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.

Age–depth models assign ages to sampling locations (e.g., in drill cores), making them crucial to the determined timing and pace of past changes. We present two methods to estimate age–depth models from sedimentological and stratigraphic information, resulting in richer and more empirically realistic age–depth models. As a use case, we (1)  determine the timing of the Frasnian–Famennian extinction and (2) examine the duration of the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), a potential deep-time analog for anthropogenic climate change.

Cosmogenic nuclide exposure dating is an exceptional tool for reconstructing glacier histories, but reconstructions based on common target nuclides (e.g., ¹⁰Be) can be costly and time-consuming to generate. Here, we present a cost-effective proof-of-concept ²¹Ne exposure age chronology from Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA, USA, that broadly agrees with nearby ¹⁰Be chronologies but at lower precision.

We apply luminescence dating of feldspars to establish a geochronological framework for the sequence of accretionary hillslope deposition at Jojosi, which contains important archaeological artefacts. We test and evaluate four different dose models and their applicability to single-grain and multi-grain data sets containing up to 67 % saturated grains. Our results constrain erosional and depositional processes from 100–700 ka and human occupation of the area in early MIS 5 and late MIS 6.

Sediment generation on hillslopes and transport through river networks are complex processes that influence landscape evolution. In this study, we compiled sand from 766 river basins and measured its subtle radioactivity to unravel timelines of sediment routing around the world. With these data, we empirically confirm that sediment from large lowland basins in tectonically stable regions typically experiences long periods of burial, while sediment moves rapidly through small upland basins.

This paper describes how krypton isotopes produced by nuclear fission can be used to determine the age of microscopic particles of used nuclear fuel. This is potentially useful for international safeguard applications aimed at tracking and identifying nuclear materials, as well as geoscience applications involving dating post-1950s sediments or understanding environmental transport of nuclear materials.

We have discovered a new way of measuring the three-dimensional distribution of radioactive elements in individual crystals by shining a very bright light on apatite crystals at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. This allows us to learn about the rates and timing of geologic processes and to help resolve problems that previously were unsolvable because we had no way to make this type of measurement.

We used step heating to separate cosmogenic ³He from mantle ³He in olivine xenocrysts in which the mantle helium component is in high concentration after sample powdering. By isolating the matrix-sited cosmogenic ³He at low temperature, we were able to date four different lava flows on Volcano Mountain, the youngest eruptive center in the Fort Selkirk volcanic province in Yukon, Canada.  The four flows, including the stratigraphically youngest on the mountain, erupted coevally, at 10.5 ± 1.7 ka.

The multiple-diffusion domain (MDD) model quantifies the temperature dependence of noble gas diffusivity in minerals. However, current methods for tuning MDD parameters can yield biased results, leading to underestimates of sample temperatures through geologic time. Our "MDD Tool Kit" software optimizes all MDD parameters simultaneously, overcoming these biases. We then apply this software to a previously published ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dataset (Wong, 2023) to showcase its efficacy.

The uranium–thorium (U–Th) and uranium–lead (U–Pb) radiometric dating methods are both suitable for dating carbonate samples ranging in age from about 400 000 to 650 000 years. Here we test agreement between the two methods by dating speleothems (i.e. secondary cave mineral deposits) that are well-suited to both methods. We demonstrate excellent agreement between them and discuss their relative strengths and weaknesses.

We present a pioneering method for high-precision U–Pb dating of individual growth zones in zircon. These micrometer zones in single grains can record key geological processes from magma priming prior to eruptions to planetary formation, yet dating them at high precision has so far been technically challenging. Our method employs two cutting-edge microbeam techniques to microsample these growth zones for high-precision dating, allowing us to tackle a number of outstanding research questions.

Sedimentary rocks are typically dated indirectly, by comparing the fossil content of basins with the geological timescale. In this study, we employed an absolute dating approach to date 19\,Myr old sediments in the Paris Basin, using uranium–lead dating of calcite nodules associated with soil formation. The precision of our new ages enable more accurate comparisons (independent of their fossil contents) between the Paris Basin and other basins of similar age.

The (U–Th–Sm) / He dating method helps understand the cooling history of rocks. Synthetic modelling experiments were conducted to explore factors affecting in situ vs. whole-grain (U–Th) / He dates. In situ dates are often 30 % older than whole-grain dates, whereas very rapid cooling makes helium loss negligible, resulting in similar whole-grain and in situ dates. In addition, in situ data can reveal cooling histories even from a single grain by measuring helium distributions.

