Assessing soil erosion and control factors by radiometric technique in the source region of the Yellow River,Tibetan Plateau

Measurements of ¹³⁷Cs concentration in soils were made in a representative catchment to quantify erosion rates and identify the main factors involved in the erosion in the source region of the Yellow River in the Tibetan Plateau. In order to estimate erosion rates in terms of the main factors affecting soil loss, samples were collected taking into account the slope and vegetation cover along six selected transects within the Dari County catchment. The reference inventory for the area was established at a stable, well-preserved, site of small thickness (value of 2324 Bq·m^− 2). All the sampling sites had been eroded and ¹³⁷Cs inventories varied widely in the topsoil (14.87–25.56 Bq·kg^− 1). The effective soil loss values were also highly variable (11.03–28.35 t·km^− 1·yr^− 1) in line with the vegetation cover change. The radiometric approach was useful in quantifying soil erosion rates and examining patterns of soil movement.     

Rapid migration of heavy metals and <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs in alluvial sediments,Upper Odra River valley,Poland

The studies presented explore post-depositional changes of zinc, cadmium, lead, manganese and ¹³⁷Cs distribution in alluvial sediments accumulated in the upper Odra River valley in southern Poland. The rate of these changes was estimated by comparing metal and ¹³⁷Cs distributions in four vertical alluvial profiles with a history of river pollution and sediment deposition. The untypical ¹³⁷Cs distribution with peaks in the surface 40–60 cm and lower down, even at a depth of 2.5 m in strata deposited before the beginning of nuclear tests in 1954, indicates rapid post-depositional migration of this isotope from the surface and its retention in lower, less permeable layers. Moreover, the highest concentrations of lead, zinc and cadmium were found at a depth of 4 m in sediments accumulated in the mid-nineteenth century in spite of the growth of industrialization and the pollution of the Odra River with heavy metals until the end of the twentieth century. The post-depositional changes in heavy metals and ¹³⁷Cs are rapid in comparison with the slow element migration usually observed in uninundated soils. This difference is explained by the frequent and easy infiltration of polluted river water into the gravelly and sandy sediments present in the profiles.     

The influence of degradation of the swamp and alpine meadows on CH<Subscript>4</Subscript> and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> fluxes on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

CH₄ and CO₂ fluxes from a high-cold swamp meadow and an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, subject to different degrees of degradation, were measured over a 12-month period. Air temperature, soil temperature and moisture, and the depths of the water table and thawing-freezing layer were determined. For swamp meadows, the greater the degradation, the lesser the carbon efflux. CH₄ emissions at the nondegraded swamp meadow site were 1.09–3.5 and 2.5–11.27 times greater, and CO₂ emissions 1.08–1.69 and 1.41–4.43 times greater, respectively, than those from moderately and severely degraded sites. For alpine meadows, the greater the degradation, the greater the CH₄ consumption and CO₂ emissions. CH₄ consumption at the severely degraded alpine meadow site was 6.6–21 and 1.1–5.25 times greater, and CO₂ emissions 1.05–78.5 and 1.04–6.28 times greater, respectively, than those from the nondegraded and moderately degraded sites. The CH₄ and CO₂ fluxes at both sites were significantly correlated (R ² > 0.59, P < 0.05) with air temperature, soil temperature, and topsoil (0–5 cm depth) moisture, indicating these to be the main environmental factors affecting such fluxes.     

长江黄河源区覆被变化下降水的产流产沙效应研究

在长江和黄河源区的左冒西孔曲和纳通河、垮热洼尔玛河流域的不同植被覆盖下建立了天然径流观测场,利用观测天然降水和人工模拟降水,初步研究了江河源区不同植被覆盖下降水的产流产沙效应。结果表明,长江黄河源区的3个小流域内,在典型高寒草甸草地30°坡面上,退化较为严重的30%覆盖度以下的场地内,地表径流产出量明显大于覆盖度较好的95%、92%和68%场地,同时产沙量显著高于这3个场地,其平均单次降水形成的泥沙量是这三种盖度的2~4倍,由此造成地表侵蚀量平均为这3种盖度的3~10倍。通过对几次典型的降水形态的分析,在长江黄河源区高寒草甸草地的坡面上,不但降水量影响着产流产沙量,降水形态也影响着产流产沙量,降雨仍是引起水土流失的主要降水形态,在降水量相同的条件下,降雪可比降雨和雨加雪增加产流量2.1~3.5倍,可比降雨减少泥沙侵蚀45.4%~80.3%。人工模拟结果表明:对于覆盖度为5%和30%的强度退化草地,次降水量在3.5 mm时,就形成了较为明显的径流和产沙效应,当次降雨量达到7 mm,降雨持续时间15 min,5 m2场地内就会形成1 400 mL以上的径流量;在地表土壤含水量(FDR测0~5 cm平均含水量为36.7%)较高的情况下,次降雨量达4mm,降雨强度超过0.4 mm/min,在5 m2场地内历时5 min就能形成1 060 mL的地表径流,每100 mL径流中含泥沙高达1.6 g。这一试验结果在长江黄河源区3个不同的河源小流域是一致的。     

