Articles | Volume 8, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-63-2026
© 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-8-63-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
26 Jan 2026
Research article |
| 26 Jan 2026
| 26 Jan 2026
Improving crystallization and eruption age estimation using U-Th disequilibrium dating of young volcanic zircon
Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
Marcel Guillong
Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
Chetan Nathwani
Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
Kurumi Iwahashi
Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
Geological Survey of Japan, AIST, Tsukuba, Japan
Razvan-Gabriel Popa
Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
Olivier Bachmann
Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
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Dawid Szymanowski, Marcel Guillong, Pieter Vermeesch, and Philip J. Hopley
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4403, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4403, 2026
Short summary
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U–Pb geochronology of carbonates using 238U and 206Pb can be inaccurate beyond ca. 2 Ma. This paper explores analytical strategies to use the more accurate, alternative approach using 235U and 207Pb. Solution mode and laser ablation analyses of reference materials and of a South African speleothem demonstrate that this method is widely applicable, improving our ability to provide accurate carbonate chronologies, particularly in the freshwater realm.
Chetan Nathwani, Dawid Szymanowski, Lorenzo Tavazzani, Sava Markovic, Adrianna L. Virmond, and Cyril Chelle-Michou
Geochronology, 7, 15–33, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-7-15-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-7-15-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We performed a statistical analysis of high-precision U–Pb zircon age distributions. This reveals that volcanic and porphyry zircon age distributions are skewed to younger ages, whereas plutonic age distributions are skewed to older ages. We show that this is caused by truncation of zircon crystallisation by magma evacuation rather than differences in magmatic flux. Our contribution has key implications for modelling of magma dynamics and eruption ages using zircon age distributions.
Marcel Guillong, Elias Samankassou, Inigo A. Müller, Dawid Szymanowski, Nathan Looser, Lorenzo Tavazzani, Óscar Merino-Tomé, Juan R. Bahamonde, Yannick Buret, and Maria Ovtcharova
Geochronology, 6, 465–474, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-6-465-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-6-465-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
RA138 is a new reference material for U–Pb dating of carbonate samples via laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. RA138 exhibits variable U–Pb ratios and consistent U content, resulting in a precise isochron with low uncertainty. Isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry analyses fix a reference age of 321.99 ± 0.65 Ma. This research advances our ability to date carbonate samples accurately, providing insights into geological processes and historical timelines.
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Short summary
To improve U-Th zircon dating, we optimized a U-Th-Pb double-dating strategy for young zircon (150–300 ka). We found that the overall U-Th age spectrum is consistent whether assuming a constant melt composition or constant U/Th fractionation between zircon and melt, but testing the representability of the measured glass with the youngest isochron intercept proved essential. A Bayesian model with a uniform prior distribution gave the most accurate estimates of eruption timing for U-Th datasets.
To improve U-Th zircon dating, we optimized a U-Th-Pb double-dating strategy for young zircon...
