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Direct radiometric dating of the Devonian-Mississippian time-scale boundary using the Re-Os black shale geochronometer

Selby, D; Creaser, R.A

Authors

R.A Creaser



Abstract

Many Phanerozoic time-scale boundaries are characterized by oceanic anoxia and mass extinction events with the deposition of black shale. The Re-Os isotope system in black shale can be used to provide depositional ages for these rocks, thus yielding direct radiometric ages for time-scale boundaries. We demonstrate that the Re-Os black shale geochronometer can yield precise ages useful for time-scale research through study of the Devonian-Mississippian boundary within the Exshaw Formation, Canada. The Re-Os date determined places the Devonian-Mississippian boundary at 361.3 ± 2.4 Ma (2σ including λ uncertainty, model 1, mean square of weighted deviates = 1.2), in accord with recent calibration interpolated from U-Pb zircon dates (360.7 ± 0.7 Ma) for the Hasselbachtal section, Germany.

Citation

Selby, D., & Creaser, R. (2005). Direct radiometric dating of the Devonian-Mississippian time-scale boundary using the Re-Os black shale geochronometer. Geology, 33(7), 545-548. https://doi.org/10.1130/g21324.1

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date 2005-07
Deposit Date Mar 13, 2007
Journal Geology
Print ISSN 0091-7613
Electronic ISSN 1943-2682
Publisher Geological Society of America
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 33
Issue 7
Pages 545-548
DOI https://doi.org/10.1130/g21324.1
Keywords Re-Os, Black shale, Geochronology, Devonian-Mississippian boundary.