40Ar/39Ar isotopic dating of Etna volcanic succession

• DOI: 10.3301/ijg.2011.14
• Publication Date: 2021-07-20T13:59:17Z
• Authors: De Beni, Emanuela
• Keywords: Outcrop; K–Ar dating; Radiometric dating

Since the 1970's, about 50 radio-isotopic ages have been determined on Etna volcanics using different techniques: Th-U and K/Ar.Unfortunately, these cannot be readily used to constrain new stratigraphic setting of volcano, because uncertainty in sample locations or, sometimes, large errors affecting calculated ages. For this reason a program dating applying 40Ar/39Ar incremental heating technique date groundmass basaltic samples has carried out from 2002.Forty (22 which are publication) were collected key outcrops selected basis their position, while one was Hyblean plateau volcanics. We obtained reliable results all analysed 542 ka up 10 with MSWD's (Mean Square Weighted Deviates) ranging 0.03 1.7 excluding IS (MSWD = 6.28). These allow us to: i) assign an age 19 25 lithostratigraphic units defined geological map volcano; ii) clarify uncertain position isolated volcanic units; iii) constraint temporal hiatus that matches main unconformities; iv) outline lapse time between end volcanism beginning eruptive activity region.