A study of strontium in core 119K,Discovery deep,Red Sea

The isotopic composition of strontium of pore water and of authigenic minerals leached from the sediment of core 119K with hot aqua regia is similar to that of the brine in the Discovery deep and differs from that of normal seawater. The average ${}^{87}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Sr}$ ratio of strontium removed by acid leaching is 0.7077 ± 0.0007 (1σ) compared to a value of 0.70904 for the Red Sea. The detrital silicate fraction exhibits an approximate inverse correlation between ${}^{87}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Sr}$ ratios and strontium concentrations which provides tentative support for a model in which the detrital silicate fraction of deep-sea sediment is considered to be a mixture of terrigenous dust of sialic composition enriched in radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr and of volcanogenic material of basaltic composition and low ⁸⁷Sr abundance. The ${}^{87}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Sr}$ ratios of the shells of foraminifers and pteropods, expressed as δ ⁸⁷Sr‰ relative to 0.70904 for seawater, decrease from $\text{?0.23 ± 0.17‰}$ at 90 cm to $\text{?0.82 ± 0.17‰}$ at 273 cm and remain constant at this value to a depth of 450 cm. The lowering of the δ ⁸⁷Sr values is attributed both to the presence of aragonite overgrowths on pteropod shells and to possible isotope exchange with strontium in the connate fluid.     

A strontium isotopic study of Smackover brines and associated solids,southern Arkansas

The isotopic composition of Sr has been measured in brine samples from the Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation in southern Arkansas; ${}^{87}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Sr}$ ratios range from 0.7071 to 0.7101. With one exception, the 32 Smackover brines contain Sr which is significantly more radiogenic than the Sr in Late Jurassic sea water, indicating sizable Sr contributions from detrital sources. Isotopic analyses of core samples from rock units associated with the brines and regional stratigraphic relationships suggest that the radiogenic Sr was released from detrital minerals in Bossier shale to interstitial fluids expelled from the underlying Louann Salt in the North Louisiana salt basin. These fluids migrated through the Bossier Formation updip to the South Arkansas shelf, where they entered the upper Smackover carbonate grainstone. The radiogenic fluids mixed with Sr-rich interstitial marine waters that had the isotopic composition of Late Jurassic sea water; mixing in variable proportions resulted in the random distribution pattern of variable ${}^{87}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Sr}$ ratios that is observed in Smackover brines within the 5000 km² study area. Isotopic analyses of nonskeletal carbonate grains and coexisting coarse calcspar cement from the upper Smackover grainstone imply that the grains were diagenetically stabilized in the presence of interstitial marine waters, whereas the calcspar cement is a relatively late diagenetic phase precipitated after the arrival of radiogenic fluids.     

O18O16 of feldspars in carbonate rocks

Six authigenic feldspars and three detrital feldspars in limestones and dolostones of Eocene to Preeambrian ages were analyzed for their $\text{O}{}^{18}\text{O}{}^{16}$ content. The difference in δO¹⁸ between the authigenic feldspars (δO¹⁸range = + 18.2 to + 24.7%.) and carbonate host rocks, both limestones and dolostones, was found to be ?0.5 to ?1.4%. Detrital feldspars (δO¹⁸ = + 11.2, + 22.5 and + 17.0%.) exhibit Δ^feldspar_carbonate values of ?12.0, ?2.4 and ?1.6‰, respectively, and appear to have undergone increased isotopic exchange as a function of decreased grain size under solid-state conditions.     

40Ar39Ar dating of glauconites: Measured 39Ar recoil loss from well-crystallized specimens

Nine glauconite samples with relatively high K concentrations and which appear to be well crystallized using normal X-ray diffraction techniques have been studied using the ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ method. The glauconite ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ apparent ages exceed their KAr, RbSr and, in most cases, stratigraphic ages by substantial amounts. ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ release spectra sometimes yield plateaus but these apparent ages have no geological significance. The results indicate that ³⁹Ar is lost by recoil from mineral grains during neutron irradiation, consistent with previously reported observations. The amount of ³⁹Ar loss was measured by isotope dilution for four samples and varied from 29% to 17%. In contrast, radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar is quantitatively retained during irradiation. The very fine blades which make up glauconite grains yield the mineral susceptible to large amounts of ³⁹Ar loss and unsuitable for ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ dating.     

