K/Ar and 39Ar/40Ar whole-rock dating of zeolite facies metamorphosed flood basalts: the upper Paleocene basalts of the Faroe Islands, NE Atlantic
- Share
-
Tools
Regin Waagstein, Philip Guise, David Rex, 2002. "K/Ar and 39Ar/40Ar whole-rock dating of zeolite facies metamorphosed flood basalts: the upper Paleocene basalts of the Faroe Islands, NE Atlantic", The North Atlantic Igneous Province: Stratigraphy, Tectonic, Volcanic and Magmatic Processes, D. W. Jolley, B. R. Bell
Download citation file:
×
Abstract
The Paleocene flood basalts of the Faroe Islands form a central part of the North Atlantic Igneous Province, but have proven difficult to date because of very low-grade burial metamorphism in the chabazite-thomsonite to the laumontite zeolite zone. We present 17 replicated K/Ar and 8 Ar/Ar whole-rock analyses of basalts from the >3 km thick lower basalt formation, the age of which has been debated for years. Samples are from the massive core of thick, exposed flows, and two boreholes (Vestmanna-1 and Lopra-1). Six samples are drill cuttings. Extensive microprobe work and mass balance calculations show that roughly 60% of the potassium of the dated basalts resides in plagioclase, interstitial cryptocrystalline rhyolite and smectitic clay, the rest mainly forming thin rims of alkali feldspar on plagioclase. Six basalts fulfil the following criteria: (1) they are almost homogeneous in K and Ar (ages on different splits vary by <4 Ma); (2) the only low-temperature phase present is smectite (saponite±minor interstratified chlorite-smectite); and (3) max. c. 6% of total K occurs in smectite. This smectite replaced metastable interstitial glass during early burial and has a trivial effect on measured ages. The six basalts give mean K/Ar whole-rock ages of 56.5 ± 1.3 to 58.9 ± 1.3 Ma (1σ), which are interpreted as igneous ages consistent with mapped palaeomagnetic reversals and unpublished Ar/Ar dates. They suggest that the oldest drilled lavas erupted at 58.8 ± 0.5 Ma (1σ) in the later part of magnetochron C26r accumulating at >2 km Ma−1, and that the volcanism came to a slow end at 56.4 ± 0.5 Ma in the beginning of chron C24r. The Lower Basalt Formation is overlain by 10m of coal-bearing sediments and 2 km syn-breakup lavas, deposited in early C24r (>55 Ma).
The remaining 11 basalts are either inhomogeneous, carry > 10% of the total K in clay, have C/S > saponite or contain traces of zeolites, secondary quartz, dioctahedral smectite or celadonite as probable indicators of prolonged alteration, and they give low or variable K/Ar ages. The Ar/Ar analyses include five of these poor samples plus three of the first group. They give a plateau age of 55.7 ± 0.9 Ma (1σ) for two exposed flows assigned to chron C25n, but of 60–63 Ma for six drilled lavas assigned to C26r. We argue that the later Ar/Ar ages are too high due to 39Ar recoil loss out of the sample (0–25%) or relocation during irradiation and should be ignored.
Figures & Tables
Contents
The North Atlantic Igneous Province: Stratigraphy, Tectonic, Volcanic and Magmatic Processes

The North Atlantic Igneous Province has been the subject of extensive scientific investigation over the past thirty years, with a wide field of knowledge being accumulated. Recently, recognition of the potential role of Large Igneous Provinces in affecting ocean and atmosphere systems and biotic evolutionary pathways has lead to increased interest in this province. This has been further stimulated by the expansion in the search for oil and gas in Mesozoic and Tertiary sediments along the NE Atlantic Margin. An improved understanding of the interaction between igneous and sedimentary processes is vital for the identification of potential hydrocarbon resources.
The regions covered include continental margin Norway, east and west Greenland, the Faroe-Shetland Basin and the Faroe Islands themselves. The papers in this book contain new data and interpretations of North Atlantic Igneous Province magmatic processes, rift evolution, tectonics, stratigraphy (chemostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, seismic and isotope stratigraphy) and sediment dispersal. Many of the papers adopt a multidisciplinary approach to tha analysis and interpretation of complex volcanic and sedimentary sequences. These new data, and the reviews and compilations of existing data provide the reader with access to current research directions in North Atlantic Igneous Province geology.