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ABSTRACT
The K-Ar system in clay fractions from shallow marine carbonate shelf
environments was investigated on silicate fractions (clay minerals, feldspar)
separated from 20 Lower Jurassic to Upper Cretaceous sedimentary rocks,
deposited in the southern Tethys ocean. The range of lithologies investigated
included dolomite and chalk [IR (insoluble residue)<lo%], marl, shale
(IR= 7 0 4 5 % ) and sandstone (IR>90%).The results show that K-bearing clay
fractions often have K-Ar ages similar to the suggested age of deposition, which
means either supply of land-derived authigenic K-bearing clays or synsedimentary
diagenetic authigenesis, or both. This K-Ar synsedimentary signal is recorded in
clay fractions from the whole range of studied lithologies and stratigraphic units.
Among the clay minerals, the synsedimentary K-Ar signature was recorded and
retained in illite/smectite of the d - p m and c0.2-pm fractions. A prominent
synsedimentary signature is found in K-feldspars, from shaly and especially from
calcareous rocks, which is substantiated by their authigenic origin based on
idiomorphic crystal morphology and their limited size distribution (4-10 pm).
Post-depositional closure of the K-Ar system is indicated by ages up to 15 Ma
younger than the stratigraphic age in different lithologies from dispersed localities.
A distinct late diagenetic (20-25 Ma younger) event is recorded in the formation
of authigenic K-feldspar within Upper Cretaceous chalk and shale. In the IR
and >lO-Fm fractions the K-Ar ages reflect the contribution of detrital mica
and feldspar which accompanies the kaolinite-dominated samples. The overall
results differ considerably from K-Ar age patterns observed in deep-sea
sediments, a difference which may be connected with the occurrence of brines in
these shelf deposits. The findings indicate the potential in the K-Ar dating of fine
IR fractions of marine shelf sediments in terms of geochronological-stratigraphic
and palaeogeographical aspects as well as in the petrology of clay minerals
themselves.
originate from the bentonite beds at Maale Upper Member of the Ora Formation and from
HaAzmaut (cf. Bentor, 1966, p. 79). These beds, equivalent beds of the clastic unit of the Nezer
attaining there a thickness of 3 m, belong to Formation (Sandler, 1992) of Middle Turonian
the Hevyon Member (Late Albian to Early age. The two samples from the Ora Formation
Cenomanian - cf. Bartov et al., 1981), which originate from an anhydrite and dolomitic shale
is the lowermost member of the Hazera unit in the southern Negev. The samples from the
Formation. Nezer Formation are from the northern Negev and
The Turonian Ora (Shale) Formation and Nezer from the Judean Desert.
Formation occur in the southern and northern The Late Coniacian - Middle Campanian
Negev, respectively. The Ora Formation, attaining Menuha Formation consists mainly of massive
a thickness of around l o o m , is composed of marine chalks. In the Negev it can attain a thick-
shale, dolomite, limestone, and locally of sand- ness of some 80m. In some areas (southern
stone, gypsum and anhydrite. The environment of Negev, Judean Desert) a middle clayey unit is
deposition is assumed to be shallow marine, from developed which contains shale, phosphoritic
open to partially restricted (lagoonal). The Nezer mads and chert. Three adjacent samples were
Formation consists of open marine limestones collected in the Massada graben, and two adjacent
and marls attaining a thickness of several tens samples, at a similar stratigraphic position, were
of metres. The samples analysed are from the collected in Jerusalem.
0 1995 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 42, 921-934
K-Ar signatures of Mesozoic clay fractions, Israel 925
tN
z I SENONIAN
I GHAREBFm.
I (ofherFms.)
?E @i
I \ I TURoNIAN
NEZER Fm.
ORA Fm.
(other Fms.)
0
-1 I
v ) .
v)
d MIDDLE MAHMAL Fm
c??
@i
- (other Fms.)