Recognition of extraneous argon components through incremental-release 40Ar39Ar analysis of biotite and hornblende across the Grenvillian metamorphic gradient in southwestern Labrador

${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ incremental-release ages have been determined for 15 hornblende and 20 biotite concentrates separated from rocks collected across the garnet and kyanite zones of Grenvillian metamorphism in southwestern Labrador. Most hornblende spectra from the kyanite zone are slightly discordant, with low-temperature increments yielding ages older than the ca 1000 Ma date suggested for culmination of Grenvillian metamorphism in the area. However, all the hornblende concentrates record well-defined plateau ages. These range from 968 to 905 Ma across the kyanite zone and date times of diachronous post-metamorphic cooling. The discordant spectra are interpreted to result from low-temperature liberation of excess ⁴⁰Ar components from grain margins. Two hornblende concentrates from the garnet zone display very discordant spectra (total-gas ages of 2100 and 3017 Ma) in which incremental dates systematically decrease during analysis. This pattern of discordance suggests that excess argon components are inhomogeneously distributed throughout these hornblende grains.Most biotites from the garnet and kyanite zones record total-gas or plateau ages in excess of 1000 Ma (2066-857 Ma), reflecting the widespread presence of excess argon components. Because most of the ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ age spectra are internally concordant, the ratios of excess ⁴⁰Ar relative to radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar must have been uniform in the various gas fractions liberated from each sample. This is also reflected in the inability of isotope correlation diagrams to differentiate between excess, radiogenic, and atmospheric argon components. The biotite total-gas or plateau dates show marked local variation. This is interpreted to indicate that the biotite grains were in contact with a post-metamorphic intergranular vapor phase that was characterized by large and variable ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{36}\text{Ar}$ ratios. Such ratios most likely resulted from widespread diffusion of the argon liberated from adjacent Archean basement gneisses during the Grenvillian metamorphic overprint.     

Petrography of isotopically-dated clasts in the Kapoeta howardite and petrologic constraints on the evolution of its parent body

Detailed mineralogic and petrographic data are presented for four isotopically-dated basaltic rock fragments separated from the howardite Kapoeta. Clasts C and ρ have been dated at ~4.55 AE and ~ 4.60 AE respectively, and Clast ρ contains ²⁴⁴Pu and ¹²⁹I decay products. These are both igneous rocks that preserve all the features of their original crystallization from a melt. They thus provide good evidence that the Kapoeta parent body produced basaltic magmas shortly after its formation (< 100 m.y.). Clast A has yielded a Rb-Sr age of ~ 3.89 AE and a similar ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ age. This sample is extensively recrystallized, and we interpret the ages as a time of recrystallization, and not the time of original crystallization from a melt. Clast B has yielded a Rb-Sr age of ~ 3.63 AE, and an ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ age of ? 4.50 AE. This sample is moderately recrystallized, and the Rb-Sr age probably indicates a time of recrystallization, whereas the ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ age more closely approaches the time of crystallization from a melt. Thus, there is no clearcut evidence for ‘young’ magmatism on the Kapoeta parent body.Kapoeta is a ‘regolith’ meteorite, and mineral-chemical and petrographic data were obtained for numerous other rock and mineral fragments in order to characterize the surface and near-surface materials on its parent body. Rock clasts can be grouped into two broad lithologic types on the basis of modal mineralogy—basaltic (pyroxene- and plagioclase-bearing) and pyroxenitic (pyroxenebearing). Variations in the compositions of pyroxenes in rock and mineral clasts are similar to those in terrestrial mafic plutons such as the Skaergaard, and indicate the existence of a continuous range in rock compositions from Mg-rich orthopyroxenites to very iron-rich basalts. The FeO and MnO contents of all pyroxenes in Kapoeta fall near a line with FeO/MnO ~ 35, suggesting that the source rocks are fundamentally related. We interpret these observations to indicate that the Kapoeta meteorite represents the comminuted remains of differentiated igneous complexes together with ‘primary’ undifferentiated basaltic rocks. The presently available isotopic data are compatible with the interpretation that this magmatism is related to primary differentiation of the Kapoeta parent body. In addition, our observations preclude the interpretation that the Kapoeta meteorite is a simple mixture of eucrites and diogenites.The FeO/MnO value in lunar pyroxenes (~60) is distinct from that of the pyroxenes in Kapoeta. Anorthositic rocks were not observed in Kapoeta, suggesting that plagioclase was not important in the evolution of the Kapoeta parent body, in contrast to the Moon. Both objects appear to have originated in chemically-distinct portions of the solar system, and to have undergone differentiation on different time scales involving differing materials.     