We have built a database of (U-Th)/He ages and U and Th contents of goethites from various weathering environments. The database contains 2609 (U-Th)/He ages of goethites from 10 countries. The findings presented in this article contribute insights into the distribution of dated goethites from different environments globally and into the Earth's Cenozoic weathering history.

This article presents a new method to date geological events affecting sedimentary rocks. This method relies on the potential for the zircon U-Pb system to be disturbed during fluid-flow, alteration, and metamorphic events in sedimentary rocks. This article presents synthetic datasets for benchmarking the accuracy and precision of the discordance dating method, as well as data from detrital zircons found in the contact metamorphic aureole surround the Alta stock.

Dating the roots of plate boundaries is essential for understanding geologic processes, but geochemical limitations, particularly in young mafic rocks, make this challenging. Advancements in mass spectrometry now enable high-resolution analysis of micro-domains. We assess these limitations by dating rocks from Syros. Multi-phase mineral analysis improves age uncertainty 6-fold. We emphasize the importance of the local geologic context and propose strategies to mitigate uncertainties.

We study the use of zircons as dosimeters using modern techniques, highlighting their advantages such as time-invariant dose rates. We explore the correlation between zircon geochemistry and luminescence properties, observe fast zircon optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) bleaching rates, and assess the potential of auto-regeneration. Low OSL sensitivities require combining natural OSL and auto-regenerated thermoluminescence (TL), with the potential to enhance age accuracy and precision.

A stand-alone data analysis application for Th/U dating on multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers features a Python-based algorithm with a graphical user interface. It handles data treatment, corrections, age calculus, and error estimation and supports various detector layouts including Faraday and electron multiplier detectors. Key features include reproducibility, user-friendly reanalysis, and automated data storage. A case study demonstrates the software’s performance.

U–Pb dating of cave sediments has provided important new time constraints on the evolution of cave-dwelling organisms (including early humans) and of Earth's climate during the past 5 Myr. This paper shows that the most common type of U–Pb dating, which uses ²³⁸U and ²⁰⁶Pb, can be inaccurate beyond ca. 2 Myr ago. It proposes an alternative type of U–Pb dating, using ²³⁵U and ²⁰⁷Pb, as a more accurate alternative.

Laser-based dating of rocks and minerals is invaluable in geoscience. This study significantly advances our ability to model and correct for a process called down-hole fractionation (DHF) that impacts the accuracy and uncertainty of dates. We develop an algorithm that quantitatively models DHF patterns but can be used on other geoscientific data. The implications are far-reaching: improved accuracy, reduced uncertainty, and easier comparisons between different samples and laboratories.

Decay of U to Pb in baddeleyite is used for dating mafic rocks, but some daughter Pb atoms can be ejected out of the crystal, resulting in ages that seem too young. Atom probe tomography was used to map U and Pb atoms in 3D within baddeleyite crystals and estimate the average distance that Pb atoms are displaced by recoil. This allows us to test the relationship between crystal size and apparent age. There is also evidence for clustering of U atoms, inviting more work on how this may occur.

We present the first new image-based study to reveal how choices made by different analysts affect the results obtained by fission-track analysis. Participants analyzed an identical image dataset with varying grain quality. Experienced analysts tend to select lower numbers of unsuitable grains and conduct lower numbers of invalid length measurements. Fission-track studies need image data repositories, teaching modules, guidelines, an open science culture, and new approaches for calibration.

Goethite is one of the most common Fe-(oxy)hydroxide minerals that is formed during hydrolyzation of rocks, implying it is a desired mineral for dating various surface and subsurface geological processes. Nowadays (U–Th) / He dating of goethite is widely used in geochronological studies. Here, in the example of goethite from the Chukchi Borderland, we introduce a new, simple methodological approach for accurate (U–Th) / He dating of goethite.

OCTOPUS v2.3 updates CRN Denudation, adding 1311 new river basins to the CRN Global and CRN Australia collections, totalling 5611 basins with recalculated beryllium-10 denudation rates and 561 with aluminium-26 rates. New fields include basin centroid latitude, effective atmospheric pressure, glacier extent, and quartz-bearing lithology percentages, improving data quality and interoperability with online erosion calculators.

We present the first community-wide evaluation of the reproducibility of U–Pb zircon geochronology by isotope dilution thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (ID-TIMS). Eleven labs analysed aliquots of the same, homogenised, pre-spiked solution of natural zircon, which removed geological bias inherent to using heterogeneous natural zircon grain populations. We discuss remaining sources of inter-lab bias and propose areas of improvement to analytical procedures.

In this contribution, we demonstrate in situ monazite lutetium–hafnium dating and compare results with uranium–lead dating. We present data from monazite reference materials and complex samples to demonstrate the viability of this method. We show that in situ lutetium–hafnium dating of monazite can resolve multiple age populations and may find use in scenarios where the uranium–lead system has been compromised.

