Articles | Volume 8, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-463-2026
© Author(s) 2026. 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-8-463-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
27 Aug 2026
Research article |
| 27 Aug 2026
| 27 Aug 2026
Uncertainty in helium diffusion in zircon limits thermochronologic resolution: application to the Great Unconformity
Matthew Fox
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
London Geochronology Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, Gower St., London, WC16BT, UK
Adam G. G. Smith
London Geochronology Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, Gower St., London, WC16BT, UK
now at: School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
Pieter Vermeesch
London Geochronology Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, Gower St., London, WC16BT, UK
Kerry Gallagher
Géosciences Rennes/OSEREN, University of Rennes, Rennes, France
Andrew Carter
London Geochronology Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, Gower St., London, WC16BT, UK
School of Natural Sciences, Birkbeck College, Malet St., London, WC1E 7HX, UK
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Short summary
The ability to reconstruct thermal histories from thermochronometric data is determined by kinetic parameters. The Great Unconformity represents an enormous amount of time lost from the sedimentary record and has been explored with zircon (U–Th)/He ages. Here we explore the uncertainty associated with the radiation damage model and show how this limits our ability to resolve the origin of the Great Unconformity.
The ability to reconstruct thermal histories from thermochronometric data is determined by...