40Ar39Ar dating,Ar diffusion properties,and cooling rate determinations of severely shocked chondrites

Determinations of ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ ages are reported for seven severely shock-heated chondrites. Shaw gives a plateau age of 4.29 Gyr. Louisville, Farmington, and Wickenburg give well-defined intercept ages of 0.5–0.6 Gyr. Orvinio, Arapahoe, and Lubbock show complex ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ release curves, with age minima of 0.7–1.0 Gyr. Degassing times of 0.5–1.0 Gyr are suggested for these meteorites. Most severely shocked chondrites were apparently not totally degassed of ⁴⁰Ar by the event, but retained from ~ 2 to ~45% of their ⁴⁰Ar. When calculated values of the diffusion parameter, $\text{D}\text{a}{}^2$, for Ar are examined in Arrhenius plots, they show two distinct linear relationships, which apparently correspond to the degassing of different mineral phases with distinct $\text{K}\text{Ca}$ ratios and different average temperatures for Ar release. The experimentally determined values of $\text{D}\text{a}{}^2$ for the high temperature phase of several severely shocked chondrites are ~10^?7 to 10^?5sec^?1 for their determined shock-heating temperatures of ~950°C to ~ 1200°C. The inferred reheating temperatures, $\text{D}\text{a}{}^2$ values, and fraction of ⁴⁰Ar loss during the reheating event for these seven chondrites suggest post-shock cooling rates and burial depth of ~ 10^?2 10^?4°C/sec and ~0.5–2m, respectively. For three chondrites these cooling rates agree with those determined from Ni diffusion in metal grains: for five chondrites the cooling rates derived from ⁴⁰Ar and Ni disagree by a factor of ~10⁵. It is suggested that five of these severely shocked chondrites were part of large ejecta blankets containing hot material and cold clasts with a distribution of sizes and that the cooling rate of this ejecta appreciably decreased as a function of time.     

Strontium isotopic composition of some brines from the Precambrian Shield of Canada

Twenty-four groundwater samples from seven operating mines at Sudbury, Yellow-knife and Thompson (Ontario, North West Territories and Manitoba, resp.), all from depths greater than 1 km and ranging in total dissolved solids (TDS) from 1900 to 250,000 mg l^?1, were measured for their ${}^{87}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Ar}$ values. Each geographic location gives a limited range in values and each location is distinct from the others. This is interpreted as the result of extensive water-rock interaction on a local scale. For most of the time, these brines were isolated and only recently have been exposed to surface water as a result of the mining operations. The extent of the isolation is shown by the contrasting isotopic values of two “pockets” of water (0.711 vs. 0.716) located on opposite sides of the same fault system on the North Range at Sudbury. The exchange at all sites probably has continued until the present, as indicated by the close agreement between water and present-day${}^{87}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Sr}$ whole-rock values. If so, it suggests that there is no single age for such brines, but it may be possible to date stages in the water's evolution by determining the age of secondary minerals that equilibrated with the water.     

Strontium isotopic composition of several oilfield brines from Kansas and Colorado

The ${}^{87}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Sr}$ ratios of several oilfield brines associated with Paleozoic dolomites, cherty dolomites and sandstones from Kansas and Colorado range from 0.7113 to 0.7341. Two brines in the Mississippian dolomites from Colorado were found to contain the most radiogenic strontium. The ${}^{87}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Sr}$ ratios of brines in a small oilfield in eastern Kansas are constant, and the ratios may suggest that in this field there may be only one oil pool. The isotopic composition of strontium in subsurface waters could be useful in determining hydrologic continuity among reservoirs and for obtaining additional information on the origin and migration of these fluids.     

