GCHRON - recent papers

Challenges of initial Thorium and Approaches to Robust Speleothem Age Models: A case study from the Yucatán peninsula, Mexico

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 22:17:16 +0200

Challenges of initial Thorium and Approaches to Robust Speleothem Age Models: A case study from the Yucatán peninsula, Mexico
Nils Schorndorf, Sophie F. Warken, René Eichstädter, Aaron S. Mielke, Jerónimo Avilés Olguín, Frank Keppler, Dominik Hennhöfer, Fátima Tec Pool, Carlos Evia, María José Gómez, Wolfgang Stinnesbeck, and Norbert Frank
Geochronology, 8, 511–528, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-511-2026, 2026
To accurately understand past climate change, exact chronologies are fundamental. We dated multiple stalagmites from the Yucatán Peninsula covering the last 2700 years. Because these cave deposits contain high and variable amounts of contaminating elements that distort age models, we developed a multi-method approach to correct the timelines. Our corrected records now provide a reliable foundation for future studies to track ancient droughts, floods, and their links to Maya cultural evolution.

U-Pb dating of sub-ng g−1 U garnet by LA-MC-ICP-MS

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 22:17:16 +0200

U-Pb dating of sub-ng g−1 U garnet by LA-MC-ICP-MS
Aratz Beranoaguirre, Leo J. Millonig, Richard Albert, Horst R. Marschall, and Axel Gerdes
Geochronology, 8, 495–509, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-495-2026, 2026
We present a high-sensitivity laser ablation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS) method for in-situ U–Pb dating of garnet with under 1 ng g⁻¹ U. Using ion counters, geologically meaningful ages are obtained from garnets with up to three orders of magnitude less uranium than standard in-situ U–Pb dating. This expands garnet petrochronology to low-U metamorphic rocks.

Uncertainty in helium diffusion in zircon limits thermochronologic resolution: application to the Great Unconformity

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:17:16 +0200

Uncertainty in helium diffusion in zircon limits thermochronologic resolution: application to the Great Unconformity
Matthew Fox, Adam G. G. Smith, Pieter Vermeesch, Kerry Gallagher, and Andrew Carter
Geochronology, 8, 463–474, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-463-2026, 2026
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.

Technical note: Disentangling pre- and post-depositional thermal histories in partially reset samples

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:17:16 +0200

Technical note: Disentangling pre- and post-depositional thermal histories in partially reset samples
Birk P. Härtel, Eva Enkelmann, and Akeek Maitra
Geochronology, 8, 475–494, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-475-2026, 2026
We present a new strategy for extracting information on the thermal history of sedimentary samples that lost part of their radiogenic helium during sediment burial. It uses combined U/Pb and (U-Th)/He dating of zircon to find grains that formed just before deposition and use them to model the basin thermal history. The model also estimates the time when the source rock of each grain cooled. We discuss the advantages and limitations of our approach and its application to other methods.

Technical note: Design, construction, automation, and first-principles calibration of a low volume He measurement line

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 22:17:16 +0200

Technical note: Design, construction, automation, and first-principles calibration of a low volume He measurement line
James R. Metcalf and Rebecca M. Flowers
Geochronology, 8, 447–462, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-447-2026, 2026
(U-Th)/He chronology requires measuring the absolute amount of radiogenic He in a sample. While high-quality commercial He lines are available, these machines are not always ideal for researchers interested in developing new or emerging techniques like laser ablation (U-Th)/He chronology. This manuscript describes the design, construction, automation, and calibration of a new He analysis line in the University of Colorado Thermochronology Research and Instrumentation Lab (CU TRaIL) facility that is optimized for measuring small amounts of He.

Simplified modeling of the impact of lithospheric-scale geological processes on thermal histories and low-temperature thermochronometers

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 22:17:16 +0200

Simplified modeling of the impact of lithospheric-scale geological processes on thermal histories and low-temperature thermochronometers
Dawn A. Kellett and David M. Whipp
Geochronology, 8, 423–445, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-423-2026, 2026
Geological processes like erosion, burial, and faulting can influence or perturb heat conditions in the Earth's crust through time, which can complicate our interpretation of the geological significance of rock cooling histories determined from thermochronology. This 1D modeling study quantifies and illustrates the expected relationships between various lithosphere-scale geological processes and resulting thermal histories and thermochronometer ages.

Dating circulations of hydrothermal fluids in the crystalline basements of unconformity-related metal deposits using in situ Rb ∕ Sr geochronology: proof of concept

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:17:16 +0200

Dating circulations of hydrothermal fluids in the crystalline basements of unconformity-related metal deposits using in situ Rb ∕ Sr geochronology: proof of concept
Quentin Boulogne, Gaétan Milesi, Chantal Peiffert, Emmy Fischer, Christophe Ballouard, Mehdi Serdoun, Thomas Obin, Andreï Lecomte, Pierre Martz, Andrew Kaczowka, and Julien Mercadier
Geochronology, 8, 387–421, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-387-2026, 2026
This study investigates Rb–Sr system behavior in hydrothermally altered muscovite using in-situ LA-ICP-MS/MS (Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Tandem Mass Spectrometry) analyses from the Athabasca Basin. Unaltered muscovite records Paleoproterozoic crystallization ages, whereas muscovite altered to illite and sudoite yields a consistent age of ~1640 Ma, corresponding to alteration halos related to unconformity-type uranium deposits. These results highlight the potential of Rb–Sr dating to constrain hydrothermal processes and fluid–rock interactions.

