To test the ability of illitic clay minerals to retain argon, K/Ar ages were measured on grain-size separates from the Cretaceous Mancos Shale and associated bentonites that have been transformed into K-bentonite near the contact with a large Tertiary igneous stock. The ages of size separates of illite/ smectite from the K-bentonite nearest the contact were internally concordant and matched the hornblende K/Ar age of the stock. In contrast, K/Ar data from clay size fractions from shales adjacent to each K-bentonite were internally discordant with measured ages that were much greater than the age of the intrusion. Thus, significant radiogenic argon was retained by fine-grained detrital illite, even in shale samples very near the igneous contact. These results are convincing evidence that illitic clay minerals are excellent K/Ar clocks under conditions prevailing in sedimentary and diagenetic environments.
