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MARTIN HALPERN Institute for Geological Sciences, University of Texas ai Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75230

Regional Geochronology of Chile


South of 50° Latitude

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION

In southern Chile the oldest known rocks are T h e southeast Pacific Ocean is rimmed by a
metamorphosed. Gneiss from the basement complex array of islands and mountain chains.
rocks of the Magellan Basin at the Atlantic Because of the remote setting, little is known
entrance to the Strait of Magellan has been of the detailed relations of the geology of the
dated by Rb-Sr total-rock analyses at 306 ± Andes Mountains of southern Chile. T h e
156 m.y. (X/3 = 1.47 X l O ^ y r " 1 ) , with an timing of geologic events in this orogenic belt
initial S r ^ / S r 8 6 ratio of 0.7112 ± 0.0033. is difficult to interpret owing to the structural
Biotite from a sample of gneiss has been dated complexity of the region, scarcity of sedi-
as Permian age by the Rb-Sr and K-Ar mentary formations containing index fossils,
methods; this implies that the basement rocks inaccessible fiordlike topography, and incle-
of the Magellan Basin have been involved in ment weather.
one or more Paleozoic geologic events. Par- T h e area under investigation lies south of the
aschist from the basement complex along Chile Rise and east of the presently inactive
Chile's Pacific margin indicated Paleozoic to Chile-Peru Trench near the boundary be-
Mesozoic total-rock Rb-Sr ages, based on an tween the South American and Antarctic
assumed initial Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6 ratio of 0.710; minerals plates. T h e aim of this study is to establish a
separated from the schists gave late Mesozoic radiometric chronology for the major igneous
Rb-Sr and K-Ar dates. and metamorphic rock units encountered
Volcanic rocks that overlie the basement along the Pacific margin of southern Chile and
rocks and are generally accepted as being of to examine the dates in relation to their field
Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous age based on relations. Knowledge of the sequence of events
stratigraphic position gave total-rock Rb-Sr in the cordillera is necessary to better under-
and K-Ar dates of Late Cretaceous to Tertiary stand important geologic processes such as
age; these dates are considered to represent the mountain building and continental growth and
time of final closure of their isotopic systems, drift.
perhaps associated with deformation in the Table 1 lists the results of the rubidium,
region. strontium, potassium, and argon analyses used
T h e plutonic igneous rocks that constitute in the age calculations. T h e Phanerozoic time
the southern Andes Patagonian batholithic scale of Harland and others (1964) has been
complex range in age from Jurassic to Tertiary. used in the stratigraphic interpretation of the
Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (155 to 120 ages.
m.y.), Late Cretaceous (100 to 75 m.y.), and
middle to late Tertiary (50 to 10 m.y.) phases GENERAL GEOLOGY
of magmatic activity have been recognized. In
the Cordillera Darwin region of the Beagle Metamorphic Basement Complex
Canal, minerals separated from plutonic rocks T h e metamorphic basement schists deline-
of the Cordillera Darwin suite and from the ated on the geologic maps of Chile (Chile Inst.
metamorphic rocks it intrudes gave Rb-Sr and Inv. Geol., 1968) and South America (UN-
K-Ar dates of Late Cretaceous to early Tertiary E S C O , 1964) are designated Precambrian
age. and(or) Paleozoic age. T h e y are generally

Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 84, p. 2407-2422, 5 figs., July 1973


2407
TABLE 1. RB-SR AND K-AR ANALYTICAL DATA OF ROCKS FROM SOUTHERN CHILE

Location on
Sr R b
Figs. 1 and 2; Lat. S., Material Duplicate "' " Rb" Sr" K Ar 40 rad. Rad. Age' Sr 87
Sample no. Long. W. Rock type analyzed sets Sr 81 Sr 88 OM/g) (jtM/g) (%) (std c m ' X IO -4 ) (%) (m.y.) Sr8« initial

Magellan Basin approximately gncissic total 0.7170 1.16 0.366 0.315 '
ME2, T-I6, 1,897 m 52 20' to 53° granodiorite rock
Magellan Basin 68°20 / to 69°40' gneissic total a. 0.7142 1.13 0.316 0.280
ME2, T-17, 1,941 m granodiorite rock b. 0.7152 1.12 0.314 0.279
Magellan Basin gneissic total a. 0.7179
ME2, T-16, 1,896.5 m granodiorite rock b. 0.7170 1.15 0.340 0.296
Magellan Basin gneissic total a. 0.7221 306 ± 156 0.7112 ± 0.0033»
ME3, T-28, 2,862 m granodiorite rock b. 0.7215 2.40 0.554 0.230
Magellan Basin gneissic total a. 0.7185
POS3, T-2, 1,762 m granodiorite rock b. 0.7173 i.43 0.248 0.174
Magellan Basin gneissic total a. 0.7145
POS3, T-2, 1,763 m granodiorite rock b. 0.7156 0.970 0.202 0.208
Magellan Basin gneissic plagioclase a. 0.7127 0.827 0.263 0.318
ME2, T-17, 1,941 m granodiorite b. 0.7131 0.821 0.263 0.320
Magellan Basin gneissic biotite a. 0.9966 75.0 1.35 0.0180 254 ± 1 0 0.710 ± 0.0025
ME2, T-17, 1,941 m granodiorite b. 1.000 79.2 1.34 0.0169
5.11 0.552 87.0 251 ± 12
Magellan Basin granodiorite total a. 0./214 '/.32 0.481 0.0657
CC9, T-3, 1,837.5 m rock b. 0.7220 155 ± 20 0.705 ± 0.0025

Puerto Ano Nuevo 52°12' granite total a. 0.7342 13.1 0.555 0.0425
H-70-6 73°38' rock b. 0.7343 13.1 0.556 0.0425
H-70-8 granite total 0.7192 6.55 0.371 0.0566 151 ± 10 0.7049 ±0.0020*
rock
H-70—u giauiic K'iciutpiu w./-T4G 1 / .O 0.976 0.054^
H-70-8 granite K-feldspar 0.7360 13.9 0.869 0.0623
H-70-10 basalt total 0.7074 0.371 0.0859 0.232 0.46 0.0166 65.7 91 ± 5
dike rock 0.0175 64.0