The relationship of vegetation and soil differentiation during the formation of black-soil-type degraded meadows in the headwater of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

In alpine meadow ecosystems, considerable spatial heterogeneity in forb-dominant vegetation exists as a result of severe grassland degeneration; however, there is limited quantitative information on the vegetative differences between degenerated and pristine grasslands. Therefore, a field study, which seeks to identify the edaphic factors driving the variation in plant composition and distribution, was conducted in a severely degraded alpine meadow located in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, NW China. Five meadows, an original meadow and four degraded meadows, were used to determine the differentiation and relationships between the vegetation and soil of degraded alpine meadows. The dominated species of these degraded meadows are Ligularia virgaurea–Artemisia gmelinii (LA), Oxytropis ochrocephala–Leontopodium nanum (OL), Aconitum pendulum–Potentilla anserina (AP) and Stellera chamaejasme–Artemisia nanschanica (SA), respectively. The results indicate that vegetation cover, grass biomass, species number and diversity indices clearly decrease from the original to the degraded meadow. Soil water, clay and nutrient content are also reduced with grassland degradation in surface and subsoil layers. The joint study of floristic and edaphic variables confirms that the soil features, especially the bulk density, sand content, pH, salinity, N and K, mainly determine the establishment of vegetation in the severely degraded fields of this study. These results may be useful for alpine grassland ecosystem restoration and management.     

Soil erosion determinations by using 137Cs technique in the agricultural regions of Gediz Basin, Western Turkey

Gediz Basin is one of the regions where intense agricultural activities take place in Western Turkey. Erosion and soil degradation have long been causing serious problems to cultivated fields in the basin. This work describes the application of two different ¹³⁷Cs models for estimating soil erosion rates in cultivated sites of the region. Soil samples were collected from five distinct cultivated regions subject to soil erosion. The variations of ¹³⁷Cs concentrations with depth in soil profiles were investigated. Soil loss rates were calculated from ¹³⁷Cs inventories of the samples using both proportional model (PM) and simplified mass balance model (SMBM). When PM was used, erosion and deposition rates varied from −15 to −28 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and from +5 to +41 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively; they varied from −16 to −33 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and from +5 to +55 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ with SMBM. A good agreement was observed between the results of two models up to 30 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ soil loss and gain in the study area. Ulukent, a small representative agricultural field, was selected to compare the present data of ¹³⁷Cs techniques with the results obtained by universal soil loss equation (USLE) applied in the area before.     

Vulnerability of headwater catchment resources to incidences of <Superscript>210</Superscript>Pb excess and <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs radionuclide fallout

Recent identification of elevated excess ²¹⁰Pb (≤302.6 mBq L⁻¹) and ¹³⁷Cs (≤111.3 mBq L⁻¹) activity in drinking water wells up to 20 m depth indicates some transport of airborne radionuclide fallout beyond soils in the Shaker Village catchment, Maine. Estimated airborne mass loading ²¹⁰Pb_ex fluxes of about 0.9 mBq m⁻³, canvass this headwater catchment and may be sufficient to pose risks to unprotected shallow wells. Inventories of ²¹⁰Pb_ex and ¹³⁷Cs in pond sediments indicate maximum median activities of 943 mBq g⁻¹ and 40.0 mBq g⁻¹, respectively. Calculated ²¹⁰Pb_ex fluxes in the catchment soils range from 0.62–0.78 Bq cm⁻² year⁻¹ and yield a mean residence time of near 140 years. Measured ¹³⁷Cs activity up to 51.1 mBq g⁻¹ occurs in sediments at least to 5 m depth. Assumed particle transport in groundwater with apparent ⁸⁵Kr ages less than 5 years BP (2005) may explain the correlation between these particle-reactive radionuclides and elevated activity in some drinking water wells.     