2
7 LOWER ARDON Fm.
Ardon Formation
GYP-1 IR 0.690 0.0921 85.2 314.3 & 6.0
GYP-2 IR 1.330 0.1946 90.8 342-0 z t 6-5
GYP-3 IR 1.640 0.2423 92.7 344.9 f 6.5
Mahmal Formation
GYP-4 IR 0.074 0.0164 78.5 494.7 f 9.0
GYP-5 IR 0.250 0.0341 61.3 321.0 f 6.2
GYP-6 IR 1.087 0.0778 79.8 175.3 f 3.6
GYP-6 <2 1.295 0.0789 61.0 148.8 f 2.0
Hazera Formation
GYP-7 IR 8.615 0.3380 82.4 98.2 f 1.9
GYP-7 <O.2 4.140 0.1610 71.5 97.4 f 2.1
GYP-7 >4 11.970 0.4620 95.2 96.7 f 2.0
GYP-7 4-10 12.220 0.4770 97.5 97.7 f 1.9
GYP-7 >10 10.300 0.4280 96.0 104.0 f 2.1
GYP-8 IR 3.290 0.1490 8.8 112.9 f 2.1
GYP-8 <0.2 2.430 0.09 70.3 95.4 f 2.0
GYP-8 < 2 2.480 0.0958 64.0 96.8 f 2.0
GYP-8 >4 5.350 0.2534 83.7 117.7 f 2.4
GYP-8 4-10 8.380 0.3616 95.4 105.1 f 2.1
GYP-8 >10 2.320 0.1480 94.5 157.1 f 3.1
Ora and Nezer formations
HG-69 <2 4.240 0.1309 59.1 78.3 f 1-6
HG-69 4-10 2-425 0.1250 91.1 129-1f 2.6
HG-69 >10 0-580 0.1564 86.3 587.1 & 11
HG-74 <2 4.710 0.1433 63.6 76.6 f 1.6
HG-74 4-10 5.290 0.2984 95.2 139.7 f 2.8
HG-74 >10 2.200 0.2891 96.8 309.9 f 5.9
SA-2 <O.2 2.270 0.0663 50.0 73.6 f 1.5
SA-2 <2 2.550 0.0957 61.8 94.0 f 1.9
SA-11 <0.2 1.370 0.0440 18.7 80.5 f 1.9
SA-11 <2 1.690 0.0652 65.9 96.7 f 2.0
SA-107 <2 3.640 0.1104 57.1 76.4 f 1.6
SA-107 >4 3.450 0.1334 77.6 97.1 f 2.0
SA-109 <2 4.990 0.1512 61.0 76.2 f 1.9
SA-1O9a <2 4.285 0.1329 63.4 78.1 f 1.6
Menuha Formation
AG-1 <2 1.015 0.0422 49.8 103,8 f 2.1
AG-1 >4 4.740 0.1942 84.7 102.5 f 2.2
AG-2 <2 1.470 0.0541 57.8 92.2 f 1.9
AG-2 >4 6.520 0.2430 79.8 93.4 f 1.9
AG-2 4-10 8.330 0.2090 95.4 63.6 f 1.3
AG-2 > I 0 4.850 0.2520 93.9 128.9 f 2.6
AG-3 <2 1.535 0.0670 65.3 109.3 f 2.2
AG-3 >4 8.245 0.2335 90.3 71.4 f 1.5
AG-3 4-10 9-140 0.2150 93.3 59-7 f 1.2
AG-3 >I0 6.580 0.2460 90-3 93.7 it 1.9
GYP-12 IR 0.660 0.0493 77.6 182.5 f 3.6
GYP-18 <0.2 0.530 0.0220 57.0 103.5 f 2.1
GYP-12 <2 0.620 0.0396 68.1 157.1 f 3.2
GYP-13 IR 1.680 0.0746 76.6 110.7 f 2.3
GYP-13 <O.2 1.560 0.0739 74.3 117.9 f 2.4
GYP-13 <2 1.760 0.0916 76.1 1294 f 2.6
Ghareb Formation
GYP-11 IR 1.828 0.0529 71.3 73.0 f 1.7
GYP-11 <0.2 0.850 0.0250 45.3 74.2 f 1.6
GYP-11 <2 1.415 0.0389 57.4 69.3 f 1.5
GYP-11 >4 2.380 0.1150 72.2 120.2 f 2.5
GYP-11 4-10 3.320 0.1861 84.5 121.0 f 2.4
patterns are encountered: (1)significantly older southern Israel, have been attributed to an Early
ages: (2) similar ages - i.e. ages taken to be within Carboniferous uplift (Feinstein et al., 1989).