Bahia Isthmus 52°10' granodiorite biotite a. 1.253 280 1.93 0.0069 135 ± 8 0.705 ± 0.0025
H-70-11 73°38' 1.249 272 1.92 0.0070
H-70-18 schist total 0.7185 1.98 0.379 0.192 ?292 ± 7 0 P0.710 ±0.0025
rock
1.96 0.135 90.1 ?I66 ± 10
0.136 91.6
4 Bahia Sandy 52°08' quartz biotite a. 1.001 166 1.30 0.0078
H-70-24 73°43' diorite b. 0.9993 170 1.30 0.0076 119 ± 6 0.705 ± 0.0025
5.46 0.271 94.3 117 ± 6

5 Isla Rennell 51°59/ diorite biotite a. 0.7306 39.8 1.01 0.0254


H-70-37B 73°53' b. 0.7307 39.1 1.01 0.0259 44 ± 6 0.705 ± 0.002!
6.58 0.0902 75.7 34 ± 4

6 Isla Tabara 51°48' schist total 0.7136 1.68 0.404 0.241 ?145 ± 80 ?0.710 ± 0.002!
H-70-40A 73°57' rock
H-70-40B schist total 0.7143 1.76 0.460 0.262 ?165 ± 80 F0.710 ± 0.0025
rock
H-70-41 basalt total 0.7039 0.171 0.0802 0.470 0.703«
dike rock
H-70-41 basalt total
dike rock 0.54 0.0160 63.5 73 ± 5
0.0245 70.1 110 ± 7
H-70-42 diorite biotite a. 0.7719 73.1 1.56 0.0213
b. 0.7714 73.0 1.55 0.0213 63 ± 5 0.705 ± 0.0025
H-70-43 diorite biotite + 2.09 0.0240 70.0 29 ± 3
hornblende
H-70-45 diorite biotite 0.7142 50.9 0.926 0.0182 15 ± 10 0.705 ± 0.002!
H-70—48A diorite schist hornblende 0.46 0.0087 62.6 47 ± 5
H-70-49 diorite biotite + 1.51 0.0209 82.0 34 ± 4
hornblende
H-70-49 diorite biotite 5.62 0.0397 75.6 18 ± 3

7 Bahia Stewart 51°46' diorite biotite 1.744 525 2.47 0.0047 135 ± 7 0.705 ± 0.002!
H-70-30 73°4l' 5.49 0.322 95.7 142 ± 7
H-70-32 basalt total 0.7059 0.347 0.132 0.380 0.7056»
dike rock
0.48 0.0125 45.7 63 ± 6
0.0119 57.2

8 Seno Yuseff 51°40' adamellite total a. 0.7398 49.7 0.991 0.0199 }


H-70-28 73°39' rock b. 0.7403 49.8 0.992 0.0199 1 45 ± 6 0.707 ± 0.002«
H-70-29 adamellite total a. 0.7307 34.4 0.652 0.0190 [
rock b. 0.7296 34.8 0.652 0.0188 J

9 Peninsula Staines 51°28' adamellite biotite 1.068 203 1.84 0.0091 122 ± 5 0.705 ± 0.0025
H-70-50 73°56' 6.28 0.341 95.2 131 ± 7
TABLE 1. (Continued)

Location on
Figs. 1 and 2; Lat. S., Material Duplicate Sr 8 '* Rb" Rb 87 Sr" K. Ar« rad. Rad. Age» Sr"
Sample no. Long. W. Rock type analyzed sets Sr»« Sr" (fM/g) (MM/g) (%) (std c m ' X IO"«) (%) (m.y.) Sr8» initial

10 Islas Daroch 51°28' adamellite total 0.7249 9.57 0.457 0.0481


H-70-56A 74°44' rock
H-70-56B adamellite total 0.7227 8.52 0.492 0.0578 138 ± 2 0 0.705 ± 0.0025
rock
H-70-56C adamellite total 0.7207 7.45 0.448 0.0651
rock
H-70-56A adamellite biotite 6.24 0.315 95.6 122 ± 6

11 Cerro Payne 51 quartz total 0.7044 3.33 0.593 0.178


73° diorite rock 0.7054 3.34 0.592 0.177
quartz biotite 0.7446 232 2.78 0.0170
diorite 0.7438 232 2.81 0.0121 12 ± 2 0.705 i 0.0025
5.10 0.0266 71.3 13 ± 1

12 Puerto Bueno so^ quartz biotite 0.9397 183 1.58 0.0086 90 ± 5 0.705 ± 0.0025
H-70-51 74°13' diorite 7.70 0.284 86.6 90 ± 5

13 Cabo San Antonio 50°52' diorite hornblende 0.99 0.0311 79.0 77 ± 7


H-70-76 74° 12' 0.0307 88.7

14 Bahia Inservable 50°45' diorite biotite a. 0.7305 95.1 1.11 0.0116


H-70-59 74°24' b. 0.7314 95.3 1.09 0.0115 19 ± 3 0.705 ± 0.0025
7.49 0.0611 63.7 20 ± 2
15 Isla Froilon 50°38' granodiorite biot-ir? á, l.UUU
H.7« 7! Â vrw b. 0.9998 152 1.36 0.0090 132 ± 6 0.705 ± 0.0025
4.83 0.266 93.9 133 ± 6

16 Isla Robert 50°32/ volcanic ? total


H-70-62 74°40' rock 0.43 0.0058 33.1 33 ± 5
0.0056 32.9

17 Isla Duque de York 50°32' quartz biotite 1.017 170 1.68 0.0099 125 ± 8 0.705 ± 0.0025
H-70-68 75°05' diorite
18 Isla Caracciola 50°28' quartz biotite 0.8015 54.1 0.801 0.0148
H-70-63A 75°08' diorite 0.8020 53.6 0.796 0.0149
H-70-63A quartz total 0.7065 0.747 0.209 0.279
diorite rock
H-70-63B granodiorite biotite 0.7522 28.3 0.515 0.0182 120 ± 8 0.7049 ± 0.0031»
0.7522 27.9 0.514 0.0184
H-70-63B granodiorite feldspar 0.7150 5.86 0.951 0.162
H-70-63B granodiorite total 0.7102 2.52 0.461 0.183
rock
H-70-63A quartz biotite 3.72 0.188 87.2 122 ± 6
diorite

19 Pta. Hope 54°07' quartz total a. 0.7065 0.200 0.179 0.897


H-64-144 71° diorite rock b. 0.7070 0.197 0.178 0.904
quartz biotite a. 0.7237 14.8 1.07 0.0723
diorite b. 0.7225 14.8 1.07 0.0724 85 ± 10 0.705 ± 0.0025
quartz biotite 5.80 0.205 89.0 87 ± 5
diorite