Erosion rates evaluated by the <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs technique in the high altitude area of the Qinghai–Tibet plateau of China

Studying spatial and temporal variation of soil loss is of great importance because of global environmental concerns. Understanding the spatial distribution of soil erosion and deposition in the high-cold steppe is important for designing soil and water conservation measures. Measured ¹³⁷Cs losses (Bq m⁻²) from long-term high altitude (4,000 m above sea level) watershed plots on the Qinghai–Tibet plateau and derived soil erosion estimates (Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) were significantly correlated to directly measured soil losses from the same plots, over the same period (1963–2005). The local reference inventory was estimated to be 2,468 Bq m⁻². The result of analyzing ¹³⁷Cs distribution and its intensity in the soil profiles in this area shows similarities to ¹³⁷Cs distribution in other areas. ¹³⁷Cs is basically distributed in the topsoil layer of 0–0.3 m. Soil erosions vary greatly in the entire sampled area, ranging from 5.5 to 23 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, with an average of 16.5 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ which is a moderate rate of erosion.     

Tectono-thermal evolution of the India-Asia collision zone based on<Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar-<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar thermochronology in Ladakh,India

New⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar thermochronological results from the Ladakh region in the India-Asia collision zone provide a tectono-thermal evolutionary scenario. The characteristic granodiorite of the Ladakh batholith near Leh yielded a plateau age of 46.3 ± 0.6 Ma (2σ). Biotite from the same rock yielded a plateau age of 44.6 ± 0.3 Ma (2σ). The youngest phase of the Ladakh batholith, the leucogranite near Himya, yielded a cooling pattern with a plateau-like age of ∼ 36 Ma. The plateau age of muscovite from the same rock is 29.8 ±0.2 Ma (2σ). These ages indicate post-collision tectono-thermal activity, which may have been responsible for partial melting within the Ladakh batholith. Two basalt samples from Sumdo Nala have also recorded the post-collision tectono-thermal event, which lasted at least for 8 MY in the suture zone since the collision, whereas in the western part of the Indus Suture, pillow lava of Chiktan showed no effect of this event and yielded an age of emplacement of 128.2 ±2.6 Ma (2σ). The available data indicate that post-collision deformation led to the crustal thickening causing an increase in temperature, which may have caused partial melting at the base of the thickened crust. The high thermal regime propagated away from the suture with time.     

Comprehensive analysis of relationship between vegetation attributes and soil erosion on hillslopes in the Loess Plateau of China

In soil and water conservation research, vegetation is considered to be a primary factor affecting soil erosion. Many studies focus on the relationship between soil erosion and a given attribute of vegetation. Few studies have attempted a comprehensive analysis of vegetation attributes. Thus, the aim of this study is to explain the relationship between vegetation and soil erosion in detail. We studied 104 vegetation plots and 104 soil samples in the Yangjuangou catchment, Loess Plateau, Shaanxi Province, China. According to a correlation analysis of the vegetation attributes and soil ¹³⁷Cs inventories, vegetation cover exerts a positive effect on soil erosion. In addition, vegetation aggregation increases with increasing soil loss. During this period of study, plant diversity can have different relationships with soil erosion according to the vegetation pattern. When vegetation distribution is relatively homogeneous, plant cover decreases with increasing diversity, and the soil loss increases. When vegetation pattern distributes between homogeneous and heterogeneous, the relationship between vegetation diversity and soil erosion is not obvious. When vegetation distribution is in a heterogeneous pattern, cover increases with increasing diversity, and soil loss decreases.     

