Articles | Volume 4, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-4-373-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-4-373-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
15 Jun 2022
Research article |
| 15 Jun 2022
| 15 Jun 2022
Simulating sedimentary burial cycles – Part 2: Elemental-based multikinetic apatite fission-track interpretation and modelling techniques illustrated using examples from northern Yukon
Dale R. Issler
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada, Calgary, AB
T2L 2A7, Canada
Kalin T. McDannell
Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755,
USA
Paul B. O'Sullivan
GeoSep Services, Moscow, ID 83843, United States
Larry S. Lane
Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada, Calgary, AB
T2L 2A7, Canada
Related authors
Kalin T. McDannell and Dale R. Issler
Geochronology, 3, 321–335, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-3-321-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-3-321-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We generated a synthetic dataset applying published kinetic models and distinct annealing kinetics for the apatite fission track and (U–Th)/He methods using a predetermined thermal history. We then tested how well the true thermal history could be recovered under different data interpretation schemes and geologic constraint assumptions using the Bayesian QTQt software. Our results demonstrate that multikinetic data increase time–temperature resolution and can constrain complex thermal histories.
Katrin Meier, Paul O'Sullivan, David Chew, Karsten Piepjohn, Solveig Estrada, Nikola Koglin, Patrick Monien, Frank Lisker, and Cornelia Spiegel
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1389, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1389, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Solid Earth (SE).
Short summary
Short summary
Stretching over 1000 kilometres along the Arctic margin, the Eurekan Belt illustrates how fault systems shaped the crust of North Greenland. These interconnected fault systems controlled deformation and exhumation before, during, and after mountain building. Using thermochronology and thermal history modelling, we reconstructed their activity and the resulting crustal evolution. Our findings provide crucial constraints for plate reconstructions and Arctic climate models.
Kalin T. McDannell and C. Brenhin Keller
Geochronology Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-2024-3, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-2024-3, 2024
Publication in GChron not foreseen
Short summary
Short summary
We introduce a new statistical method for determining the time of "peak cooling" in thermochronological inversions. Specifically, we focus on the time-temperature paths that intersect the half-maximum cooling isotherm, signifying the zenith or most rapid cooling within a defined interval. The resultant interpolated time distribution provides a systematic metric, particularly applicable for evaluating model cooling characterized by relatively smooth histories featuring a single inflection point.
Kalin T. McDannell and Dale R. Issler
Geochronology, 3, 321–335, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-3-321-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-3-321-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We generated a synthetic dataset applying published kinetic models and distinct annealing kinetics for the apatite fission track and (U–Th)/He methods using a predetermined thermal history. We then tested how well the true thermal history could be recovered under different data interpretation schemes and geologic constraint assumptions using the Bayesian QTQt software. Our results demonstrate that multikinetic data increase time–temperature resolution and can constrain complex thermal histories.
Cited articles
Barbarand, J., Carter, A., Wood, I., and Hurford, T.: Compositional and
structural control of fission-track annealing in apatite, Chem. Geol.,
198, 107–137, 2003.
Brandon, M. T.: Decomposition of mixed grain age distributions using
Binomfit, On Track, 24, 13–18,
https://campuspress.yale.edu/markbrandon/files/2016/01
(last access: 27 November 2020),
2002.
Burtner, R. L., Nigrini, A., and Donelick, R. A.: Thermochronology of Lower
Cretaceous source rocks in the Idaho-Wyoming thrust belt, Am. Assoc. Pet.
Geol. Bull., 78, 1613–1636,
https://doi.org/10.1306/a25ff233-171b-11d7-8645000102c1865d, 1994.
Carlson, W. D., Donelick, R. A., and Ketcham, R. A.: Variability of apatite
fission-track annealing kinetics: I. Experimental results, Am. Mineral.,
84, 1213–1223, 1999.
Carter, A. and Gallagher, K.: Characterizing the significance of provenance
on the inference of thermal history models from apatite fission-track data – a
synthetic data study, Goel. Soc. Am. Spec. Paper, 378, 7–23, 2004.
Chew, D. M. and Donelick, R. A.: Combined apatite fission track and U-Pb
dating by LA-ICP-MS and its application in apatite provenance analysis,
Quantitative Mineralogy And Microanalysis of Sediments And Sedimentary Rocks, edited by: Sylvester, P., Mineralogical Association of Canada Short Course Series, 42, 219–247, ISBN: 978-0-921294-52-8, 2012.