20 Pta. Mai-Mai-Mai 54°21' basalt total


H-70-94A 71°02' flow? rock 0.29 0.0080 55.8 69 ± 7

21 Pta. Pirando 54°26' quartz biotite a. 0.7522 45.5 1.59 0.0349


H-70-91 71°07 / diorite b. 0.7517 45.6 1.59 0.0348 70 ± 8 0.705 ± 0.0025

22 Seno Agostini 54°24' volcanic total 0.7264 12.9 0.689 0.0535


H-70-96 (2) 70°19 / rock
H-70-96 (1) volcanic total 0.7205 7.25 0.785 0.108
rock 74 ± 5 0.7125 ± 0.0006»
H-70-96 (4) volcanic total 0.7199 6.84 0.597 0.0872
rock
H-70-96 (3) volcanic total 0.7176 4.83 0.565 0.117
rock
23 Bahia Pliischow 54°36' schist total a. 0.7212 ?310 ± 60 P0.710 ± 0.0025
H-70-94 70°39 / rock b. 0.7202 2.35 0.286 0.122
schist biotite a. 0.7677 48.0 1.71 0.0356
b. 0.7683 47.3 1.71 0.0360 71 ± 7 0.718 ± 0.002»
schist chlorite a. 0.7244 5.82 0.0849 0.0146
b. 0.7247 5.74 0.0846 0.0147
schist total 1.43 0.055 85.4 ?95 ± 8
rock 0.058 88.6
schist biotite 4.58 0.221 89.0 117 ± 7
0.222 84.7
TABLE 1. (Continued)

Location on
Figs. 1 and 2; Lat. S., Material Duplicate Sr 8 '* Rb87 Rb 8 ' Sr8« Ar40 rad. Rad. Age» Sr 8 '
Sample no. Long. W. Rock type analyzed sets Sr8« Sr8« (cM/g) (fM/g)
4
(%) (std c m ' X IO" ) (%) (m.y.) Sr 8t initial

24 Seno Ventisquero 54°50/ quartz biotite 0.7533 41.6 0.999 0.0240 79 ± 5 0.705 ± 0.0025
H-70-90 70°19' diorite 5.70 0.197 89.5 85 ± 5
25 Isla Londonderry 54°55' quartz biotite 0.7757 51.3 1.25 0.0243 94 ± 6 0.705 ± 0.0025
H-70-80 70°47' diorite
H-70-81 quartz biotite 0.7525 36.8 0.912 0.0248 88 ± 5 0.705 ± 0.0025
diorite 6.82 0.253 89.4 91 ± 5
H-70-82 quartz-feldspar total a. 0.7046 1.60 0.498 0.312 0.704«
dike rock b. 0.7060 1.57 0.499 0.317
26 Bahia Tres Brazos 54°58' quartz total a. 0.7048 0.279 0.195 0.700
H-64-123 69°48' diorite rock b. 0.7053 0.276 0.193 0.699
quartz biotite a. 0.7230 15.2 1.07 0.0705
diorite b. 0.7225 15.1 1.06 0.0701 80 ± 10 0.705 ± 0.0025
quartz hornblende
diorite 0.92 0.0333 87.1 88 ± 5
27 Ventisquero Alemania 54°53' amphibolite hornblende 0.89 0.0242 66.6 67 ± 4
H-64-131 69°25'
H-64-131I gneissic total a. 0.7054 0.334 0.235 0.703
quartz rock b. 0.7056 0.336 0.235 0.699
diorite biotite a. 0.7410 42.3 1.07 0.0253 60 ± 6 0.705 ± 0.0025
b. 0.7399 42.1 1.06 0.0252
6.62 0.182 92.1 68 ± 4
0.185 89.9
H-64-131F diorite total a. 0.7066 0.841 0.322 0.383
rock b. 0.7063 0.850 0.324 0.381
diorite biotite a. 0.7550 49.0 1.47 0.0300 68 ± 6 0.705 ± 0.0025
b. 0.7530 49.3 1.47 0.0298
diorite biotite 7.54 0.203 88.4 66 ± 4
H-64-131G gneissic biotite 7.71 0.203 75.0 65 ± 4
granodiorite 0.203 74.6
28 Ventisquero Italia 54°56' amphibolite hornblende 0.48 0.0112 69.4 64 ± 6
H-64-130 69°09' 0.0111 79.4
29 Bahia Yendegaia 54°49' schist muscovite 4.09 0.106 68.8 54 i 4
H-64-90 68°53' 0.107 72.4
H-64-91 schist total 0.7166 3.08 0.403 0.131
rock f 145 ± 4 5 P0.710 ± 0.0025

* Normalized to Sr 8 , /Sr M ratio of 0.1194. At the time of these analyses, the normalized S r ^ / S r " ratio of the M.I.T. standard Eimer it Amend SrCOi was 0.7080 ± 0.0003 (mean of 4 analyses).
• R b " : X/3 = 1.47 X 10"" yr" 1 . ' Calculated S r " / S r M initial ratio.
K.40: X« - 0.584 X 10"10 yr - 1 . 5 Assumed S r " / S r " initial ratio.
- 4.72 x lO"10 yr" 1 .
4
K « / K total - 1.22 X 10" g/g.
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REGIONAL GEOCHRONOLOGY OF CHILE SOUTH OF 50° LATITUDE 2413

