
87Sr normalized by
86Sr
87Sr parent
87Rb
40Ar normalized by
36Ar
radiogenic argon
40Ar
accumulated from decay of 40K
also 39Ar but very short t_1/2
non-radiogenic argon
blank, trapped, cosmogenic, neutron induced Ar
not from decay
Relic Ar
40Ar
remains following partial resetting (partial melting) event
Blank argon
unavoidable surgical Ar introduced into MS
excess Ar
all contamination
trapped Ar
incorporated within mineral
atmospheric Ar w/ or w/o an excess 40Ar component (e.g. H2O)
Excess Ar
released from older K-bearing minerals
typically during heating event - trapped as mineral cools
Atmospheric argon
Ar from EARTHs atmosphere (different extraterrestrially)
40Ar/36Ar = 295.5
Neutron-induced Ar
produced by irradiation of sample in nuclear reactor
mostly synthetic
Inherited argon
radiogenic + non-radiogenic Ar introduced by contamination w/ older material (e.g. inclusions)
Argon gains
- Inherited, 40Ar/36Ar greater than 295.5, overestimate of age
- 40Ar doesn’t escape during thermal event - redistributed - disproportionately situated on crystal edges - amongst first to diffuse out during weathering
Argon Losses
- Extended cooling period - enhanced differences in edges
- Differential diffusional loss during reheating
- In 39K(n,p)39Ar, 39Ar lost from crystal rim during recoil following radiation
underestimation of true age
Trouble with K-Ar
chemical differences
measured differently
avoiding K-Ar problems
Use 39Ar as 39K proxy by irradiating sample - turn K into Ar
39K(n,p)39Ar
benefit to using 39Ar as proxy for 39K
measured in same machine at same time
can also measure 36Ar at same time to correct for Ar*
Argon step heating
In situ conversion of 39K - 39Ar
incremental heating of sample over ‘total fusion’
allows liberation of Ar in stages
melt sample from outside-in