a range of *5% of the stratigraphic age. This The K-Ar ages of the IR fraction in the three
interval is both larger than the analytical error samples from the Mahmal Formation span from
and also overlaps the error on the stratigraphic 495 to 175 Ma. The IR of the marl sample, having
age as well as the time span assumed for the lowest K content of all IR fractions, yields a
syngenetic processes; (3) younger ages. 'Pan African' age (cf. Bentor, 1985) of 494Ma.
This is probably a lower estimate for the age of the
presumed source rocks of the detrital fraction. An
Older ages overall decrease in the age is observed with the
Predominance of K-Ar ages older than the rise in %K content in the IR. This tendency is also
sedimentary age was encountered in the Jurassic implied by the single result on the <2-pm fraction
(Ardon and Mahmal) formations. In the insoluble
residue of the samples from the Ardon Formation
yielding a significantly younger ( 25 Ma) age-
relative to the stratigraphic age, indicating that
kaolinite predominates with minor amounts of late diagenetic or epigenetic effects may have
mica among the clay minerals. The high kaolinite been recorded.
content of the three marine samples indicates
a detrital source for the clay fractions. This is
Similar ages
based on the notion (Murray, 1988) that the
source of kaolinite, as a major component of K-Ar ages similar to the sedimentary age were
the silicate fraction in such rocks, is continental frequently found in the IR fractions of the Upper
and could not have been formed under marine Cretaceous (Hazera, Ora, Nezer and Ghareb
conditions. formations). The ages of the various fractions of
The K content of the IR fraction of the samples the Hazera Formation span from 157 to 95Ma,
increases with IR content of the rock (Tables 2 most of them within the Albian-Cenomanian
and 3). The K-Ar ages of the IR fractions span time-scale (108-91 Ma) (Table 4 and Fig. 2). Since
from 314 to 344 Ma, ages which are significantly even the unseparated IR fractions yield ages
higher than the stratigraphic age of the Ardon which seem to conform to the stratigraphic age
Formation. Considering the mineralogy of the IR, (GYP-7),or are close to it (GYP-8),it is concluded
it must be concluded that the K is probably that a significant synsedimentary signal is
contained mainly in feldspar and possibly also in recorded and retained in the K-Ar system of the
mica (which was noticed also in hand specimen). samples.
Assuming a source with a limited age range for Among the K-bearing phases of the shale sam
the detrital fraction in these samples, we can ple (GYP-8), illilte/smectite (I/S) is the major
assume a minimum age of 340Ma. This age is component in the IR, with subordinate illite and
somewhat lower than the 370-380 Ma K-Ar ages feldspar (Table 2). I/S is the K-bearing phase
reported from the Cambrian sediments in Israel, in the <&pm and <0-2-pm fractions, yielding an
which have probably been reset by a thermal age which conforms to the numeric age of the base
event (Segev, 1986; Harlavan, 1992). Similar of the Cenomanian. The A-pm fraction, with a
detrital zircon fission track ages (307-355 Ma) significantly higher %K content, yields a some-
in Palaeozoic formations, from boreholes in what higher age. SEM investigation (Fig. 3a)
0 1995 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedirnentology, 42,921-934
K-Ar signatures of Mesozoic clay fractions, Israel 929
being in the narrow range 95-98 Ma. These ages,
.-'m 0.5 - Hazera Formation occurring in mineral phases which account for
Late Albian - Eafiy Cenomanian
6 0.4 -
the bulk of the K in the fine silicates of the IR,
P conform with the stratigraphic age and are thus
z considered to represent the age of authigenesis of
0.3 -
.-
5 these minerals in the sedimentary environment. It
.$ 0.2 - is concluded that the K-Ar system in the various
U c0.2 <2 4-10pm IR.