Soil erosion risk and its spatial pattern in upstream area of Guanting reservoir

The spatial pattern of soil erosion can provide valuable insights into the soil erosion processes that require a rapid assessment in practical applications. Generally, quantitative technique is expensive and time-consuming. The objective of this paper is to reveal the spatial pattern of erosion with a rapid assessment method. The affecting factors such as land cover, vegetation fraction and slope gradient are integrated into this method using a qualitative means. Beijing-1 images in 2006 were used to produce land-cover and vegetation fraction, and 1:50,000 topographic maps were used to calculate slope gradient. The study area was classified into six grades. Results show that the upstream area of Guanting Reservoir, in general, is exposed to a moderate risk; there are 17,740.33 km² of land that suffered from water soil erosion in 2006, occupied 40.69% of the total area, and most of the soil erosion area is on the light and moderate risk, which occupied 25.05 and 62.83% of the eroded area, respectively. Eight elevation zones and six slope gradient zones were overlaid with the assessed risk. The analyzed results show that: (1) the areas above 2,000 m have the lowest erosion risk, which is only 0.75% of the eroded area; 1,250–1,500 m elevation zone has the highest erosion risk, which is 34.72% of the eroded area. (2) The slope gradient zone less than 5 degrees and greater than 35 degrees have the lowest erosion risk, which is 0.02 and 0.75% of the eroded area, respectively; the slope gradient zone with 8–15 degrees has the highest erosion risk, which is 36.40% of the eroded area. These results will be useful for water and soil conservation management and the planning of mitigation measures.     

Root biomass distribution in alpine ecosystems of the northern Tibetan Plateau

The root biomass distribution in alpine ecosystems (alpine meadow, alpine steppe, desert grassland and alpine desert) was investigated along a transect on the northern Tibetan Plateau in 2009. The results showed that roots were mainly concentrated in the 0–20 cm layer, and root biomass decreased exponentially with increasing soil depth. Root biomass was estimated to be 1,381.41 ± 245.29 g m⁻² in the top 20 cm soil, accounting for 85% of the total root biomass. The distribution pattern of the root biomass proportion along the soil profile was similar in different alpine ecosystems. The root biomass density varied with different alpine ecosystems and the total average root biomass was 1,626.08 ± 301.76 g m⁻². Root biomass was significantly correlated with average relative humidity, annual precipitation and soil organic matter. This indicates that precipitation and soil organic matter might be crucial for plant growth in the study area, while temperature is not an important factor controlling root growth.     

<Superscript>226</Superscript>Ra, <Superscript>232</Superscript>Th and <Superscript>40</Superscript>K activities in soils of Cuihua Mountain National Geological Park,China

Gamma activity from the naturally occurring radionuclides namely, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, the primordial radionuclide ⁴⁰K was measured in the soil of Cuihua Mountain National Geological Park, China using γ-ray spectrometry technique. The mean activity of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were found to be 27.2 ± 6.5, 43.9 ± 6.2 and 653.1 ± 127.6 Bq kg⁻¹, respectively. The concentrations of these radionuclides were compared with the typical world values and the average activities of Chinese soil. The radium equivalent activity, the air absorbed dose rate, the annual effective dose rate, and the external hazard index were evaluated and compared with the internationally approved values. All the soil samples have Ra_eq lower than the limit of 370 Bq kg⁻¹ and H _ex less than unity. The overall mean outdoor terrestrial gamma dose rate is 66.3 nGy h⁻¹ and the corresponding outdoor annual effective dose is 0.081 mSv.     

Study on the runoff and sediment-producing effects of precipitation in headwater areas of the Yangtze River and Yellow River,China

Natural runoff observation fields with different vegetation coverage were established in the Zuomaoxikongqu River basin in the headwater area of the Yangtze River, and in the Natong River basin and the Kuarewaerma River basin in the headwater area of the Yellow River, China. The experiments were conducted using natural precipitation and artificially simulated precipitation between July and August to study the runoff and sediment-producing effects of precipitation under the conditions of the same slope and different alpine meadow land with coverage in the headwater areas. The results show that, in the three small river basins in the headwater areas of the Yangtze and the Yellow Rivers, the surface runoff yield on the 30° slope surface of the alpine meadow land with a vegetation cover of 30% is markedly larger than that of the fields with a vegetation cover of 95, 92, and 68%. Furthermore, the sediment yield is also obviously larger than the latter three; on an average, the sediment yield caused by a single precipitation event is 2–4 times as large as the latter three. Several typical precipitation forms affecting the runoff yield on the slope surface also influence the process. No matter how the surface conditions are; the rainfall is still the main precipitation form causing soil erosion. In some forms of precipitation, such as the greatest snow melting as water runoff, the sediment yield is minimal. Under the condition of the same precipitation amount, snowfall can obviously increase the runoff yield, roughly 2.1–3.5 times as compared to the combined runoff yield of the Sleet or that of rainfall alone; but meanwhile, the sediment yield and soil erosion rate decrease, roughly decreasing by 45.4–80.3%. High vegetation cover can effectively decrease the runoff-induced erosion. This experimental result is consistent in the three river basins in the headwater areas of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers.     

