40AR/39AR AND K-AR AGE CONSTRAINTS ON SHEAR ZONE EVOLUTION, SOUTHERN TALTSON MAGMATIC ZONE, NORTHEASTERN ALBERTA

New 40Ar/39Ar analyses of hornblende, muscovite, biotite, and K-feldspar constrain the timing of deformation and cooling of the southern Taltson magmatic zone, which underwent lower granulite to upper amphibolite grade deformation, in part synchronous with voluminous 1.99-1.92 Ga magmatism. New data are combined with existing K-Ar dates into a regional cooling framework to provide thermotemporal constraints on the deformational history. 40Ar/39Ar hornblende ages of ca. 1900 Ma are interpreted to record relatively rapid cooling following ductile thrusting on the Andrew Lake shear zone, and younger anatectic magmatism. These data, with published K-Ar and U-Pb data, support relatively rapid cooling of the Taltson magmatic zone from monazite closure temperature of 725 degrees C at ca. 1930 Ma to 525 degrees C at ca. 1900 Ma. Cooling rate estimates are about 7 degrees C/Ma, which suggests moderate exhumation rates during the high-grade part of the deformational history. A muscovite 40Ar/39Ar plateau age of 1803 +/- 11 Ma is consistent with the mean muscovite K-Ar age of 1792 Ma, indicating regional cooling through about 350 degrees C at ca. 1800 Ma. 40Ar/39Ar ages from magmatic biotite of 1856 and 1799 Ma also suggest slow cooling during greenschist grade deformation, which can be no older than ca. 1860 Ma. A K-feldspar 40Ar/39Ar age of 1681 Ma provides a lower limit for the time of greenschist grade deformation. Cooling rate estimates during amphibolite to greenschist grade deformation are 1.75-2.25 degrees C/Ma.