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Science 17 May 1991:
Vol. 252. no. 5008, pp. 949 - 951
DOI: 10.1126/science.252.5008.949
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Articles

Samarium-Neodymium Direct Dating of Fluorite Mineralization

J. T. CHESLEY 1, A. N. HALLIDAY 1, and R. C. SCRIVENER 2

1 Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
2 British Geological Survey, Exeter, EX4 6BX, United Kingdom

The direct dating of many styles of hydrothermal mineralization has proved difficult, limiting understanding of the geological processes that lead to crustal fluid flow and the formation of major ore deposits. The hydrothermal mineral fluorite (CaF2) displays large variations in rare earth element (REE) abundance and samarium/neodymium ratios within a single vein. Samarium-neodymium dating of fluorite from the classic granite-hosted tin deposits of southwest England demonstrates its use as a precise chronometer of mineralization. The concentrations of light rare earth elements (LREEs) in the fluorites are highly variable and suggest the coeval precipitation of an LREE-rich phase as the most likely cause of the extreme variation in samarium/neodymium ratios.

Submitted on November 13, 1990
Accepted on February 28, 1991


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
MINERALOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL STUDY OF THE TRUE BLUE AQUAMARINE SHOWING, SOUTHERN YUKON.
D. Turner, L. A. Groat, C. J.R. Hart, J. K. Mortensen, R. L. Linnen, G. Giuliani, and W. Wengzynowski (2007)
Can Mineral 45, 203-227
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Timing and significance of crosscourse mineralization in SW England.
R. C. SCRIVENER, D. P. F. DARBYSHIRE, and T. J. SHEPHERD (1994)
Journal of the Geological Society 151, 587-590
   Abstract »    PDF »


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