An analysis of naturally occurring radionuclides and <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs in the soils of urban areas using gamma-ray spectrometry

This study of environmental radioactivity was carried out in the soils of an urban area. Naturally occurring gamma-emitting radionuclides and man-made ¹³⁷Cs were found in the soil profiles collected from four parks in the central Belgrade city area and the soil layer was examined every 10 cm and to a depth of 50 cm. Radioisotope activity concentrations (Bq kg^?1) in the samples of urban soil using the gamma-ray spectrometry method were in the range of 14–46 for ²³⁸U, 33–50 for ²²⁶Ra, 29–63 for ²¹⁰Pb, 1.2–3.4 for ²³⁵U, 28–50 for ²³²Th, 424–576 for ⁴⁰K and 0.7–35.8 for ¹³⁷Cs. Some of the basic physicochemical soil properties (pH, organic matter content, calcium-carbonate content, particle size distribution) were determined to investigate the impact on the vertical distribution of radionuclides. The results of this investigation showed that variations of activity concentration ratios of radionuclides that belong to the same (²³⁸U/²²⁶Ra) or different radioactive series (²³²Th/²²⁶Ra; ²³⁵U/²³⁸U), including ²¹⁰Pb/¹³⁷Cs ratios could well be explained by the properties of the soil. Alkaline pH reaction, the accumulation of organic matter in the uppermost and of carbonates in the deepest layers of urban soil had an effect on ²³⁸U/²²⁶Ra, and ²¹⁰Pb/¹³⁷Cs activity concentration ratio values, while ²³²Th/²²⁶Ra and partially ²³⁵U/²³⁸U ratios were associated with the particle sizes vertical distribution. A study of radionuclides in the samples of leaves of two deciduous tree species common for these parks was also conducted and ²¹⁰Pb and ⁴⁰K were found concentrated in leaves rather than other investigated radionuclides.     

青藏高原多年冻土区活动层土壤入渗特征及机理分析

青藏高原多年冻土区活动层土壤的入渗规律研究是高寒区土壤水循环过程研究的主要内容。以青藏高原多年冻土区高寒沼泽草甸、高寒草甸和高寒草原的活动层土壤为研究对象,裸地为参照对象,分析了不同植被类型土壤的入渗规律及其主要影响因子。结果表明：不同植被类型土壤的入渗能力排序为高寒草原>裸地>高寒草甸>高寒沼泽草甸。高寒草甸土壤中致密的根系对土壤水分的运移具有强烈的阻滞作用,降低了土壤的入渗性能,而高寒草原土壤层根系较为稀疏,对土壤入渗的阻滞作用较弱,土壤水分向深层的渗漏速率较大。通过对比4种土壤入渗模型的模拟结果,发现Horton模型更适用于描述高寒草地土壤水分的入渗过程。另外,不同入渗模型对裸地入渗过程的模拟均优于其他植被类型草地,说明植被类型及植物的生长状况影响土壤入渗过程的模拟效果。全球变暖条件下,多年冻土区土壤入渗研究将为青藏高原多年冻土区陆地水文过程模型提供参数支持,为未来水资源变化研究提供基础数据。     

Soil erosion prediction at the basin scale using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) in a catchment of Sicily (southern Italy)

Soil erosion by water is a serious problem in southern Italy, particularly in Sicily which is one of the Italian administrative regions prone to desertification. Soil erosion not only affects soil quality, in terms of agricultural productivity, but also reduces the availability of water in reservoirs. This study was conducted in the Comunelli catchment in south-central Sicily, to predict potential annual soil loss using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) and to test the reliability of this methodology to predict reservoirs siltation. The RUSLE factors were calculated for the catchment using survey data and rain gauge measurement data. The R-factor was calculated from daily, monthly and annual precipitation data. The K-factor was calculated from soil samples collected in May and November 2004. The LS topographic factor was calculated from a 20 m digital elevation model. The C- and P-factors, in absence of detailed data, were set to 1. The results were compared with those obtained from another soil loss estimation method based on ¹³⁷Cs and with the soil loss estimated from the sediment volume stored in the Comunelli reservoir between 1968 and 2004.     

