Dating blueschist metamorphism: a combined 40Ar/39Ar and electron microprobe approach

40Ar/39Ar and electron microprobe examination of blueschist samples from the Iceberg Lake schist, southern Alaska suggest that phengite inclusions are the source of 40Ar in crossite. Because such fine-grained inclusions may be susceptible to argon loss, caution should be exercised in interpreting K-Ar ages from this phase, and possibly other low-K amphiboles from blueschist suites. The estimated blocking temperature for phengite in the matrix (3140 to 4500C), however, is close to the estimated peak metamorphic temperatures (3250 +- 500C), suggesting that phengite 40Ar/39Ar plateau dates may coincide closely with the time of blueschist metamorphism. (author)