Project description

The project is studying the potential use of polyhalite, a K-Ca-Mg-sulphate, for dating low-temperature processes and tectonic deformation of tectonic evaporite mélanges by the 40Ar/39Ar method. The ongoing work include (1) 40Ar/39Ar dating of polyhalite formed during distinct geological processes, (2) characterization of microfabrics of polyhalite-bearing rocks such as rocksalt and anhydrite, (3) 40Ar/39Arbiotite as well as zircon and apatite fission track and (U-Th)/He analysis of magmatic and siliciclastic blocks in order to cross-check the results from step (1). The study will focus on the evaporitic Haselgebirge mélange of latest Permian to Early Triassic depositional age in the Eastern Alps.

SCHORN, A., NEUBAUER, F., 2014 (in press). The structure of the Hallstatt evaporite body (Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria): a compressive diapir superposed by strike-slip shear?, Journal of Structural Geology, 60, 70-84.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2013.12.008.

LEITNER, C., NEUBAUER, F., GENSER, J., BOROJEVIĆ-ŠOŠTARIĆ, B., RANTITSCH, G., 2013. 40Ar/39Ar ages of crystallisation and recrystallisation of rock-forming polyhalite in Alpine rocksalt deposit. In: JOURDAN, F., MARK, D. F. & VERATI, C. (eds.) 2013. Advances in 40Ar/39Ar Dating from Archaeology to Planetary Sciences. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 378, 18 p.,  http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/SP378.5.

LEITNER, C., NEUBAUER, F., MARSCHALLINGER, R., GENSER, J., BERNROIDER, M. 2013. Origin of deformed halite hopper crystals, pseudomorphic anhydrite cubes and polyhalite in Alpine evaporites (Austria, Germany). International Journal of Earth Sciences, 102, 813–829.

SCHORN, A., NEUBAUER, F., BERNROIDER, M., 2013. Polyhalite microfabrics in an Alpine evaporite mélange: Hallstatt, Eastern Alps. Journal of Structural Geology, 46, 57–75,  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2012.10.006.

SCHORN, A., NEUBAUER, F., GENSER, J., BERNROIDER, M., 2013. The Haselgebirge evaporitic mélange in central Northern Calcareous Alps (Austria): Part of the Permian to Lower Triassic rift of the Meliata ocean? Tectonophysics, 583, 28–48,  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2012.10.016.

LEITNER, C., NEUBAUER, F., 2011. Tectonic significance of structures within the salt deposits Altaussee and Berchtesgaden–Bad Dürrnberg, Northern Calcareous Alps. Austrian Journal of Earth Sciences, 104/2, 2-21, www.univie.ac.at/ajes/
archive/volume_104_2/leitner_neubauer_ajes_v04_2.pdf. 

SCHORN, A., NEUBAUER, F., 2011. Emplacement of an evaporitic melange nappe in central Northern Calcareous Alps: evidence from the Mooseggklippe (Austria).  Austrian Journal of Earth Sciences, 104/2, 22-46, www.univie.ac.at/ajes/
archive/volume_104_2/Schorn_neubauer_ajes_v04_2.pdf.

LEITNER, C., NEUBAUER, F., URAI. J. L., SCHOENHERR, J., 2011. Structure and Evolution of a Rocksalt-Mudrock-Tectonite: the Haselgebirge in the Northern Calcareous Alps. Journal of Structural Geology, 33, 970–984.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2011.02.008.