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Recommendations for the reporting and interpretation of isotope dilution U-Pb geochronological information


Abstract U-Pb geochronology by isotope dilution−thermal ionization mass spectrometry (ID-TIMS) has the potential to be the most precise and accurate of the deep time chronometers, especially when applied to high-U minerals such as zircon. Continued analytical improvements have made this technique capable of regularly achieving better than 0.1% precision and accuracy of dates from commonly occurring high-U minerals across a wide range of geological ages and settings. To help maximize the long-term utility of published results, we present and discuss some recommendations for reporting ID-TIMS U-Pb geochronological data and associated metadata in accordance with accepted principles of data management. Further, given that the accuracy of reported ages typically depends on the interpretation applied to a set of individual dates, we discuss strategies for data interpretation. We anticipate that this paper will serve as an instructive guide for geologists who are publishing ID-TIMS U-Pb data, for laboratories generating the data, the wider geoscience community who use such data, and also editors of journals who wish to be informed about community standards. Combined, our recommendations should increase the utility, veracity, versatility, and “half-life” of ID-TIMS U-Pb geochronological data.
Authors Daniel J. Condon ORCID , Blair Schoene ORCID , Mark D. Schmitz ORCID , Urs Schaltegger ORCID , Ryan B. Ickert ORCID , Yuri Amelin ORCID , Lars Eivind Augland , Kevin R. Chamberlain University of WyomingORCID , Drew S. Coleman ORCID , James N. Connelly ORCID , Fernando Corfú ORCID , James L. Crowley ORCID , Joshua H.F.L. Davies ORCID , Steven W. Denyszyn ORCID , Michael P. Eddy , Sean P. Gaynor ORCID , Larry M. Heaman , Magdalena H. Huyskens ORCID , Sandra L. Kamo ORCID , Jennifer Kasbohm ORCID , C. Brenhin Keller ORCID , S. A. MacLennan ORCID , Noah M. McLean ORCID , Stephen R. Noble , Maria Ovtcharova , André Navin Paul ORCID , Jahandar Ramezani ORCID , Matthew Rioux ORCID , Diana Sahy ORCID , James S. Scoates ORCID , Dawid Szymanowski ORCID , Simon Tapster ORCID , Marion Tichomirowa ORCID , Corey J. Wall ORCID , Jörn‐Frederik Wotzlaw ORCID , Chonglin Yang ORCID , Qing‐Zhu Yin ORCID
Journal Info Geological Society of America | GSA Bulletin
Publication Date 4/1/2024
ISSN 0016-7606
TypeKeyword Image article
Open Access bronze Bronze Access
DOI https://doi.org/10.1130/b37321.1
KeywordsKeyword Image