rocks of greenschist facies and are considered to southern Chile (Kranck, 1932; Katz, 1964;
be the oldest exposed rocks in Chile. Basement Dalziel and Elliot, 1971). From field relations
schist has been mapped as far north as about they are considered to be of Late Jurassic age.
30° S. (Gonzalez-Bonorino and Aguirre, 1970; T h e presence of volcanic detritus (Katz and
Fig. 1). Watters, 1966) in the upper Mesozoic Yahgan
At Estero Poca Esperanza (52 15 S., Formation (Halpern and Rex, 1972) is f u r t h u r
72°50' W.) and along the north side of Seno evidence of volcanic activity in the southern
Agostini (Fig. 2, location 22), Late Jurassic Chile Cordillera during or before Early Cre-
and (or) Early Cretaceous volcanic breccia and taceous time.
conglomerate units contain clasts of basement
Igneous Rocks of the Andean and
schist. Near Seno Agostini, Jurassic to Early
Cordillera Darwin Suites
Cretaceous volcanic and sedimentary rocks
overlie the basement rocks unconformably Plutonic igneous rocks of the Patagonian
(Kranck, 1932, p. 59). In the region of southern batholithic complex occur along the present
Chile covered in this paper (Figs. 1 and 2), the Pacific margin of southern South America.
basement schist is cut by acidic to intermediate These rocks have been assigned a Mesozoic-
volcanic rocks, granitic plutons, and basic Cenozoic age ( U N E S C O , 1964) and can be
dikes. traced southward along the Pacific margin of
At the eastern entrance to the Strait of west Antarctica (Halpern, 1971; Rex, 1973).
Magellan (Fig. 1, location 1), gneissic basement T h e Andean intrusive suites of the Chile
rock is known, from drill holes, to underlie the Cordillera south of 50° have a wide range of
Magellan Basin. T h e gneiss is overlain uncon- composition, with quartz diorite and horn-
formably by tuffaceous acidic volcanic rocks of blende-bio tite diorite as the predominant com-
the Jurassic Serie Tobifera, which in turn is positions. T h e occurrence of pegmatite, granite,
covered by arenaceous and argillaceous sedi- or gabbro is rare. T h e igneous rocks are, as a
mentary rocks of Cretaceous to Tertiary age. general rule, postorogenic and intrude all
N o r t h of the north arm of the Beagle lithologic units that are Early Cretaceous or
older. Basic dikes commonly cut the medium-
Canal (Fig. 2, location 27), metamorphic rocks
to coarse-grained plutonic rocks of the Andean
are intruded by plutonic bodies of the Cordil-
suite.
lera Darwin suite. These greenschist-facies
paraschists are, in part, considered to be the In the vicinity of Cordillera Darwin (54°45'
metamorphic equivalent of the late Mesozoic S., 69°50' W.), pretectonic, syntectonic, and
Yahgan Formation that crops out to the west post-tectonic granitic rocks have been recog-
of and on Navarino Island (Fig. 2; Kranck, nized (Kranck, 1932; Dalziel, 1971). T h e
1932; Katz, 1964). petrology, field relations, and chemistry of the
Andean and Cordillera Darwin suites in the
Late Paleozoic Sedimentary Rocks area west of Navarino Island (Fig. 2) have been
Bordering the Pacific Ocean between 50° discussed in detail by Kranck (1932), who con-
and 52° S., a thick Late Pennsylvanian to cluded (p. 183) that the close chemical rela-
Early Permian sedimentary section of massive, tion of the Andean and Cordillera Darwin
fusulinid-bearing limestone, slate, and gray- intrusive suites indicated their derivation from
wacke-type sandstone with sole markings and a common parental magma.
minor conglomeratic units containing a few A general survey of the regional and
granitic pebbles is exposed (Cecioni, 1956; stratigraphic relations of the Andean intrusive
Dalziel, 1970; Halpern, 1970). T h e late suite in the area under discussion and to the
Paleozoic sedimentary rocks have not been north and south has been presented in papers
observed in contact with the schist, nor have by Kranck (1932), K a t z (1964; 1973), Dalziel
any clasts of the schist been recorded from the and Elliot (1971), Halpern (1971), Dalziel
sandy or conglomeratic units. F r o m field rela- (1972), Dalziel and Cortés (1972), and Rex
tions, folding can be inferred as post-Early (1973).
Permian to pre-Late Jurassic.
ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES
Volcanic Rocks Stratigraphically Older than Rubidium and strontium isotopic com-
Late Cretaceous positions were measured at the University of
Volcanic rocks of predominantly acidic com- Texas at Dallas on the 6-in.-radius (15 cm)
position crop out throughout the cordillera of mass spectrometer previously described (Hal-
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2414 M. HALPERN

pern, 1968). For duplicate dissolution analyses basement complex is predominantly green-
(Halpern, 1968), the Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6 ratios agree to schist-facies rocks. Attempts to obtain Rb-Sr
about 0.1 percent; the Rb 8 7 /Sr 8 6 ratios to total-rock isochrons were unsuccessful. Ages
about 2 percent. For rubidium-strontium plots have been calculated from the Rb-Sr analyses
containing more than three sample analyses, the of total-rock samples from several localities,
least-squares method of York (1966) was used based on Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6 ratio of the total-rock speci-
to fit straight lines to the data, and the calcu- men of 0.71C ± 0.002 at the time of meta-
lated ages and S r ^ / S r 8 6 initial ratios were given morphism. T h e value of 0.710 + 0.002 for the
at the 95-percent confidence level. Where the Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6 initial ratio is a "best guess" based on
line joins two or three sample analyses, the age the value of 0.7105 determined by Munizaga
and Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6 initial ratio were calculated using (1972, written commun.) for petrologically
an equation for a straight line. T h e error at- similar basement schist that crops out farther
tached to a calculated rubidium-strontium north in Chile. If we assume initial Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6
biotite age is approximately twice the analyti- ratios of 0.710 ± 0.002, the :alculated ages are
cal precision for routine duplicate dissolution as follows (Table 1): Bahia Isthmus (Fig. 1,
analyses. location 3), 292 ± 70 m.y.; IslaTabara (Fig. 1,
location 6), 145 ± 80 m.y.; 165 + 80 m.y.;
T h e muscovite concentrate from Bahia
Bahia Pliischow (Fig. 2, location 23), 310 ± 60
Yendegaia was analyzed at the Mobil Research
m.y.; and Bahia Yendegaia (Fig. 2, location
and Development Corporation Laboratory,
29), 145 + 45 m.y. Samples collected at any
Dallas, Texas. Potassium was determined by
one locality had homogeneous R b / S r ratios
flame photometry and tetraphenylboron gravi- and, in general, were only slightly enriched in
metric method, and argon was analyzed on a radiogenic Sr. T h e low R b / S r ratios, low en-
Reynolds-type mass spectrometer. richment in radiogenic Sr, and lack of de-
All other potassium and argon measurements finitive Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6 initial ratios resulted in the
were carried out at the University of Leeds, large error values attached to the calculated
England. Potassium was determined with an ages given above. Although the age of the low-
E E L flame photometer with a digital o u t p u t ; grade metamorphic basemem: of southern Chile
all samples were analyzed in triplicate. Argon cannot be given with a high degree of precision
isotopic composition was measured with a at this time, the Rb-Sr analyses indicate that
modified A E I MS10 mass spectrometer with a the metamorphism of the basement is not Pre-
digital o u t p u t (Rex and Dodson, 1970). T h e cambrian, but Paleozoic and(or) Mesozoic, and
combined uncertainty in the A r 4 0 / K 4 0 ratio that the parent material of the schist could
was about 2.4 percent at the 95-percent con- have been derived from late Precambrian or
fidence level (Dodson and Rex, 1971). younger rocks.

