Open AccessA calcite reference material for LA‐ICP‐MS U‐Pb geochronology
Author(s) -
Roberts Nick M. W.,
Rasbury E. Troy,
Parrish Randall R.,
Smith Christopher J.,
Horstwood Matthew S. A.,
Condon Daniel J.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.928
H-Index - 136
ISSN - 1525-2027
DOI - 10.1002/2016gc006784
Subject(s) - calcite , geochronology , geology , isotope dilution , geochemistry , diagenesis , zircon , radiogenic nuclide , mineralogy , absolute dating , isotope , mineralization (soil science) , paleontology , mass spectrometry , radiocarbon dating , mantle (geology) , chemistry , physics , chromatography , quantum mechanics , soil science , soil water
Abstract U‐Pb dating of calcite is an emerging but rapidly growing field of application in geochronology with great potential to inform problems in landscape, basin, and mountain belt evolution, through age determination of diagenetic cements, vein mineralization, and geological formations difficult to date otherwise. In this brief, we present isotope dilution U‐Pb isotope measurements on a sample of calcite (WC‐1) that has been and will continue to be used as a reference material for in situ U‐Pb Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) dating, and which is suitable to be distributed to the geochronological community. We present in situ measurements using LA‐ICP‐MS to demonstrate the suitability of WC‐1 for use as a U‐Pb dating reference material, in spite of it not being isotopically homogeneous. The WC‐1 calcite sample is 254.4 ± 6.4 Ma old and comprised 85–98% radiogenic lead. It presents a suitable reference material that can facilitate dating of calcite ranging in age from Precambrian to late Neogene age.