Extraction of multiple ages from c-axis projected fission tracks

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 22:17:16 +0200

Extraction of multiple ages from c-axis projected fission tracks
Peter K. Jensen
Geochronology, 8, 373–386, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-373-2026, 2026
Natural fission of Uranium U-238 in minerals produce tracks in the crystal lattice. The density of tracks crossing the mineral surface is traditionally used together with the uranium concentration and the decay constant to calculate the age of fast-cooling minerals. A new equation is developed which includes the track length distribution of the tracks. It is then possible to age date the tracks as a function of their length. A detailed tectonic history of the minerals can then be derived.

Atmospheric 10Be from Talos Dome (East Antarctic) ice core records geomagnetic dipole intensity from 170 to 270 ka BP

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:17:16 +0200

Atmospheric 10Be from Talos Dome (East Antarctic) ice core records geomagnetic dipole intensity from 170 to 270 ka BP
Alexis Lamothe, Edouard Bard, Nicolas Thouveny, Ellyn Auriol, Mirko Severi, Rita Traversi, Martine De Angelis, Frank Wilhelms, Robert Mulvaney, Fawzi Zaidi, Georges Aumaitre, Karim Keddadouche, and Mélanie Baroni
Geochronology, 8, 351–371, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-351-2026, 2026
We studied changes in Earth's magnetic field between 170 000 and 270 000 years ago using beryllium data from Antarctic ice. Our results reveal three periods when the magnetic field weakened, including one major event with a rapid fall and gradual recovery. These findings help explain how Earth's magnetic field behaves during short-term disturbances and improve the timing of past climate and geological records.

Testing current estimates of the in situ cosmogenic 10Be production rate in the north-western British Isles, with implications for ice sheet behaviour during Termination 1

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:17:16 +0200

Testing current estimates of the in situ cosmogenic 10Be production rate in the north-western British Isles, with implications for ice sheet behaviour during Termination 1
Gordon R. M. Bromley, Brenda L. Hall, Aaron E. Putnam, and Thomas V. Lowell
Geochronology, 8, 329–349, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-329-2026, 2026
Cosmogenic surface-exposure dating relies on accurate constraint of nuclide production rates. To improve dating resolution, we compare 10Be concentrations in deglacial surfaces in Scotland to local 14C targets to test the performance of 8 production rates. Of these, the Rannoch Moor rate from central Scotland gives the best fit with the 14C; others under-predict exposure age by up to 7 %. Our 10Be record also shows retreat of the last ice sheet was disrupted by a brief pause ~16 200 years ago.

Response of the Rb–Sr system in biotite during contact metamorphism in the aureole of the Makhavinekh Lake Pluton, Labrador

Thu, 28 May 2026 22:17:16 +0200

Response of the Rb–Sr system in biotite during contact metamorphism in the aureole of the Makhavinekh Lake Pluton, Labrador
Christopher R. M. McFarlane
Geochronology, 8, 313–327, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-313-2026, 2026
The mineral biotite is a common rock-forming mineral and notable for its ability to incorporate Rb into its structure. Microanalytical tools such a laser ablation and tandem mass spectrometry, allows Rb-Sr biotite dating with context preserved. This study reveals Sr mobility that is controlled by location in a rock. Reconstructing the timing of geological events using biotite Rb-Sr geochronology is, therefore, contingent on grain-scale evaluation of biotite textures.

Novel insights into the post-IR IRSL200 signal bleachability of single-grain K-feldspars in fluvial modern analogues from the Southern Central Andes, Chile

Wed, 27 May 2026 22:17:16 +0200

Novel insights into the post-IR IRSL200 signal bleachability of single-grain K-feldspars in fluvial modern analogues from the Southern Central Andes, Chile
Arindam Biswas, Svenja Riedesel, Louise Karman-Besson, Max Hellers, Anne Guyez, Stéphane Bonnet, and Tony Reimann
Geochronology, 8, 297–312, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-297-2026, 2026
We evaluate luminescence signal resetting in single-grain K-feldspar from modern fluvial analogues in Chile. Our results show a uniform sample-average bleaching trend but strong grain-scale variability. Residual doses are independent of feldspar geochemistry and catchment lithology but scale with natural dose. Taken together, these findings refine palaeodose correction strategies and support defining sample‑specific bleaching thresholds for luminescence‑based sediment tracing.