Cogné, N., Chew, D. M., Donelick, R. A., and Ansberque, C.: LA-ICP-MS
apatite fission track dating: A practical zeta-based approach, Chem. Geol.,
531, 1–11, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2019.119302, 2020.
Coutand, I., Carrapa, B., Deeken, A., Schmitt, A. K., Sobel, E. R., and
Strecker, M. R.: Propagation of orographic barriers along an active range
front: Insights from sandstone petrography and detrital apatite
fission-track thermochronology in the intramontane Angastaco basin, NW
Argentina, Basin Res., 18, 1–26, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2117.2006.00283.x,
2006.
Crowley, K. D., Cameron, M., and Shaefer, R. I.: Experimental studies of
annealing of etched fission tracks in fluorapatite, Geochim. Cosmochim.
Acta, 55, 1449–1465, 1991.
Donelick, R. A.: A method of fission track analysis utilizing bulk chemical
etching of apatite, U.S. Patent 5267274, https://www.freepatentsonline.com/5267274.html (last access: 10 June 2022), 1993.
Donelick, R. A., Roden, M. K., Mooers, J. D., Carpenter, B. S., and Miller,
D. S.: Etchable length reduction of induced fission tracks in apatite at
room temperature (∼23 ∘C): Crystallographic orientation effects
and “initial” mean lengths, Int. J. Radiat. Appl. Instrumentation Part D
Nucl. Tracks Radiat. Meas., 17, 261–265, 1990.
Donelick, R. A., O'Sullivan, P. B., and Ketcham, R. A.: Apatite fission-track
analysis, Rev. Mineral. Geochemistry, 58, 49–94, 2005.
Galbraith, R. F.: The radial plot: graphical assessment of spread in ages,
Int. J. Radiat. Appl. Instrumentation. Part D. Nucl. Tracks Radiat. Meas.,
17, 207–214, 1990.
Galbraith, R. F. and Green, P. F.: Estimating the component ages in a finite
mixture, Int. J. Radiat. Appl. Instrumentation. Part D. Nucl. Tracks Radiat.
Meas., 17, 197–206, 1990.
Galbraith, R. F. and Laslett, G. M.: Statistical models for mixed fission
track ages, Nucl. Tracks Radiat. Meas., 21, 459–470, 1993.
Gallagher, K.: Evolving temperature histories from apatite fission-track
data, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 136, 421–435, 1995.
Gallagher, K.: Transdimensional inverse thermal history modeling for
quantitative thermochronology, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 117, 1–16,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JB008825, 2012.
Gallagher, K. and Ketcham, R. A.: Comment on the reply to the Comment on
“Thermal history modelling: HeFTy vs. QTQt” by Vermeesch and Tian,
Earth-Science Reviews (2014), 139, 279–290, Earth Sci. Rev., 203, 279–290,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2019.102878, 2020.
Gallagher, K., Brown, R., and Johnson, C.: Fission track analysis and its
applications to geological problems, Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., 26,
519–572, 1998.
Garver, J. I., Brandon, M. T., Roden-Tice, M., and Kamp, P. J. J.: Exhumation
history of orogenic highlands determined by detrital fission-track
thermochronology, in: Geological Society Special Publication, 154,
283–304, Geological Society of London, https://sp.lyellcollection.org/content/154/1/283.short (last access: 15 November 2017), 1999.
Gleadow, A. J. W., Duddy, I. R., and Lovering, J. F.: Fission track analysis:
a new tool for the evaluation of thermal histories and hydrocarbon
potential, APPEA J., 23, 93–102,
https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ82009, 1983.
Gleadow, A. J. W., Belton, D. X., Kohn, B. P., and Brown, R. W.: Fission
track dating of phosphate minerals and the thermochronology of apatite, Rev.
Mineral. Geochemistry, 48, 579–630, 2002.
Green, P. F.: AFTA Today, OnTrack, 5, 8–10, 1995.
Green, P. F., Duddy, I. R., Gleadow, A. J. W., Tingate, P. R., and Laslett,
G. M.: Fission-track annealing in apatite: track length measurements and the
form of the Arrhenius plot, Nucl. Tracks Radiat. Meas., 10, 323–328,
1985.
