KAr geochronology of the Karisimbi volcano (Virunga, Rwanda-Zaire)

Abstract

Ages of potassic, undersaturated lavas from the Karisimbi volcano have been obtained by applying unspiked potassium-argon dating. All age determinations from this study range between 0.14 ± 0.06 and 0.010 ± 0.007 Ma, constraining the formation of the main cone and its parasitic structures to the Late Pleistocene. The history of the volcano, as it has been reconstructed considering the field relationships, can be confirmed by the obtained ages.