Noble gas evidence for two fluids in the Baca (Valles Caldera) geothermal reservoir

Noble gas elemental and isotopic abundances were measured in steam from four wells in the Baca geothermal reservoir located in the Valles Caldera, New Mexico. The ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{36}\text{Ar}$ ratio and noble gas elemental abundances relative to ³⁶Ar are all strongly correlated with 1/³⁶Ar, the inverse of the argon content. Ratios of (α,n)-produced ²¹Ne1 and radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar1 to total ⁴He (dominantly radiogenic) are nearly constant at 2.1 × 10?8 and 0.20, respectively. The ${}^3\text{He}{}^4\text{He}$ ratio covers a restricted range of 3.9 to 4.8 times atmospheric. The high ³He content of the gas indicates the presence of a helium component ultimately derived from the mantle. Kr and Xe isotopic compositions are close to atmospheric; excess ¹²⁹Xe1 is <0.25% of the total ¹²⁹Xe.The high degree of linear correlation among the various noble gas results strongly suggests that the Baca reservoir contains two distinct fluids that are produced in varying proportions from individual wells. The noble gases in fluid A (~2900 mg/1 C1) are air-like, but with lighter gases and isotopes preferentially enriched. The fluid A ³⁶Ar content is low, only 13% that of 10°C air-saturated water (ASW). The second fluid, B (~ 1700 mg/1 C1), is the dominant carrier of the radiogenic and mantle-derived gases. The heavier non-radiogenic gases are preferentially enriched in fluid B, and its ³⁶Ar content is very low, only 5–7% ASW. The source of the noble gases in fluid A is tentatively ascribed to leaching of the relatively young (<1.4 m.y.) volcanic Bandelier Tuff. The radiogenic gases and mantle-derived helium in fluid B suggest a deeper source, possibly including gases escaping from a magma.     

Inert gases in a terra sample: measurements in six grain-size fractions and two single particles from Luna 20

The inert gases have been measured in six size fractions covering the range below 500 μm, in a single feldspathic fragment weighing 523 μg, and in an agglutinate particle weighing 465 μg. The two size fractions between 125 and 250 μm as well as 250 and 500 μm were separated into magnetic and non-magnetic portions, which were measured separately. Like the Apollo and Luna 16 fines, the terra fines represented by Luna 20 are very rich in trapped solar-wind gases, but they contain relatively less He⁴ and Ne²⁰, which is revealed by their average $\text{He}{}^4\text{Ne}{}^{20}$ ratio of 35 and $\text{Ne}{}^{20}\text{Ar}{}^{36}$ ratio of 2.9. Obviously the terra materials are less retentive for solar-wind He and Ne than typical mare fines such as 10084. Whether this is due to the relatively small TiO₂ or the relatively large plagioclase content of the former is not resolved. ($\text{Ar}{}^{36}\text{Kr}{}^{84}\text{)}{}_{\mathrm{trapped}}$ and ($\text{Ar}{}^{36}\text{Xe}{}^{132}\text{)}{}_{\mathrm{trapped}}$ ratios are relatively large; the average values are 2800 and 14400, respectively. The apparent Ne²¹ radiation ages of all the size fractions are in the range 209–286 × 10⁶ yr; the average is 260 × 10⁶ yr. This is in the range of values known for the Apollo and Luna 16 fines. The feldspathic fragment has a much greater apparent Ne_c²¹ age of 780 × 10⁶ yr. The Ar⁴⁰-Ar³⁶ systematic reveals the presence of two Ar⁴⁰ components, because Ar⁴⁰ = (1.41 ± 0.076)Ar³⁶ + (0.490 ± 0.130) × 10^?4 (cm³ STP/g). The $\text{Ar}{}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{36}$ slope of 1.41 is not inconsistent with an origin of the sample from a relatively old terra region.     

