closure temperature

Noun

closure temperature (plural closure temperatures)

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

   Synonyms:

   blocking temperature