This study explores quartz veins in Germany's Rursee area, formed during the Variscan Orogeny and later reactivated by tectonic activity in the Jurassic–Cretaceous period. Using advanced isotopic dating techniques, it examines how these veins influenced fluid flow and quartz recrystallization. By tackling the challenges of dating fluid activity, this research offers new insights into argon gas degassing in quartz minerals.

Garnet U–Pb dating is useful for dating geologic events. However, contamination by U-rich minerals included in garnet is a risk. Inclusions are often spotted by high-U spikes or large errors in the age. We dated garnets in metamorphic rocks and calculated ages 10–15 Myr older than expected, reflecting contamination by the mineral zircon. We provide recommendations for identifying contamination and suggest that the bulk dating of zircon inclusions in garnet may also provide valuable information.

This article presents a non-destructive method for studying laminated sediments with X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT). It aims to study the possibility of using μCT as an analytical tool to analyse varved sediments in the context of paleoclimatic studies. As a result, µCT offers the possibility of doing fast analysis and constitutes a powerful tool to improve the quality of results through the access of a 3D view, allowing for choosing the most representative part of a varved record.

This technical note develops and demonstrates an improvement in how to calculate the temperatures experienced by rocks as they come from deep in the Earth to the surface due to erosion in mountainous regions that feature significant topographic relief. The solution is fast and flexible, and works even in areas where erosion rates have varied through time. The new method has been added to software used to interpret thermochronologic data to help discern the history of mountain ranges.

Accurate readings on the environmental gamma dose rate are important. Portable gamma-ray detectors, such as those that are NaI- or LaBr₃-based, are easy to handle and affordable. Limited information on alternatives, like CZT (cadmium zinc telluride) detectors, is available. We tested CZT detectors and found them suitable for in-field deployment. We used simulations and field tests to evaluate the optimal energy threshold for direct dose rate readings, making the CZT system a reliable alternative.

We use a method called cosmogenic nuclide dating on bedrock surfaces and moraine boulders to determine the relative length of time an alpine glacier was larger or smaller than its current extent over the past 15 000 years. We also discuss several important limitations to this method. This method gives information on the duration of past ice advances and is useful in areas without other materials that can be dated.

Understanding how volcanic landscapes evolve through time is important for constraining the role volcanism plays in driving variations in geography, climate, and ocean circulation. A powerful tool for understanding the chronologic history of a terrain is detrital geochronology. However, traditional detrital geochronology is restricted to felsic minerals. Here we build upon methods for determining the timing of mafic volcanic terrain using argon geochronology on grains of Icelandic sand.

The equatorial Pacific is an important region that helps determine Earth's climate. This work presents new age models for two sediment core sites located in that region, spanning the last 280 kyr. Our age models are based on new radiocarbon dates and oxygen isotope measurements. We also use the oxygen isotope data to infer changes in sea surface salinity patterns, finding evidence for a change in the position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) on glacial and interglacial timescales.

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.

The timing of an ancient gravity slide that originated in the Marysvale volcanic field (Utah) is constrained using ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of pseudotachylyte, a friction-induced glass that is generated during slide movement, and the volcanic tuffs that were displaced by the slide and those that overly the slide mass. Our results suggest that the Sevier gravity slide occurred at 25.25 Ma. The removal of such a large volume of material likely allowed for the eruption of the Antimony Tuff at 25.19 Ma. 

Cosmogenic nuclide geochronology requires accurately scaling production rates with altitude. The energy spectrum of cosmic radiation changes with altitude, and reactions that are sensitive to different energies may have different scaling behavior. Here, we model the altitude scaling of ³⁶Cl production from Fe and evaluate this model against calibration data. The data are broadly consistent with the prediction of larger-altitude scaling factors for ³⁶Cl from Fe than for other reactions.

We tested the reliability of infrared radiofluorescence (IR-RF) dating of K-feldspar on samples of known age. We compare several measurement protocols and analysis variants and determine the most appropriate version. Additionally, we compare these results with those obtained using infrared photoluminescence (IRPL), an alternative dating method for K-feldspar, for the same samples. Our results confirm the dating potential of IR-RF and highlight similarities and differences to other methods.

This paper describes measurements of cosmogenic neon-21 concentrations in a widely distributed mineral standard material that is routinely used for quality control and interlaboratory comparison for measurements of other cosmic-ray-produced nuclides useful for various geochronology applications. Broadly, this facilitates improvement of precision and accuracy of these measurements and their applications in geochronology.