P .4pm
silicate fractions is basically controlled by a
,j0.1 - Dolomite V 0 synsedimentary process.
Another example of a similar age was found in
0.0 the (single) sample analysed from the Ghareb
0 2 4 6 8 1 0 1 2 1 4 Formation. The IR and the clay fractions, domi-
%K nated by smectitic US, yield K-Ar ages (74-
Fig. 2. K-Ar correlation diagram for samples and their 69Ma) which are only slightly higher than the
size fractions from the Hazera Formation. A reference stratigraphic age (Fig. 4). The result implies a
isochron is shown for comparison. major authigenic component in the K-Ar system
of these fractions. The higher K content in the
>4-pm fraction is accompanied by an increase in
shows two grain-size populations in this fraction the age, due to the presence of detrital feldspar
- a dominant component in the size range < l o pm and mica (together with quartz) observed by SEM.
of K-feldspar, and a variety of other irregularly
shaped grains of the same or of larger size.
Separation of the 4-10-pm fraction (Fig. 3b) Lower ages
displays a homogenous population of almost pure The ages of the various separated fractions from
K-feldspar grains exhibiting idiomorphic crystal the Ora and Nezer formations, most of them in the
facets. The larger components of the >4-pm frac- range from 140 to 74 Ma, spread around the strati-
tion include detrital K-feldspar, which retain graphic age of the sampled formations with a
older K-Ar ages as shown by the average age of tendency towards lower ages in the finer size
the >lO-ym fraction. The effect of these older fractions (Fig. 5). The samples analysed can be
components is probably also reflected in the age grouped into a continental sandstone facies
of the 4-10-ym fraction. (SA-2, SA-11) and a restricted marine dolomite-
The IR fraction of the dolomite sample (GYP-7) anhydrite and shale facies (SA-109, SA-107,
is rich in K-feldspar associated with minor HG-74, HG-69). The ages of the < 2 y m fractions of
amounts of illite and illitic US. Size separation the first group range from 97 to 94 Ma and those of
yields high-purity mineral separates, with illitic the second group around 76Ma. The I/S com-
I/S predominating in the <0-2-ym fraction and positions of the latter group are more illitic
K-feldspar in the 4-10-pm fraction. SEM investi- (higher K) and were suspected to be syngenetic to
gation shows the latter to be crystals with idio- early diagenetic products (Sandler, 1992). The
morphic forms (Fig. 3c,d), mostly in the size results imply that the analytically significant age
range 4-10ym, and detrital quartz as a minor difference of the two groups of <2-pm fractions
component. Based on these petrographic criteria, may be controlled by facies parameters. The
it is assumed that the K-feldspar in the dolomite coarse fractions analysed from two samples of
is authigenic. Cenomanian carbonates enriched the latter group resulted in a higher age. From the
with apparently authigenic K-feldspar have mineralogical analyses and SEM observations it
previously been reported in Israel and Lebanon seems that the K-feldspar in the Turonian samples
(Huckel, 1974; Taitel-Goldman, 1993). The K-Ar is mainly of a detrital origin.
age (98 Ma) of the pure K-feldspar (4-10-ym frac- In the case of the Menuha Formation the K-Ar
tion) and the age (97 Ma) of the I/S in the <0.2-pm ages of the various fractions scatter near the strati-
fraction both correspond to the stratigraphic age graphic age (Senonian, Fig. 6). Some of the frac-
of the sample. tions (4-10pm) tend to give K-Ar ages that are
The major K-bearing phase in the IR of the shale lower than the sedimentary age. The fractions
(GYP-8) is I/S and K-feldspar in the dolomite from the Judean Desert span the range from 129 to
(GYP-7) (Table 2). Despite these two different 59 Ma and the samples from Jerusalem, from 182
lithologies and their different IR composition, the to 103 Ma. The K-Ar ages of the d - p m fractions
ages of the end-member phases in the IR overlap, are in the range 92-109 Ma for the samples from
0 1995 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedirnentology, 42,921-934