RESULTS A N D DISCUSSION Samples of basement gneiss from the


Magellan Basin (Fig. 1, location 1) were
Metamorphic Basement Complex: analyzed for R b and Sr; the results gave the
Rb-Sr Ages poorly defined regression line shown in Figure
Nine total-rock samples of basement schist 3A. F r o m the slope of the line, the age was
collected from the Curepto and Nirivilo series calculated as 306 ± 156 m.y., with an initial
(Gonzalez-Bonorino, 1971) between approxi- Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6 ratio of 0.7112 ± 0.0033. Biotite,
mately 35° and 40° S. gave an isochron age of concentrated from a specimen of basement
322 ± 5 m.y. (X/3 = 1.47 X l O ^ ' y r " 1 ) and an gneiss, was dated by the Rb-Sr and K-Ar
initial Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6 ratio of 0.7105 (F. Munizaga, methods at 254 ± 10 m.y. and 251 ± 12 m.y.,
1972, written commun.). This Carboniferous respectively (Table 1). T h e R b / S r ratio of the
date is considered by Munizaga to reflect the sample of core recovered from well M E 3 ,
time of sedimentation or regional meta- T-28, 2,862 m, relative to the other five total-
morphism of the sediments that produced the rock samples, controls the slope of the line
schists. A K-Ar date of 245 m.y. was obtained in Figure 3A and, therefore, the calculated age.
for muscovite separated from a sample of base- Little variation was found in the R b / S r ratios
ment schist collected 6 k m to the east of of the analyzed specimens of gneiss and, in
Valdivia (39°50' S., 73°15' W . ; Munizaga, general, the basement appears to be character-
1972, written commun.). ized by low enrichment in radiogenic Sr.
Along that portion of the Pacific margin of Furthermore, five of the total-rock analyses
Chile discussed in this paper (Figs. 1 and 2), the are scattered about a position low on the
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REGIONAL GEOCHRONOLOGY OF CHILE SOUTH OF 50° LATITUDE 2413

regression line. This scatter may be related to morphic basement had an earlier crustal
open-system conditions associated with post- history.
metamorphism geologic events, such as frac-
turing and weathering. T h e basement speci- Metamorphic Basement Complex: K-Ar
mens are highly fractured and are believed to Ages
have been exposed to subaerial weathering Total-rock K-Ar analysis of schist at Isla
prior to being covered by volcanic and clastic Tabara gave an age of 166 ± 10 m.y. and at
sedimentary material in late Mesozoic time. Bahia Pliischow (Fig. 2, location 23) an age of
Although a large error is associated with the 9 5 + 8 m.y. (Table 1). Although it is possible
Rb-Sr age for the Magellan Basin total-rock to relate these dates to geologic events related
basement gneiss, the age does indicate that the to orogenic development in this tectonically
gneiss was associated with Paleozoic geologic mobile region of southern Chile, the geologic
events. Whether this was the same event rep- significance of K-Ar total-rock dates on low-
resented by the Permian date for biotite from grade metasedimentary metamorphic rocks
the gneiss is not certain. T h e relatively low often has proved unrealiable.
R b / S r ratios of the analyzed samples of Biotite and chlorite, concentrated from the
gneiss and the initial ratio of 0.7112 ± 0.0033 total-rock sample of schist from Bahia Pliischow
suggest that the parent rocks of the meta- (Fig. 2, location 23), gave the regression line of

1 »306 M - t 6 »145M-t, • 165 M - t 101138 G - t . Ol22G-b


• 251 M-b, •251 M - b •63G-b II BI2G-b. oi3G-b
• 1S5 G - t •l5G-b 12 B90 G - b . • 9oG-b
2 «151 G - t . f 047G-h 13Q77 G - h
• 91 D i - t 034G-h&b.d18G-b 14B19G-b , • 20G-b
3 B292 M - t , •166 M - t 7 a135G-b. ai42G-b 15 B132 G - b . • 133G-b
• 13SG-b •630i-t 16D33 V - 1
4 BIIBG-b. •117G-b 8 »45 G t 171125 G - b
S •44G-b. 03«Gb ?ai22G-b. • l31G-b 18«120G-t.b.«OU2G-B

Figure 1. Location of Rb-Sr and K-Ar dated samples rock of the basement complex; G, granitic rock of the
from the northern segment of the area under investiga- Andean intrusive suite; V, volcanic rock; Di, dike
tion. Geographic coordinates are given in Table 1. All rock; t, total rock; b, biotite; h, hornblende; and f,
dates are in millions of years. Solid squares refer to Rb- potassium feldspar.
Sr dates; open squares to K-Ar dates; M, metamorphic
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2416 M. ::-IALPERN

1 9 • 85 G - b . • 87 G - b 2 3 • 310 M - t . • 95 M - t 2 6 • 80 G-b 2 8 a 64 M - h
2 0 D 6 9 V-t • 71 M - b . D 1 1 7 M - b • 88G-h , 2 9 id 6 4 M - m
21 B70G-b 2 4 • 79G-b . D85 G-b 2 7 • 60 D-b . D68D-b I1145M-t
2 2 B 74V-t 25 • 94G-b i| • 6 8 D-b . O6 6 D-b

• 88Gb D 91 G - b | • 65 D-b
• 67 D-h

Figure 2. Location of Rb-Sr and K-Ar dated samples rock of the basement complex; <5, granitic rock of the
from the southern segment of the area under investiga- Andean intrusive suite; D, granitic and associated
tion. Geographic coordinates are given in Table 1. All metamorphic reeks of the Cordillera Darwin suite; V,
dates are in millions of years. Solid squares refer to Rb-Sr volcanic rock; t, total rock; b, biotite; h, hornblende;
dates; open squares to K-Ar dates; M, metamorphic and m, muscovite.

