5.2. The 39Ar/40Ar Method

Method has advantage of parallel counting of 39Ar and 40Ar atoms

in mass analyzer identical efficiencies, reduced uncertainties!

Problem of generating 39Ar and relating it to 40K

Fixed ratio of stable 39K and radioactive 40K isotopes

39K 93.2581

40K 0.0117

41K 6.7302

Z=19

Conversion of 39K into 39Ar by neutron activation:

39K(n,p)39Ar

Standard Reactor Techniques

Conventional TRIGA reactor

Neutron flux of Fn ~ 1014 n s-1 cm2

http://geology.cr.usgs.gov/facilities/gstr/

Conversion rate 39K39Ar

;1055.1)(

10544.11010)(

10

101

10544.1)(1

)()(

1939

22211422739

2114

227

),(

223939

39

),(

39

39

39

sArY

cmsncmArY

cmsnF

cmmb

KNKofg

KNFArY

n

pnK

npnK

Full conversion would take quite a long time, a 1 hour

generation of measurable 39Ar content is sufficient to

produce the measurable amount of N(39Ar)=5.5·1012 !

39Ar/40Ar Method

Advantages: Parallel release of 39Ar and 40Ar by heating

Parallel separation of 39Ar and 40Ar in mass spectrometer

Parallel counting in identical detector systems

Neutron flux dependent parameters are typically determined by

using well known 39K standard sample relative measurement

)(

)(

1)(

)(ln

1

40

39

),(

39

40

39

KN

KNtFJ

JArN

ArNt

irrpnKnn

n

Jn determined with a

standard sample that

is exposed to parallel

treatment Hornblende (mineral) from the McClure

Mountains, Colorado (a.k.a. MMhb-1).

The cradle of mankind

Ex Africa Semper Aliquid Novi

(Always something new out of Africa) Pliny the Elder

The Olduvai Gorge Olduvai Gorge is an archaeological site

located in the eastern Serengeti Plains in

northern Tanzania. The gorge is a very

steep sided ravine roughly 30 miles long

and 295 ft. deep. Exposed deposits show

rich fossil fauna, many hominid remains

belong to the one of the oldest stone tool

technologies, called Olduwan. The time

span of the objects recovered date from

2,100,000 to 15,000 years ago.

Fossil samples from Olduvai site

post-cranial remains

of homo erectus:

0.5 million years

Australopithecus boisei

1.8 million years

mineralized fossil

The Hadar Valley

1974 Discovery of skeleton by Don

Johannsen in the Hadar valley near

the Awash river. The Hadar valley is

part of the volcano rich African Rift.

australopethicus afarensis

3.18 Million years

The oldest hominoid

Lucy

Dated by K-Ar

method on layers

of volcanic ashes

above and below

the skeleton

The Discovery of Lucy

Chronology of Evolution

Documentation

Footprints of our Ancestors?

The Age of the Moment! 3,500,000 years ago, our very

remote ancient ancestors walked

through a landscape very like that

which we see today. On one

particular day the volcano Sadiman

puffed out a lot of gray ash, which

covered the plains. A rain shower

dampened and settled the ashes,

so that the local animals left their

crisp, clear tracks when they

walked. Through this desolated

grey landscape, traveled three

hominids walking on two legs. A

large, medium sized and small

individual walked together. Some

days later, a fresh ash fall buried

the tracks, until they were

excavated in 1978.