Paleogeography and the Source of Sediments of the Triassic Basin, New Jersey, by K-Ar Dating
The detrital phases of sedimentary rocks are found to retain their Ar 40 /K 40 ratio during weathering and sedimentation cycles. Therefore, under favorable sedimentary conditions, where the authigenic components are negligible, K-Ar isotopic measurements on bulk sedimentary rocks can be useful in tracing the detrital material to their source rocks. K-Ar measurements on the Upper Triassic Newark group of red sandstones and shales in New Jersey demonstrate that more than one source contributed to the filling of the Triassic basin.