Figure 3C. T h e Rb-Sr age of 71 ± 7 m.y. is rocks proved of little use for Rb-Sr or K-Ar
controlled by the biotite analysis and is con- dating for the following reasons: (a) T h e out-
sidered a reset age associated with early crops have been affected by chemical weather-
Tertiary deformation that affected this region ing; (b) the volcanic rocks are characterized
of southern Chile (Katz, 1973). It should, by rather homogeneous and low R b / S r ratios;
however, be noted that the K-Ar analysis of and (c) the volcanic rocks have been affected
biotite from the same sample of schist gave an by post-Earlv Cretaceous structural deforma-
age of 117 ± 7 m.y. (Table I). T h e discordance tion. Attempts to date the volcanic rocks f r o m
of the Rb-Sr and K-Ar biotite dates cannot be several localities gave the following results
satisfactorily explained at this time. (Table 1):
Hornblende from quartz-garnet amphibolite Isla Robert (Fig. 1, location 16), K-Ar total-
at Ventisquero Italia (Fig. 2, location 28) and rock date of 33 ± 5 m.y. T h e geological sig-
prophyroblastic muscovite from quartz-chlo- nificance of this date is not presently under-
rite-sericite schist at Bahia Yendegaia (Fig. 2, stood.
location 29) were separated from metamorphic Pta. Mai-Mai-Mai (Fig. 2, location 20),
rocks in the vicinity of Cordillera Darwin. T h e K-Ar total-rock date of 69 ± 7 m.y. This date
K-Ar dates of 64 ± 6 m.y. for hornblende and is tentatively considered a reset age associated
6 4 + 4 m.y. for muscovite are considered the with Late Cretaceous to early Tertiary defor-
time of final closure of their isotopic systems. mation in this region of southern Chile (Katz,
1973, Fig. 3).
Volcanic Rocks Stratigraphically Older Seno Agostini (Fig. 2, location 22), Rb-Sr
than Late Cretaceous total-rock regression line (Fig. 3B) for which
O u t c r o p localities of massive volcanic rocks the calculated age is 74 ± 5 m.y., and the
collected during R / V Hero cruise 69-6 (Hal- initial Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6 ratio is 0.7125 + 0.0006. This
pern, 1970) are shown on Figures 1 and 2. T h e Late Cretaceous to early Tertiary date for
Downloaded from gsabulletin.gsapubs.org on October 18, 2014

REGIONAL GEOCHRONOLOGY OF CHILE SOUTH OF 50° LATITUDE 2413

volcanic rocks, considered the stratigraphie result in little enrichment in radiogenic Sr.
equivalent of the Late Jurassic Serie Tobifera, At a few localities (Fig. 1, locations 2, 8, 10,
is believed to represent the time of homogeni- and 18), analyses of several total-rock samples
zation of their rubidium and strontium systems, from the same plutonic body did give geologi-
perhaps during early Tertiary deformation cally meaningful ages (Fig. 4). T h e total-rock
(Katz, 1973). It is of interest to note that if a Rb-Sr ages indicate that plutonic igneous
R b / S r ratio of about 2.0 (Fig. 3B) is postu- activity occurred during Jurassic, Early Creta-
lated as representative of the bulk of the ceous, and Eocene times. W i t h the exception
highly siliceous volcanic rocks at locality 22 of the line joining the two samples from Seno
(Fig. 2), and an initial Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6 ratio of about Yuseff (Fig. 4D), for which the control on the
0.704 is postulated as the value for the source Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6 initial ratio is poor, the calculated
material of these rocks, then the calculated initial Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6 ratio is about 0.705. An initial
time of initial crystallization is about 155 Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6 ratio of 0.705 has therefore been as-
m.y., which is in accord with the stratigraphie sumed for all Rb-Sr calculated biotite ages for
position of the Serie Tobifera. rocks from the Andean and Cordillera Darwin
intrusive suites (Table 1; Figs. 1 and 2).
Igneous Rocks of the Andean and T h e results of the total-rock and mineral
Cordillera Darwin Suites ages of Andean intrusive suite rocks, which,
Granitic Rocks. Diorite and quartz diorite from field relations and petrography are in-
predominate as the granitic rocks that con- ferred to have been unaffected by postcrystalli-
stitute the Andean intrusive suite of southern zation reheating, are plotted on Figure 5. T h e
Chile. Their R b / S r ratios relative to their age length of any one line is the maximum esti-
B
north side of Seno Agostini
Magellan Basiri
Sr'8 7 / S r 8 6
S r 8 7 /^Sr'
Sr86
0.725-T 0.730- •

iaì^IL.
0.720- -

0.720- -
0 . 7 1 0 - 1 ^ - --0.7125
,

0.700
0.715-- 4 8
Rb87/Sr86

"0.7112
0.710- -

Pluschow Bay
0.705-- Sr^/Sr 8 6
0.780+

0.700-
86
0.76a •
Rb8ys

0.740- • 1*

0.720- »
Figure 3. Sr87/Sr8» versus Rb87/Sr8s dia-
grams. A, total-rock basement gneiss from the 0-718
Magellan Basin subsurface; B, volcanic rocks
from the north side of Seno Agostini; C, meta- 0.700'
morphic basement at Bahia Pluschow (t, total IO 20 30 40 SO
rock; b, biotite; and ch, chlorite). Rb 8 /Si 86
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2418 M. HA1.PERN

Puerto Ano Nuevo B


Daroch Islands
87
Sr /Sr86
S r 8 7 / S r 86
0.730+
0.740-
0.720- -

0.720--
0.7lo4-
-0.705
0.700 0.700 -H 1 1 H 4-
2 4 6 8 IO
Rb87sr86
Sr87/S
D
0.820+
Caracciola Island gg Yusaff Sound
S r 8 7 / Sr

