ANALYTICAL METHOD FOR THE K-CA AGE-DETERMINATION OF GEOLOGICAL SAMPLES

An analytical procedure for the K/Ca age determination of geological samples is described, the relevant equations are developed and two alternative analytical methods are discussed according to their precision. An important precondition for the feasibility of the K/Ca method is the measurement of precise Ca isotope ratios. The ratio 40Ca/42Ca is used to determine the relative radiogenic 40Ca portion, whereas the 42Ca/44Ca ratio is taken as an internal standard. K and Ca in minerals are determined by flame atomic emission spectrometry with an internal lithium standard and by isotope dilution mass spectrometry, respectively. The contamination problem during the reprocessing of the samples is discussed. The results achieved by dating a langbeinite and a microcline sample by the K/Ca method agree well with those achieved by other age determination methods. The standard deviation of the K/Ca method in analyzing several feldspars ranges from 1.8-7.6%. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.