Green, P. F., Duddy, I. R., Gleadow, A. J. W., Tingate, P. R., and Laslett,
G. M.: Thermal annealing of fission tracks in apatite: 1. A qualitative
description, Chem. Geol. Isot. Geosci. Sect., 59, 237–253, 1986.
Green, P. F., Duddy, I. R., Laslett, G. M., Hegarty, K. A., Gleadow, A. J.
W., and Lovering, J. F.: Thermal annealing of fission tracks in apatite 4.
Quantitative modelling techniques and extension to geological timescales,
Chem. Geol. Isot. Geosci. Sect., 79, 155–182, 1989.
Hasebe, N., Barbarand, J., Jarvis, K., Carter, A., and Hurford, A. J.:
Apatite fission-track chronometry using laser ablation ICP-MS, Chem. Geol.,
207, 135–145, 2004.
Hurford, A. J. and Green, P. F.: A users' guide to fission track dating
calibration, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 59, 343–354, 1982.
Issler, D. R.: An inverse model for extracting thermal histories from
apatite fission track data: instructions and software for the Windows 95
environment, Geol. Surv. Canada, Open File 2325, 85, https://doi.org/10.4095/208313, 1996.
Issler, D. R.: Integrated thermal history analysis of sedimentary basins
using multi-kinetic apatite fission track thermochronology: examples from
northern Canada, AAPG Distinguished Lectures, AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90101,
http://www.searchanddiscovery.com/abstracts/html/2010/DL/ (last access: 10 June 2022), 2011.
Issler, D. R. and Grist, A. M.: Integrated thermal history analysis of the
Beaufort-Mackenzie basin using multi-kinetic apatite fission track
thermochronology, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 72, A413–A413,
https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/starweb/geoscan/servlet.starweb?path=geoscan/fulle.web&search1=R=225531 (last access: 10 June 2022),
2008a.
Issler, D. R. and Grist, A. M.: Reanalysis and reinterpretation of apatite
fission track data from the central Mackenzie Valley, NWT, northern Canada:
implications for kinetic parameter determination and thermal modeling,
edited by: Garver, J. I. and Montario, M. J., Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Thermochronometry, Anchorage, Alaska, 15–19 September 2008, 130–132,
https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/starweb/geoscan/servlet.starweb?path=geoscan/fulle.web&search1=R=225530 (last access: 10 June 2022),
2008b.
Issler, D. R. and Grist, A. M.: Apatite fission track thermal history
analysis of the Beaufort-Mackenzie Basin, Arctic Canada: a natural
laboratory for testing multi-kinetic thermal annealing models, Thermo 2014,
14th International Conference on Thermochronology, Chamonix-Mont Blanc, France, 8–14 September 2014, 125–126,
https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/starweb/geoscan/servlet.starweb?path=geoscan/fulle.web&search1=R=293881 (last access: 10 June 2022),
2014.
Issler, D. R., Grist, A. M., and Stasiuk, L. D.: Post-Early Devonian thermal
constraints on hydrocarbon source rock maturation in the Keele Tectonic
Zone, Tulita area, NWT, Canada, from multi-kinetic apatite fission track
thermochronology, vitrinite reflectance and shale compaction, Bull. Can.
Pet. Geol., 53, 405–431, https://doi.org/10.2113/53.4.405, 2005.
Issler, D. R., Jiang, C., Reyes, J., and Obermajer, M.: Integrated analysis
of vitrinite reflectance, Rock-Eval 6, gas chromatography, and gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry data for the Reindeer D-27 and Tununuk K-10
wells, Beaufort-Mackenzie Basin, northern Canada, Geol. Surv. Canada, Open
File 8047, 94, https://doi.org/10.4095/297905, 2016.
Issler, D. R., Lane, L. S., and O'Sullivan, P. B.: Characterization,
interpretation, and modelling of multikinetic apatite fission-track data
using elemental data, Geol. Surv. Canada, Sci. Present., 94,
https://doi.org/10.4095/311302, 2018.
