Sm–nd isotopic investigations of isua supracrustals and implications for mantle evolution

ABSTRACT THE 147Sm–143 Nd system has been successfully exploited for the dating of lunar rocks and meteorites1–3 and has yielded results of comparable precision to those obtained from the

87Rb–87Sr system. Furthermore, recent studies of the Angra dos Reis achondrite3,4,30 have shown that the age obtained by the Sm–Nd method is in excellent agreement with ages calculated from

U–Pb-isotope compositions when the new U-decay constants are used5. Ages quoted here are based on the following decay constants: λ87Rb = 1.39×10−11yr−1; λ147Sm = 6.54×10−12yr−1; λ235U =

0.98485×10−9yr−1; λ238U = 0.15513×10−9yr−1. Measurements of the Nd-isotope compositions of recent oceanic and continental basalts6–11, combined with estimates of the Sm/Nd ratio of the bulk

Earth8, 12 have led to a much improved assessment of mantle differentiation8, 9, 12. Hamilton _et al._13 have obtained a Sm–Nd whole rock isochron from Rhodesian Archaean volcanics, which

demonstrates the feasibility of dating terrestrial rocks by this method. The latter investigation also indicates that the Sm–Nd system will probably prove more valuable than the Rb–Sr system

for dating ancient volcanics, because of the greater stability of Sm/Nd compared with Rb/Sr during alteration processes. Here we report the results of Sm–Nd dating of the oldest known

terrestrial rocks from the Isua supracrustal succession in West Greenland. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your

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* Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS SUNDA ARC MANTLE SOURCE Δ18O VALUE REVEALED BY INTRACRYSTAL

ISOTOPE ANALYSIS Article Open access 24 June 2021 DIVERSE MANTLE COMPONENTS WITH INVARIANT OXYGEN ISOTOPES IN THE 2021 FAGRADALSFJALL ERUPTION, ICELAND Article Open access 29 June 2022

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43 (1977). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Lament-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New

York, 10964 P. J. HAMILTON, R. K. O'NIONS & N. M. EVENSEN * Geological Survey of Greenland, Ostervoldgade 10, Copenhagen K, Denmark D. BRIDGWATER & J. H. ALLAART Authors * P. J.

HAMILTON View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * R. K. O'NIONS View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed 

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author inPubMed Google Scholar * J. H. ALLAART View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS

ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE HAMILTON, P., O'NIONS, R., EVENSEN, N. _et al._ SM–ND isotopic investigations of Isua supracrustals and implications for mantle evolution. _Nature_ 272, 41–43

(1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/272041a0 Download citation * Received: 14 November 1977 * Accepted: 05 January 1978 * Issue Date: 02 March 1978 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/272041a0 SHARE

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