930 G. Steinitz et al.
Fig. 3. (a) Sample GYP-8, >4-pm fraction (shale, Hazera Fm.). Two populations of crystals: 4-10-pm rhomb K-feldspar
crystals and a heterogeneous population of larger grains, composed mainly of detrital quartz (scale bar=lo pm). (b)
Sample GYP-8, 4-10ym fraction (shale, Hazera Fm.). Separated rhombohedra1 K-feldspar crystals in the 4-10ym
fraction. The crystals show stepped facets (scale bar=10 pm). (c) Sample GYP-7, >4-pm fraction (dolomite, Hazera
Fm.). Idiomorphic K-feldspar crystals are abundant (scale bar=lo pm). All grains in the range 4-10 pm are
K-feldspars. Most, but not all, of the larger grains are also idiomorphic K-feldspar. (d) Sample GYP-7, 4-10-pm
fraction (dolomite, Hazera Fm.). Separated idiomorphic K-feldspar crystals in the 4-10-pm fraction [scale
bar=lo pm).
0.3 -
Ghareb Formation
-rn s o
k
0
8
3
vo:0.075 6 0.2
x
-
._
V ._
0
C
LT
0.050 0rn
.- 5 0.1
7J
P E
-4
0.025 3
0.000 0.0
0.0 0.5 1.o 1.5 2.0 2.5
%K
Fig. 4. K-Ar correlation diagram of clay fractions sepa- Fig. 5. K-Ar correlation diagram for Turonian samples
rated from a chalk sample from the Ghareb Formation. and fractions. Reference isochrons are shown for
A reference isochron is shown for comparison. comparison.
0 1995 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 42,921-934
K-Ar signatures of Mesozoic clay fractions, Israel 931
0.25
/ DISCUSSION
'm The overall age patterns in these clay fractions
*g 0.20 indicate that even the finest fractions (<@2prn)
b
7 seem to have retained radiogenic argon since
0.15
.- sedimentation and/or diagenesis. This retention
5 is remarkable given the geological time elapsed,
B
6
0.10
the present-day exposure to erosion at the out-
2 Menuha Formation
crops, as well as the analytical processing which
sa 0.05 Santonian-Campanian
included acid leaching and bakeout (c. 12O"C,
4 - 1Opm
0.00
10 h) on the extraction line. This confirms earlier
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
findings by Elliot et al. (1991) and Aronson & Lee
(1986) on the K-Ar system of diagenetic illite.
%K
A general trend of decreasing age with de-
Fig. 6. K-Ar correlation diagram for samples and their creasing size fractions reflects the occurrence of
clay fractions from the Menuha Formation. Reference high-age detrital K-bearing minerals, namely
isochrons are shown for comparison.
K-feldspar and mica, in the silt-size fraction.
These minerals carry ages of 314-587 Ma,
recorded in some of the IR and >10-pm fractions.
the Judean Desert, lower than the 103-157Ma This age range indicates a Precambrian prov-
range for the Jerusalem samples. Overall, the enance with ages of 500Ma or older, and a
finest fractions, dominated by smectitic US, Devonian age that was imprinted on the Palaeo-
yield ages that are somewhat higher than the zoic sediments (and older rocks?) in a thermal
stratigraphic age. event, as suggested by Segev (1986) and Harlavan
The coarser fractions of the IR in the chalk [1992). This provenance was expected given the
and the shale from the Judean Desert samples palaeogeographical setting outlined above.
