closure temperature

plural closure temperatures

1. geographyThe temperature, of a mineral, etc., below which there is no significant diffusion of isotopes into the external environment; the temperature of said mineral at the time it was formed (as calculated by radiometric dating).

   The relationship between the closure temperature of a mineral and its cooling history can be put onto a more rigorous footing by the use of some thermodynamics.

   1990, C. M. R. Fowler, The Solid Earth, Cambridge University Press, page 199

   2 more examples

   Dodson (1973) introduced the term closure temperature, which he defined as the temperature of the thermochronological system at the time t#95;c corresponding to its apparent age (cf. Figure 2.1). The closure temperature, which by definition lies between the open-system and blocking temperatures, provides the simplest conceptual entity to which a thermochronological age can be related.

   2006, Jean Braun, Peter van der Beek, Geoffrey Batt, Quantitative Thermochronology, Cambridge University Press, page 23

   2020, Barbara A. Romanowicz, Seismic Tomography of the Earth's Mantle, David Alderton, Scott A. Elias (editors-in-chief), Encyclopedia of Geology, Volume 1, 2nd Edition, Academic Press, page 606, As the closure temperature varies for every mineral and isotopic system, a system can be closed for one mineral at some temperature but open for another.

   Synonyms: blocking temperature