Issler, D. R., McDannell, K. T., Lane, L. S., O'Sullivan, P. B., and Neill,
O. K.: A multikinetic approach to apatite fission-track thermal modelling
using elemental data: data and model results for a Permian and Devonian
sample from northern Yukon, Geol. Surv. Canada, Open File 8821, GEOSCAN [data set], https://doi.org/10.4095/328844, 2021.
Jepson, G., Carrapa, B., George, S. W. M., Triantafyllou, A., Egan, S. M.,
Constenius, K. N., Gehrels, G. E., and Ducea, M. N.: Resolving mid- to
upper-crustal exhumation through apatite petrochronology and
thermochronology, Chem. Geol., 565, 120071,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2021.120071, 2021.
Ketcham, R. A.: Forward and Inverse Modeling of Low-Temperature
Thermochronometry Data, in: Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, vol. 58,
edited by: Reiners, T. A. and Elhers, P. W., 275–314, Mineralogical Society of America, https://doi.org/10.2138/rmg.2005.58.11, 2005.
Ketcham, R. A.: Calculation of stoichiometry from EMP data for apatite and
other phases with mixing on monovalent anion sites, Am. Mineral., 100,
1620–1623, 2015.
Ketcham, R. A., Donelick, R. A., and Carlson, W. D.: Variability of apatite
fission-track annealing kinetics; III, Extrapolation to geological time
scales, Am. Mineral., 84, 1235–1255,
https://doi.org/10.2138/am-1999-0903, 1999.
Ketcham, R. A., Donelick, R. A., and Donelick, M. B.: AFTSolve: A program for
multi-kinetic modeling of apatite fission-track data, Geol. Mater. Res.,
2, 1–32,
http://www.minsocam.org/gmr/papers/v2/v2n1/v2n1abs.html (last access: 10 June 2022), 2000.
Ketcham, R. A., Carter, A., Donelick, R. A., Barbarand, J., and Hurford, A.
J.: Improved modeling of fission-track annealing in apatite, Am. Mineral.,
92, 799–810, https://doi.org/10.2138/am.2007.2281, 2007.
Link, C. M. and Bustin, R. M.: Organic maturation and thermal history of
Phanerozoic strata in northern Yukon and northwestern District of Mackenzie,
Bull. Can. Pet. Geol., 37, 266–292, https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/bcpg/issue/37/3,
1989.
Lisker, F., Ventura, B., and Glasmacher, U. A.: Apatite thermochronology in
modern geology, Geol.
Soc. Spec. Publ., 324, 1–23,
https://sp.lyellcollection.org/content/324/1/1 (last access: 10 June 2022), 2009.
Malusà, M. G. and Fitzgerald, P. G.: Fission-Track Thermochronology and
its Application to Geology, Springer Textbooks in Earth Sciences, Geography and Environment, 393 pp.,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89421-8, 2019.
McDannell, K. T.: Notes on statistical age dispersion in fission-track
datasets: the chi-square test, annealing variability, and analytical
considerations, EarthArXiv, 1–4, https://doi.org/10.31223/osf.io/uj4hx,
2020.
McDannell, K. T. and Issler, D. R.: Simulating sedimentary burial cycles – Part 1: Investigating the role of apatite fission track annealing kinetics using synthetic data, Geochronology, 3, 321–335, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-3-321-2021, 2021.
McDannell, K. T., Schneider, D. A., Zeitler, P. K., O'Sullivan, P. B., and
Issler, D. R.: Reconstructing deep-time histories from integrated
thermochronology: An example from southern Baffin Island, Canada, Terra
Nov., 31, 189–204, https://doi.org/10.1111/ter.12386, 2019.
McDannell, K. T., Pinet, N., and Issler, D. R.: Exhuming the Canadian Shield:
preliminary interpretations from low-temperature thermochronology and
significance for the sedimentary succession of the Hudson Bay Basin, in:
Sedimentary basins of the Canadian north – contributions to a 1000 Ma
geological journey and insight on resource potential, edited by: Lavoie, D.
and Dewing, K., Geol. Surv. Can. B., 609, https://doi.org/10.31223/X54P5F, in press, 2022.
Nielsen, C. H. and Sigurdsson, H.: Quantitative methods for electron
microprobe analysis of sodium in natural and synthetic glasses, Am.
Mineral., 66, 547–552, 1981.