are relatively enriched in potassium. Idio- In the clay fractions, the US minerals (including
morphic K-feldspar was identified in both the discrete illite) are the main K-bearing component
chalk and the shale (Fig. 7a,b), which were that are expected, a priori, to bear a pronounced
concentrated in the 4-10-pm size fraction. The detrital signature. Unlike the coarser fractions,
K-Ar ages of a semi-pure fraction are 64Ma they yield ages that are close to the preferred
(shale; 8-3%K) and 60Ma in a purer fraction stratigraphic ages. In some instances the smallest
(chalk; 9.1%K). The petrographic observations IR fractions (<0.2 pm) yield ages that are (some-
combined with the analytical results imply a what) lower than the ages of the clay fraction
(late) diagenetic (20-25 Ma later) age for the (<2 pm), while in others they yield equal ages. In
K-feldspar. the case of the Turonian sandstone samples this
Fig. 7 . (a) Sample AG-2, 4-10-pm fraction (shale, Menuha Fm.). Rhombohedra1 authigenic K-feldspar crystals and
rounded quartz (chert) grains exhibiting rough surfaces (scale bar=lo pm). (b) Sample AG-1, >4-pm fraction (chalk,
Menuha Fm.). Large idiomorphic K-feldspar surrounded by similar small K-feldspar crystals. All are assumed t o be
authigenic. The few irregular grains are quartz (chert) and a mica flake (lower left edge) (scale bar=lo pm).
0 1995 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 42, 921-934
932 G. Steinitz et al.
pattern is interpreted in terms of the general trend In the Menuha Formation the age of the
of decreasing age with decreasing grain size, com- K-feldspar is some 20 Myr younger than the sedi-
bined with the effect of diagenetic processes on mentation age and thus probably bears no relation
the finest clay fraction. In the whole clay fraction to associated clays. If this result can be verified in
of these samples this diagenetic clay is mixed the same beds at other locations, it may indicate a
with other older than stratigraphic-age phases, large-scale geological event.
mainly illites. In other cases it seems that a The abundance of authigenic K-feldspar was
similar age is obtained for both clay fractions due greater than suggested by previous studies. This
to a single US phase, which dominates both size phenomenon is in accordance with the neo-
fractions. An example is the illitic I/S of the formation and potassium redistribution in the
Hazera Formation, which is probably the product I/S phases deduced from the clustering of the
of a discrete syngenetic to early diagenetic proc- K-Ar clay ages around the stratigraphic age.
ess of neoformation or illitization, and hence all Since these strata have never been subjected to
its clay size fractions yield similar ages. A differ- deep burial or to thermal events, it seems that
ent pattern is shown by the smectitic I/S of the the availability of potassium was due solely to
Menuha Formation, in which all samples yield an interaction with brines migrating into shallow
age older than the stratigraphic agq. In this case levels within the sedimentary sequence. Brines
the diversity of the results is greater than in the were frequently formed in the shallow shelf
Hazera Formation. These smectites are con- environment as is recorded directly by evaporite
sidered to be mainly detrital, removed from and evaporite imprints in this Mesozoic
weathering profiles, with minor additions of re- sequence or indirectly by the frequent occur-
cycled older illites. rences of dolomite which formed from evapor-
This investigation shows that synsedimentary ated seawater (Sass & Katz, 1982; Eilon et a].,
events (including early diagenetic processes) are 1988; Sass & Bein, 1988).
recorded by the K-Ar isotopic system in clay Post-depositional closure of the K-Ar system in
fractions, often masking all previous K-Ar signa- mineral fractions is also evident. In the case of
tures. The fine (<lo pm) K-bearing clay fractions samples from the Turonian formations (Ora and
have, to a large extent, K-Ar ages synchronous Nezer) many of the ages of the d - p m fractions
with the time of deposition, implying either detri- cluster around 76Ma. The age difference of c.
tal supply of land-derived authigenic K-bearing 15 Ma (beyond the analytical error) between this
clays, or synsedimentary authigenesis, or both. K-Ar age and the stratigraphic age (90 Ma) com-
Such a synsedimentary K-Ar signal is recorded in bined with the fact that the samples are dolomite,
clay fractions of rocks from a wide lithological shale and sandstone from dispersed localities,
range (IR<10% to IR>90%) representing different implies that a late diagenetic event is recorded.