Investigations of an intrusive contact,northwest Nelson,New Zealand—II. Diffusion of radiogenic and excess 40Ar in hornblende revealed by 40Ar39Ar age spectrum analysis

The Rameka Gabbro, emplaced 367 Ma ago, experienced a well documented reheating on intrusion of the Separation Point Batholith 114 Ma ago. ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ age spectrum analyses of hornblende from the Rameka Gabbro show diffusion gradients which provide information on the ⁴⁰Ar boundary concentration during reheating.Three samples of hornblende exhibit age spectra that conform to a model of ⁴⁰Ar loss by diffusion, implying a zero ⁴⁰Ar boundary concentration during heating. The calculated ⁴⁰Ar loss from these samples, together with a model of heat flow in the aureole, provide estimates of diffusion coefficients of ⁴⁰Ar in Mg-rich hornblende which correspond to an activation energy, E, of ~60 kcal-mol^?1 and a frequency factor. D₀, of ~ 10^?3 cm²-sec^?1. When combined with laboratory diffusion results, these data yield a well defined diffusion law (E = 63.3 ± 1.7 kcal-mol^?1, $\text{D}{}_0\text{= 0.022}{}^{\mathrm{+0.048}}{}_{\mathrm{?0.010}}\text{cm}{}^2\text{-}\text{sec}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$).The age spectra of the eight other samples record steep gradients of excess ⁴⁰Ar over the first few percent of gas release. Although this effect causes high apparent conventional K-Ar ages, the plateau segments of many sampes still record the crystallization age of 367 ± 5 Ma. These measurements show that the excess ⁴⁰Ar phase developed locally in the intergranular regions of the gabbro, following intrusion of the batholith. on time scales that varied from 10⁴ to 10⁶years. The minimum average ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{36}\text{Ar}$ ratio of this component was found to be 1300 ± 400. The partial pressure of Ar was at least 10^?2 bars in some places.A single ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ age spectrum analysis of plagioclase reveals a ‘saddle-shaped” release pattern with a minimum at 140 Ma.In conjunction with theoretical diffusion models and a diffusion law, ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ age spectrum analysis of hornblende that has experienced a post-crystallization heating can provide close estimates of the maximum temperature of the thermal event as well as both age of crystallization and reheating.     

The age and petrography of two Luna 20 fragments and inferences for widespread lunar metamorphism

Ages were determined by the ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar method on two metaclastic rocks returned from the lunar highlands north of Mare Fecunditatis by the Luna 20 probe. Both samples gave very well-defined argon retention ages of 3.90 ± 0.04 AE which are indistinguishable from each other within a resolution of 0.02 AE. Both fragments, 22006 and 22007, are highly recrystallized polymict breccias; there is no evidence for loss of radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar, and the age almost surely dates the time of recrystallization. The cosmic ray exposure ages of these fragments are similar and high: 900 million years for 22006, 1300 million years for 22007. 22007 also contains substantial trapped argon with a high ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{36}\text{Ar}$ ratio.The Luna 20 results greatly extend the area of the Moon's surface exhibiting a well-defined record of metamorphism at 3.9 AE. So far, lunar history in the interval 4.6?3.9 AE is not preserved in the ages of surface rocks. This obliteration suggests lunar-wide metamorphic conditions occurring or terminating at this time as a result of major impacts.     

The solubility of noble gases in water and in NaCl brine

A direct-sampling, mass-spectrometric technique has been used to measure simultaneously the solubilities of He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe in fresh water and NaCl brine (0 to 5.2 molar) from 0° to 65 °C, and at 1 atm total pressure of moist air. The argon solubility in the most concentrated brines is 4 to 7 times less than in fresh water at 65 °C and 0°C, respectively. The salt effect is parameterized using the Setschenow equation.

$\text{ln}\text{[}\text{β}{}^{\mathrm{i}}{}_{\mathrm{o}}\text{(T)}\text{β}{}^{\mathrm{i}}\text{(T)}\text{= MK}{}^{\mathrm{i}}{}_{\mathrm{M}}\text{(T)}$