Nielsen, S. B., Clausen, O. R., and McGregor, E.: basin%Ro: A vitrinite
reflectance model derived from basin and laboratory data, Basin Res., 29,
515–536, https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12160, 2017.
Norris, D. K.: Geology, Eagle River, Yukon Territory, Geol. Surv. Canada, Map
1523A, https://doi.org/10.4095/109352, 1981.
Powell, J. W., Schneider, D. A., and Issler, D. R.: Application of
multi-kinetic apatite fission track and (U-Th)/He thermochronology to source
rock thermal history: a case study from the Mackenzie Plain, NWT, Canada,
Basin Res., 30, 497–512, https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12233, 2018.
Powell, J. W., Issler, D. R., Schneider, D. A., Fallas, K. M., and Stockli,
D. F.: Thermal history of the Mackenzie Plain, Northwest Territories,
Canada: Insights from low-temperature thermochronology of the Devonian
Imperial Formation, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 132, 767–783, 2020.
Price, W. L.: A controlled random search procedure for global optimisation,
Comput. J., 20, 367–370, 1977.
Ravenhurst, C. E., Roden-Tice, M. K., and Miller, D. S.: Thermal annealing of
fission tracks in fluorapatite, chlorapatite, manganoanapatite, and Durango
apatite: Experimental results, Can. J. Earth Sci., 40, 995–1007,
https://doi.org/10.1139/e03-032, 2003.
Reyes, J., Saad, S., and Lane, L. S.: Organic petrology and vitrinite thermal
maturation profiles for eight Yukon petroleum exploration wells in Eagle
Plain and Liard basins, Geol. Surv. Canada, Open File 7056, 1–56,
https://doi.org/10.4095/293110, 2013.
Sambridge, M. S. and Compston, W.: Mixture modeling of multi-component data
sets with application to ion-probe zircon ages, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.,
128, 373–390, https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(94)90157-0, 1994.
Schneider, D. A. and Issler, D. R.: Application of Low-Temperature
Thermochronology to Hydrocarbon Exploration, in: Fission-Track
Thermochronology and its Application to Geology, 1st edn., edited by: Malusà, M. G.
and Fitzgerald, P., Springer International Publishing, Cham, 315–333, https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-89421-8_18 (last access: 10 June 2022),
2019.
Sweeney, J. J. and Burnham, A. K.: Evaluation of a simple model of vitrinite
reflectance based on chemical kinetics, Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull., 74,
1559–1570, 1990.
Tamer, M. and Ketcham, R.: Is Low-Temperature Fission-Track Annealing in
Apatite a Thermally Controlled Process?, Geochem. Geophys. Geosystems,
21, e2019GC008877, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GC008877, 2020.
Tello, C. A., Palissari, R., Hadler, J. C., lunes, P. J., Guedes, S., Curvo,
E. A., and Paulo, S. R.: Annealing experiments on induced fission tracks in
apatite: Measurements of horizontal-confined track lengths and track
densities in basal sections and randomly oriented grains, Am. Mineral.,
91, 252–260, 2006.
Vermeesch, P.: On the visualisation of detrital age distributions, Chem.
Geol., 312–313, 190–194, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2012.04.021, 2012.
Vermeesch, P.: Statistics for Fission-Track Thermochronology, in:
Fission-Track Thermochronology and its Application to Geology, 1st edn., edited by: Malusà, M. G. and Fitzgerald, P., Springer International
Publishing, Cham, 109–122, ISBN: 978-3-319-89419-5, 2019.
Wagner, G. A. and Van den Haute, P.: Fission Track Dating, 1st edn., Solid Earth Sciences Library v. 6, Klewer Academic
Publishers, Dordrecht, ISBN-10: 079231624X, 1992.
Willett, S. D.: Inverse modeling of annealing of fission tracks in apatite
1: A controlled random search method, Am. J. Sci., 297, 939–969,
https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.297.10.939, 1997.
Short summary
Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks of northern Canada have compositionally heterogeneous detrital apatite with high age dispersion caused by differential thermal annealing. Discrete apatite fission track kinetic populations with variable annealing temperatures are defined using elemental data but are poorly resolved using conventional parameters. Inverse thermal modelling of samples from northern Yukon reveals a record of multiple heating–cooling cycles consistent with geological constraints.
Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks of northern Canada have compositionally heterogeneous detrital...