黄土高原小流域植被变化和侵蚀产沙的孢粉示踪研究初探

如同137Cs和210Pbex核尘埃,土壤和坝库沉积物中的孢粉也源于大气沉降,是否能用于侵蚀产沙的示踪研究?在陕北吴旗周湾水库采集了一些表层土壤和现代淤地坝、古代聚湫坝沉积泥沙的样品,尝试土地利用/覆被变化和侵蚀产沙的孢粉示踪研究。初步研究表明:草地表土孢粉丰富,平均浓度为26077粒/g;有33个科属的花粉,孢粉组合反映了当地以蒿属为主的半干旱温带草原植被;坡耕地表土的孢粉组合和草地一致,但孢粉平均浓度远低于草地,仅5844粒/g。坝库沉积剖面中,和137Cs核素一样,孢粉也富集于每一洪水沉积旋迴的上部层位,可用于沉积旋迴的区分。现代沉积旋迴的孢粉平均浓度,远低于草地和坡耕地表土,这表明草地和坡耕地土壤不是沉积泥沙的主要来源。古代沉积物的孢粉平均浓度高于现代沉积,表明流域内300年前的植被好于现代,或300年前沟谷地的相对产沙量低于现代。古代孢粉组合中十字花科花粉比例高达36·85%,明显高于现代的0·58%含量,这表明草地退化严重,十字花科植物比例急剧降低。孢粉示踪技术在植被环境恢复,沉积旋迴区分,和泥沙来源确定等方面具有一定的潜力,但应建立针对土地利用/覆被变化和侵蚀产沙研究的孢粉示踪技术方法。     

Estimation of soil erosion rates in a subtropical mountain watershed using 137Cs radionuclide

The formulation of watershed management strategies to protect water resources threatened by soil erosion and sedimentation requires a thorough understanding of sediment sources and factors that drive soil movement in the watershed. This paper describes a study of medium-term water-driven soil erosion rates in a mountainous watershed of the Shihmen Reservoir in Taiwan. A total of 60 sampling sites were selected along a hillslope. At each sampling site, the inventory ¹³⁷Cs activity was determined and then calculated with the diffusion and migration model to derive soil erosion rates. The rates are one to two orders of magnitude lower than estimates using the Universal Soil Loss Equation, a soil erosion model often used in Taiwan. Results of multiple regression analysis indicate that the spatial variability of soil erosion rates is associated with the relative position of a sampling site to the nearest ridge and soil bulk densities (r ² = 0.33, p < 0.01). Finally, the patterns of soil redistribution rates on the hillslope follow the ¹³⁷Cs hillslope model as soil erosion increases in the downslope direction. No deposition site is found at footslope because soil deposition is swept away by regular flooding along the stream channel. This study is an important first step in using ¹³⁷Cs as a tracer of soil redistribution in mountainous watersheds of Taiwan.     

Detailed <Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar/<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar dating of geologic events associated with the Mantos Blancos copper deposit,northern Chile

The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronological method was applied to date magmatic and hydrothermal alteration events in the Mantos Blancos mining district in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile, allowing the distinction of two separate mineralization events. The Late Jurassic Mantos Blancos orebody, hosted in Jurassic volcanic rocks, is a magmatic-hydrothermal breccia-style Cu deposit. Two superimposed mineralization events have been recently proposed. The first event is accompanied by a phyllic hydrothermal alteration affecting a rhyolitic dome. The second mineralization event is related to the intrusion of bimodal stocks and sills inside the deposit. Because of the superposition of several magmatic and hydrothermal events, the obtained ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age data are complex; however, with a careful interpretation of the age spectra, it is possible to detect complex histories of successive emplacement, alteration, mineralization, and thermal resetting. The extrusion of Jurassic basic to intermediate volcanic rocks of the La Negra Formation is dated at 156.3 ± 1.4 Ma (2σ) using plagioclase from an andesitic lava flow. The first mineralization event and associated phyllic alteration affecting the rhyolitic dome occurred around 155–156 Ma. A younger bimodal intrusive event, supposed to be equivalent to the bimodal stock and sill system inside the deposit, is probably responsible for the second mineralization event dated at ca. 142 Ma. Other low-temperature alteration events have been dated on sericitized plagioclase at ca. 145–146, 125, and 101 Ma. This is the first time that two distinct mineralization events have been documented from radiometric data for a copper deposit in the metallogenic belt of the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.