The virtual-spot approach: a simple method for image U–Pb carbonate geochronology by high-repetition-rate LA-ICP-MS

Hoareau, Guilhem; Claverie, Fanny; Pecheyran, Christophe; Barbotin, Gaëlle; Perk, Michael; Beaudoin, Nicolas E.; Lacroix, Brice; Rasbury, E. Troy

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-7-387-2025

Articles | Volume 7, issue 3

https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-7-387-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-7-387-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 7, issue 3

Research article

|

27 Aug 2025

Research article |

| 27 Aug 2025

The virtual-spot approach: a simple method for image U–Pb carbonate geochronology by high-repetition-rate LA-ICP-MS

Guilhem Hoareau, Fanny Claverie, Christophe Pecheyran, Gaëlle Barbotin, Michael Perk, Nicolas E. Beaudoin, Brice Lacroix, and E. Troy Rasbury

Data sets

Supplement to "The virtual spot approach: a simple method for image U-Pb carbonate geochronology by high-repetition rate LA-ICP-MS" by Hoareau et al Guilhem Hoareau et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15582570

Short summary

We present an approach to dating of carbonates using isotopic maps. The maps are divided into squares called virtual spots. For each virtual spot, statistical values (mean, uncertainty) are used to determine the age. The user can modify the size and location of the virtual spots and select those that give the most robust age. This approach, applied to high-spatial-resolution images, makes it possible for the first time to obtain satisfactory ages on maps as small as 100 µm x 100 µm.