0.780-- 0.740- •

0.740- • 0.720--

•^—0.707
.0.7049
0.700 H 1 1 I 1 1- 0.700- H 1- H 1-
20 40 60 20 40
R b 8 7 / S ,86
r Rb87/Sr86
Figure 4. Sr87'/Sr/Sr86 versu
versus Rb87/Srs* diagrams. D, Seno Yuseff (t, total rock; b, biotite; and £, potas-
le Andean intrusive
Plutonic rocks of the i suite from: A, sium feldspar).
Puerto Año Nuevo ; B, Islas Daroch ; C, Isla Caracciola ;

mated errors of the Rb-Sr and K-Ar ages. T h e T h e K-Ar and Rb-Sr hornblende and biotite
emplacement of the Andean intrusive suites, dates f r o m the plutons and associated contact
often referred to as the Patagonian Batholith, metamorphic aureole are about 80 m.y. This
was not a single igneous magmatic event. T h e stratigraphie and radiometric age date pro-
present data indicate at least three igneous vides f u r t h e r evidence of Late Cretaceous
magmatic episodes over about the past 150 igneous activity in southern Chile.
m.y., each episode lasting for about 25 to 40 T h e most recent plutonic event in the area
m.y. T h e Andean plutonic igneous rocks of investigated is that of Cer::o Payne (Fig. 1,
Chile south of 50° lat are considered to have location 11). Approximately 70 k m to the east
crystallized during Late Jurassic to Early Cre- of the main intrusive corclillera, the Payne
taceous time (155 to 120 m.y.), Late Cretaceous pluton is considered part of the Patagonian
time (100 to 75 m.y.), and middle to late batholithic complex in the sub-Andean belt.
Tertiary time (50 to 10 m.y.). Cerro Payne is one of several isolated plutonic
At northwest Navarino Island (Fig. 2), bodies that dome the Cerro T o r o Formation of
granitic plutons intrude folded Late Jurassic(?) Upper(?) Carnpanian to Sar.tonian age (Katz,
to Early Cretaceous clastic sediments of the 1963). Quensel's (1912) pétrographie and field
Yahgan Formation (Halpern and Rex, 1972). investigations indicated that the doming that
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REGIONAL GEOCHRONOLOGY OF CHILE SOUTH OF 50° LATITUDE 2413

accompanied the emplacement of the Cerro As listed in Table 1, minerals separated from
Payne quartz diorite was younger than the the Cordillera Darwin intrusive suite (Fig. 2,
Late Cretaceous or early Tertiary regional location 27) give Rb-Sr and K-Ar dates of
folding, because the pluton lacks any traces of Late Cretaceous to early Tertiary age; these
having been stressed. Detailed structural anal- dates are considered the time of final closure
ysis of this region by Katz (1962) showed that of their isotopic systems. Katz (1973) has
a second, rather gentle folding cycle occurred pointed out that "metamorphism and develop-
in Miocene time, possibly shortly before or ment of nappe structures in the more central
during the emplacement of the Payne body. parts of the tectogene (Cordillera Darwin)"
Biotite separated from the quartz diorite gave characterized the orogenic evolution of parts
a K-Ar calculated age of 13 + 1 m.y. and a of southern Chile during early Tertiary time.
Rb-Sr date of 12 ± 2 m.y., which is in accord T h e Rb-Sr and K-Ar mineral ages falling
with the conclusions of Katz (1962). around 65 m.y. from the Cordillera Darwin
At Isla Tabara (Fig. 1, location 6), the K-Ar plutonic and associated metamorphic rocks
and Rb-Sr biotite and hornblende dates are are possibly related to deformation and uplift
discordant (Table 1). Petrographic examina- at that time.
tion of the granitic rocks and associated dikes Near the present Atlantic entrance to the
suggests that geologic events that postdate Strait of Magellan (Fig. 1, location 1), drilling
initial crystallization of the magmas have in the Magellan Basin encountered plutonic
affected this area. T h e analyzed hornblende, rock of granodioritic composition beneath
though perhaps not maintaining completely clastic sedimentary rocks of Cretaceous(?) age.
closed isotopic systems, appears to have re- T h e relation of this granitic body to the meta-
mained more retentive with respect to its morphic basement gneiss is not known. A
daughter isotopes than the co-existing biotite, Jurassic total-rock Rb-Sr date of 155 ± 20
a relation that has been well established m.y., based on an assumed initial Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6
(Dalrymple and Lanphere, 1969). ratio of 0.705 ± 0.002, was calculated for this
m.y.
180-

170-
t.f
160- t.b
150-

140-
c
112i
120 to 155m.y.
130-

1 2 0 -
H-70

"I
9
J
110-
b b,h
100—

90- h
I

H-70
b

I I
1
75 to 100 m.y.
60 H-70 I
80-
( a, H -I; H-64 H"8<
H-70
" 144 123
J
70-

60-

50-

40-
1
30-

20-

1 0 -
b

Payne
J
10
10 to 50 m.y.

O-
Figure 5. Plot of Rb-Sr and K-Ar calculated ages for one line is an estimate of the combined Rb-Sr and K-Ar
rocks of the Andean intrusive suite unaffected(?) by calculated age errors (t, total rock; b, biotite; h, horn-
postcrystallization tectonic events. The length of any blende; and f, potassium feldspar).
Downloaded from gsabulletin.gsapubs.org on October 18, 2014
2414 M. HALPERN

