Investigations of the Thermal Evolution of Sedimentary Basins Using exp 40 Ar/ exp 39 Ar Thermochronology: Applications to Petroleum Exploration. Progress Report, September 1, 1982-May 31, 1983

摘要

Although only four months into our research program, we have already made significant progress along two fronts. Analysis of detrital microclines from the southern San Joaquin Valley, California, by the exp 40 Ar/ exp 39 Ar age spectrum technique has yielded thermochronological information relating to: (1) the age of sediment provenance; (2) the age of basin heating; and (3) the temperature and duration of heating. This is the first time that this technique has been applied to samples of this kind and we view these results with considerable optimism for future studies of more complex basins. Simultaneously, we have developed a low-blank, high through-put Ar extraction system and successfully installed our rare gas mass spectrometer. (ERA citation 08:013928)