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Zircon Raman dating: Age calculation and data valuation

Zircon Raman dating is a debated concept in thermochronology. It is based on the disruption of the zircon lattice by α-disintegration of 238U, 235U, 232Th, and their daughter nuclides. This radiation damage leads to broadening of the Raman bands. A date is calculated from the measured Raman bandwidths, and the effective Uranium (eU) content, measured in the same spot. Radiation damage anneals at elevated temperatures; thus the Raman date is interpreted with regard to its closure temperature (Tc) as an event, cooling or mixed age, depending on the thermal history of the sample. We present zircon Raman ages calculated from the widths of the 439, 1008, and 356 cm-1 Raman bands for samples with different thermal histories. We discuss: (1) criteria for evaluating the Raman data by inter-band comparison; (2) the effect of partial annealing on the dating results; (3) the spatial matching of Raman and eU microanalysis.

Details

Author
Birk Härtel, Raymond Jonckheere, Lothar Ratschbacher
Institutionen
Geology, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany
Veranstaltung
GeoKarlsruhe 2021
Datum
2021
DOI
10.48380/dggv-n06b-0124
Geolocation
Germany