The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age spectrum technique has the demonstrated ability to resolve gradients of ⁴⁰Ar^* within crystals resulting from geologic heatings. A practical application of this observation is the analysis of detrital microcline from sedimentary beds to assess the source age of the feldspar, the time of basin heating, and the thermal intensity of the heating event. This intensity of the heating event is available through knowledge of the amount of ⁴⁰Ar^* lost from the sample and the temperature-dependent rate of argon transport within microcline. Both of these parameters are obtained as a by-product of the age spectrum experiment.

Results from a variety of sedimentary basins are encouraging and demonstrate the quality of information available from this technique. ⁴⁰Ar^* gradients in samples from the Basin block of the southern San Joaquin Valley, California, indicate a heating duration of 500,000-1 m.y., which is consistent with the stratigraphy. In conjunction with the present heat-flow data, these results suggest an equilibrium thermal gradient ~7°C/km higher than that presently observed--a consequence of rapid burial. K-spar separates from deep drill holes in the Albuquerque basin, New Mexico, reveal age spectra characteristic of substantial ⁴⁰Ar^* loss. Thermal calculations based on these data indicate a simple conductive history for samples above a present dep h of about 6 km, although hydrothermal activity is evident in deeper material. Microcline separates have been obtained from a Kimmeridgian Sandstone (Tartan field, North Sea basin) that has been displaced about 1 km by a normal fault. Age spectra from these samples reveal minor ⁴⁰Ar^* losses of 4 and 6% from the samples in the upthrown and downthrown blocks, respectively. These loss profiles correspond to temperature histories that agree well with the formation temperatures and burial histories estimated for these wells. The subtle contrast in argon loss between these 2 samples suggests that this structure is relatively recent.

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