environments of deposition. In the Hazera The late diagenetic resetting of the K-Ar clock in
Formation, these effects were traced in two end- clay fractions of the Turonian formations may
member lithologies (carbonate, shale), represent- thus be ascribed to brines (Steinitz, 1977; Bartov
ing a closely associated lithological transition. & Steinitz, 1982), originating in Late Senonian
The synsedimentary ages are manifested basically strata, a few tens of metres above. In the case of
in two mineralogical types - illite/smectite and the Menuha Formation a post-depositional (20-
K-feldspar. Among the clay minerals, the synsedi- 25Ma) event is recorded in the formation of
mentary signature is recorded in monomineralic authigenic K-feldspar.
fractions regarded as authigenic. The synsedi- It is generally thought that the clay fractions in
mentary signature in K-feldspars, such as in the marine sedimentary sequences (particularly deep-
Hazera and Menuha formations, is substantiated sea sediments), and especially in shales, are
by petrographic criteria for their authigenic origin primarily of detrital origin with little or no authi-
in the sediments - i.e. crystal morphology and a genic contribution (cf. Kastner, 1981; Weaver,
limited size (4-10 pm) distribution. 1989). K-Ar dating of clay fractions, mainly
Authigenic K-feldspars, concentrated in some illites, in North Atlantic deep-sea sediments has
samples in the 4-10-pm fraction, enable the iso- yielded ages in the range of 200-1000 Ma, clearly
lation of a very stable K-bearing authigenic phase reflecting long-distance transport from continen-
that can be dated with high accuracy. In the tal sources without significant modifications to
Hazera Formation their age was found to be iden- this isotopic system in the minerals (Biscaye,
tical (within the analytical error) to the age of the 1965; Griffin et a]., 1968; Jantschik & Huon, 1992).
clay, both corresponding to the stratigraphic age. Thus, there is a discrepancy between the results
0 1995 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 42,921-934
K-Ar signatures of Mesozoic clay fractions, Israel 933
presented here and the generally accepted zone, Cerrillo, New Mexico. Clays Clay Miner., 34,
viewpoint. 483-487.
Studying the K-Ar isotopic system in the clay Bartov, Y., Arkin, Y., Lewy, Z. and Mimran, Y. (1981)
fractions in different lithologies (e.g. carbonate Regional Stratigraphy of Israel: a Guide to Geological
Mapping. Isr. Ceol. Surv.
and shale) from carbonate shelf environments can Bartov, Y. and Steinitz, G. (1977) The Judea and Mount
yield significant information not only on their Scopus groups in the Negev and Sinai with trend
source, but also on parameters such as syngenesis surface and of the thickness data. Isr. J. Earth Sci., 26,
of clay minerals and diagenesis of K-bearing 119-148.
silicates. As different K-Ar patterns were Bartov, Y. and Steinitz, G. (1982) Senonian Ostreid
encountered among the various stratigraphic bioherms in the Negev, Israel, implications on the
units investigated as well as between the different paleogeography and environment of deposition. Isr. J.
lithologies, it is suggested that facies parameters Earth Sci.,31, 17-23.
Bentor, Y.K. (1966) The Clays of Israel; Guide-Book to
(depositionaland/or diagenetic) may be a control- the Excursions. Intl. Clay Conf., Israel. Israel Prog. for
ling factor. Thus, K-Ar investigations, in conjunc- Sci. Transl., Jerusalem.
tion with detailed mineralogical studies, can Bentor, Y.K. (1985) The crustal evolution of the Arabo-
serve as an additional tool in the palaeogeographi- Nubian massif with special reference to the Sinai
cal and stratigraphic study of marine carbonate peninsula. Precamb. Res., 28, 1-74.
shelf sequences that have not been subjected to Bentor, Y.K. and Collab. (1960) Lexique Strati-
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during burial diagenesis and metamorphism. Clays
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