where M is NaCl moiarity, βⁱ_o(T) and βⁱ(T) the Bunsen solubility coefficients for gas i in fresh water and brine, and Kⁱ_M(T) the empirical salting coefficient. Values of Kⁱ_M(T) are calculated using volumetric concentration units for noble gas and NaCl content and are independent of NaCl molarity. Below about 40°C, temperature coefficients of all Kⁱ_M are negative. The value of K^He_M is a minimum at 40°C. K^Ar_M decreases from about 0.40 at 0°C to 0.28 at 65 °C. The absolute magnitudes of the differences in salting coefficients (relative to K^Ar_M) decrease from 0° to 65°C. Over the range of conditions studied, all noble gases are salted out, and K^He_M ? K^Ne_M < K^Ar_M < K^Kr_M < K^Xe_M.From the solubility data, we calculated $\text{Δ}\text{G}{}^0{}_{\mathrm{tr}}$, $\text{Δ}\text{S}{}^0{}_{\mathrm{tr}}$, $\text{Δ}\text{H}{}^0{}_{\mathrm{tr}}$ and $\text{Δ}\text{C}{}^{\mathrm{O}}{}_{\mathrm{p,tr}}$ for the transfer of noble gases from fresh water to 1 molar NaCl solutions. At low temperatures $\text{Δ}\text{S}{}^0{}_{\mathrm{tr}}$, is positive, but decreases and becomes negative at temperatures ranging from about 25°C for He to 45°C for Xe. At low temperatures, the dissolved electrolyte apparently interferes with the formation of a cage of solvent molecules about the noble gas atom. At higher temperatures, the local environment of the gas atom in the brine appears to be slightly more ordered than in pure water, possibly reflecting the longer effective range of the ionic fields at higher temperature.The measured solubilities can be used to model noble gas partitioning in two-phase geothermal systems at low temperatures. The data can also be used to estimate the temperature and concentration dependence of the salt effect for other alkali halides. Extrapolation of the measured data is not possible due to the incompletely-characterized minima in the temperature dependence of the salting coefficients. The regularities in the data observed at low temperatures suggest relatively few high-temperature data will be required to model the behavior of noble gases in high-temperature geothermal brines.     

Comment on “The nature and origin of ureilites” by J. L. Berkley et al.

The record of primordial noble gases in ureilites imposes serious constraints on models of ureilite petrogenesis. It is argued that the inhomogeneous distribution between different mineral phases and the low ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{36}\text{Ar}$ ratio in particular can only be satisfied with difficulties in the model proposed by Berkley et al.     

Lead isotope systematics of some igneous rocks from the Egyptian shield

Lead isotope data on late Precambrian igneous rocks from the eastern desert of Egypt are presented. Previous work has indicated that this igneous suite is characterized by uniformly low initial ratios of ${}^{37}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Sr}$ (< 0.7035). The Pb data define three groups, loosely corresponding to age. An older tonalite to granodiorite (OTG) suite, with ages in the range 610–710 Ma, has Pb isotope characteristics similar to modern, mantle-derived oceanic mafic rocks. The age-corrected initial Pb isotope ratios of the OTG group lie near the “ocean regression line” in correlation diagrams of ${}^{206}\text{Pb}{}^{204}\text{Pb}$ vs. ${}^{207}\text{Pb}{}^{204}\text{Pb}$ and ${}^{203}\text{Pb}{}^{204}\text{Pb}$. The isotope data imply an origin for the OTG group analogous to calc-alkalic igneous rocks in modern intra-oceanic island arcs.A younger suite of K-rich plutonic rocks (570–595 Ma) has similar ${}^{206}\text{Pb}{}^{204}\text{Pb}$ and ${}^{208}\text{Pb}{}^{204}\text{Pb}$ initial ratios relative to the OTG suite, but have higher ${}^{207}\text{Pb}{}^{204}\text{Pb}$ initial ratios when calculated from measured whole-rock U and Pb contents. However, K-feldspar and galena, associated with this suite, indicate initial Pb isotope ratios close to the OTG suite. We interpret this to indicate that the younger granites could have originated by anatexis of OTG-type material, but they probably experienced an episode of metasomatism after emplacement.A suite of volcanic rocks (the Dokhan Volcanics) from the central eastern desert are intermediate between the younger granites and OTG in both age (～ 610 Ma) and Pb isotope characteristics.Limited data on initial ${}^{208}\text{Pb}{}^{204}\text{Pb}$ ratios suggest that all the Egyptian samples originated from a source with anomalously low $\text{Th}\text{Pb}$ ratios.Although the relative abundance of granitic rocks in the Egyptian Shield decreases to the south, no evidence of north-south heterogeneity in the Pb isotope composition of the respective source regions is apparent in the data. However, the westernmost sample studied, from the Aswan area, contains distinctly more radiogenic Pb relative to the mean. This location may mark the boundary between the Late Precambrian ensimatic orogen now outcropping in the Egyptian and Saudi Arabian Shields, and an older sialic craton to the west.