sample (Table 1). Approximately 700 km tc strontium in order to determine their Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6
the north of well Cuatro Chorillo 9, the initial ratios (Table 1). An acid dike from Isla
Deseado massif of predominantly dioritic com- Londonderry (Fig. 2, location 25) gave a calcu-
position crops out in Santa Cruz Province, lated Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6 initial ratio of 0.704; basalt
Argentina. Biotite concentrates from Deseado dike from the area of Isla Tabara (Fig. 1, loca-
massif plutonic rocks, which on stratigraphic tion 6) gave a measured value of about 0.704,
evidence are considered as probably post-late and from Bahia Stewart (Fig. 1, location 7) a
Paleozoic, have been dated as Triassic by the slightly higher value of about 0.706, possibly
Rb-Sr method (Stipanicic and others, 1971). due to contamination with radiogenic Sr 87
Early to late Mesozoic intrusive igneous ac- during passage of the basaltic magma through
tivity is therefore inferred to have occurred the granitic country rock. T h e initial Sr 8 7 /Sr 8 6
to the east of the Chilean high cordillera along ratios for the dikes support the inference that
what is now the Atlantic coast of southern the dikes, as well as the granitic plutonic rocks
South America. of the Andean suite, were not derived as partial
Farrar and others (1970) have postulated a melts of "ancient" crustal material.
post-Paleozoic migration of granitic intrusion
foci in the Andes of northern Chile on the CONCLUSIONS
basis of K-Ar dates of biotites and hornblende Rocks of the metamorphic basement com-
from the northern Chile Andean suite. In the plex of southern Chile evolved during Paleo-
region of southern Chile covered in this paper, zoic and Mesozoic geologic: events. T h e y are
there is no evidence to suggest that the em- intruded by igneous plutonic rocks of the
placement of the Andean suite is indeed Andean suites that range in age from at least
progressively younger from east to west or Late Jurassic to middle Tertiary.
vice versa. Although perhaps episodic in char- T h e folded late Paleozoic sedimentary rocks
acter, the emplacement of the southern Chile that crop out along the Pacific margin of Chile
Andean plutonic rocks dates from the Late between 50° and 52° S. are intruded by Late
Jurassic, with younger plutonic bodies being Jurassic and (or) Early Cretaceous plutonic
superimposed upon older ones resulting in a rocks.
batholithic complex. A similar pattern of T h e plutcnic rocks that constitute the
igneous activity may also characterize the southern Andes Patagonian batholithic com-
peninsular region of west Antarctica (Halpern, plex range in age from Jurassic to Tertiary.
1968, 1971; Rex, 1973), although Rb-Sr total- Three igneous episodes have been recognized,
rock isochrons and U - P b age data from west each lasting for about 25 to 40 m.y.: Late
Antarctica are rather limited. Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (155 to 120 m.y.),
Dike Rocks. T h e common occurrence of Late Cretaceous (100 to 75 m.y.), and middle
basic (basaltic) dikes as an end phase of intru- to late Tertiary (50 to 10 m.y.). There is no
sive igneous activity of the Andean suite has evidence to suggest that the plutonic bodies
already been mentioned. At two localities become progressively younger or older f r o m
total-rock basalts have been K-Ar dated to east to west.
determine if the calculated age is consistent Igneous and associated metamorphic rocks
with field relations. T h e following results were in the region of Cordillera Darwin have Late
obtained (Table 1): Cretaceous to early Tertiary mineral ages.
Puerto Año N u e v o (Fig. 1, location 2), dike These dates are interpreted to represent the
cutting about 150-m.y.-old granitic pluton was time of final closure of the isotopic systems;
dated at 91 ± 5 m.y. the geologic significance of this time interval
Bahia Stewart (Fig. 1, location 7), dike cut- is not fully understood. The ages may be re-
ting about 140-m.y.-old granitic pluton was lated to diffusive loss of daughter isotopes
dated at 63 ± 6 m.y. since initial closure of their isotopic systems or
T h e dikes were not emplaced during the to thermal events associated with the orogenic
same intrusive event as the granitic rocks; evolution of the area.
rather, they appear to be related to the se- In the area of Puerto Año N u e v o (Fig. 1,
quence of igneous events at a particular location 2), Late Jurassic granitic rocks are
locality. intrusive into argillaceous ancl arenaceous sedi-
Total-rock samples of basic and acidic dikes mentary rocks that now must be considered to
were isotopically analyzed for rubidium and be Jurassic or older.
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REGIONAL GEOCHRONOLOGY OF CHILE SOUTH OF 50° LATITUDE 2413

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Dodson, M. H., and Rex, D. C., 1971, Potassium-


argon ages of slates and phyllites from south-
T h i s paper was w r i t t e n while I was a Visiting west England: Geol. Soc. London Quart.
Research Fellow at t h e D e p a r t m e n t of E a r t h Jour., v. 126, p. 465-499.
Sciences, U n i v e r s i t y of Leeds, Leeds, E n g l a n d . Farrar, E., Clark, A. H., Haynes, S. J., Quirt,
I t h a n k R . A. Cliff, I . W . D . Dalziel, M . H . G. S., Conn, H., and Zentilli, M., 1970, K-Ar
D o d s o n , A. L . Hales, W . I. M a n t ó n , and D . evidence for the post-Paleozoic migration of
C . R e x for reading various d r a f t s of t h e m a n u - granitic intrusion foci in the Andes of north-
script. I . W . D . Dalziel, H . R . K a t z , a n d F . ern Chile: Earth and Planetary Sci. Letters,
v. 10, p. 60-66.
M u n i z a g a provided prepublication copies of
Gonzalez-Bonorino, F., 1971, Metamorphism of
papers related t o t h e geology a n d geochronol-
the crystalline basement of central Chile:
ogy of s o u t h e r n Chile. Jour. Petrology, v. 12, p. 149-175.
Samples of core material f r o m t h e Magellan Gonzalez-Bonorino, F., and Aguirre, L., 1970,
Basin a n d t h e sample f r o m C e r r o P a y n e were Metamorphic facies series of the crystalline
provided by E . G o n z á l e z P . of E m p r e s a N a - basement of Chile: Geol. Rundschau, v. 59, p.
cional del Petroleo, P u n t a Arenas, Chile. G . 979-994.
M . Carlin, U n i v e r s i t y of T e x a s a t Dallas, Halpern, M., 1968, Ages of Antarctic and Argentine
assisted in t h e R b - S r analyses. W . H . B u r k e , rocks bearing on continental drift: Earth and
J. B. O t t o , a n d R . E . Denison, M o b i l Research Planetary Sci. Letters, v. 5, p. 159-167.
1970, Hero cruise 69-6: Antarctic Jour. U.S.,
a n d D e v e l o p m e n t C o r p o r a t i o n , Dallas, Texas,
v. 5, p. 44.
p r o v i d e d t h e K - A r analysis of t h e muscovite
1971, Evidence for Gondwanaland from a
f r o m Bahia Yendegaia. review of west Antarctic radiometric ages, in
M a n y Chilean institutions, personnel of t h e Research in the Antarctic: Am. Assoc. Adv.
N a t i o n a l Science F o u n d a t i o n Office of Polar Sci., p. 717-730.
Programs, and t h e scientific staff a n d crew Halpern, M., and Rex, D. C., 1972, Time of folding
of t h e R / V Hero (cruise 69-6) provided t h e of the Yahgan Formation and age of the
logistic s u p p o r t t h a t m a d e t h e field p r o g r a m Tekenika beds, southern Chile, South Amer-
ica: Geol. Soc. America Bull., v. 83, p. 1881-
possible. T h i s research was s u p p o r t e d by N a -
1886.
tional Science F o u n d a t i o n G r a n t s G A 10529
Harland, W. B., Smith, A. G., and Wilcock, B.,
and G V 28757. 1964, The Phanerozoic time-scale: Geol. Soc.
London Quart. Jour., v. 120s, p. 260-262.
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