40Ar ∕ 39Ar constraints on the eruption history of the Christiana Volcano of the Christiana-Santorini-Kolumbo volcanic field, Greece

Wed, 27 May 2026 22:17:16 +0200

40Ar ∕ 39Ar constraints on the eruption history of the Christiana Volcano of the Christiana-Santorini-Kolumbo volcanic field, Greece
Pieter Z. Vroon, Teun Beemster, Xiaolong Zhou, Paraskevi Nomikou, Martijn Klaver, Jan R. Wijbrans, and Klaudia F. Kuiper
Geochronology, 8, 279–295, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-279-2026, 2026
The Christiana Islands represents the oldest subaerial volcanism in the Christiana-Santorini-Kolombo volcanic field, but the exact age of this volcano has been unknown. This study reports new 40Ar/39Ar ages of ten volcanic samples from Christiana Island that cluster between 2.5–2.7 Ma with small uncertainties (0.02–0.14 Ma). One sample dated much younger: 133 ka; this is most likely derived from the Middle Pumice Plinian eruption of Santorini.

Paired 14C–10Be exposure ages from Mount Murphy, West Antarctica: Implications for accurate and precise deglacial chronologies

Tue, 05 May 2026 22:17:16 +0200

Paired 14C–10Be exposure ages from Mount Murphy, West Antarctica: Implications for accurate and precise deglacial chronologies
Jonathan R. Adams, Dylan H. Rood, Klaus Wilcken, Stephen J. Roberts, and Joanne S. Johnson
Geochronology, 8, 255–277, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-255-2026, 2026
Ice sheet mass loss is adding to sea-level rise, and is expected to increase, but by how much and how fast remains uncertain. Isotopes produced in rock at the Earth’s surface provide records of past ice sheet thinning which help predict future change but are more effective if they are precise enough to determine past changes to the nearest thousand years. Carbon-14 is a unique isotope that provides an accurate record of past change since the last ice age, however, its precision can be improved.

Dating Late Pleistocene pluvial lake shorelines in the Great Basin, USA using rock surface luminescence dating techniques: developing new approaches for challenging lithologies

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 22:17:16 +0200

Dating Late Pleistocene pluvial lake shorelines in the Great Basin, USA using rock surface luminescence dating techniques: developing new approaches for challenging lithologies
Christina M. Neudorf, Teresa Wriston, Geraint T. H. Jenkins, and Sebastien Huot
Geochronology, 8, 223–253, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-223-2026, 2026
This study examines the feasibility of dating beach ridges associated with pluvial lake highstands in the Great Basin, USA, using rock surface luminescence dating techniques. Limestone and volcanic rock lithologies prominent in this region pose challenges, but preliminary measurements show promise. We show that ages derived from beach ridge gravel rocks record the timing of lake highstands as well as climatically driven soil formation processes.

Technical note: Geodynamic Thermochronology (GDTchron) – A Python package to calculate low-temperature thermochronometric ages from geodynamic numerical models

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 22:17:16 +0200

Technical note: Geodynamic Thermochronology (GDTchron) – A Python package to calculate low-temperature thermochronometric ages from geodynamic numerical models
Dylan A. Vasey, Peter M. Scully, John B. Naliboff, and Sascha Brune
Geochronology, 8, 209–222, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-209-2026, 2026
We present an open-access Python package (GDTchron) designed to forward model apatite (U-Th)/He, apatite fission track, and zircon (U-Th)/He ages using temperatures output by geodynamic numerical models. The software can be used in a parallelized workflow to calculate large numbers of ages. We present two examples of potential applications of GDTchron: a simple model of exhumation and a complex model of continental rifting followed by mountain building.

The conflict between sampling resolution and stratigraphic constraints from a Bayesian perspective: OSL and radiocarbon case studies

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 22:17:16 +0200

The conflict between sampling resolution and stratigraphic constraints from a Bayesian perspective: OSL and radiocarbon case studies
Guillaume Guérin, Pierre Guitton-Boussion, Imène Bouafia, and Anne Philippe
Geochronology, 8, 191–207, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-191-2026, 2026
Bayesian modelling is often used to refine numerically dated chronological sequences, e.g., by making use of stratigraphic constraints. First, a high-resolution dataset based on luminescence dating is modelled with the dedicated R package BayLum. Then, three Bayesian modelling tools – namely BayLum, Chronomodel and OxCal – are compared using a high-resolution, radiocarbon dataset. Modelling artefacts are identified; the strengths and weaknesses of the models are discussed.

Analytical and modelling strategies for thermal histories from in situ (U-Th-Sm) ∕ He data of single apatites

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:17:16 +0100

Analytical and modelling strategies for thermal histories from in situ (U-Th-Sm) ∕ He data of single apatites
Ann-Kathrin Maier, Christoph Glotzbach, and Sarah Falkowski
Geochronology, 8, 165–189, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-165-2026, 2026
(U-Th-Sm)/He dating is a tool to investigate when and how rocks cooled through the upper Earth’s crust. We explore strategies to reconstruct thermal histories of individual apatite crystals by direct measurement of their helium concentration profile and radionuclide distribution. This approach allows for the inclusion of inhomogeneous grains in thermal modelling, which is often problematic in traditional (U-Th-Sm)/He methods.

U-Pb dating of chrysocolla from supergene copper deposits in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile, Atacama Desert

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 22:17:16 +0100

U-Pb dating of chrysocolla from supergene copper deposits in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile, Atacama Desert
Juan Ríos-Contesse, Richard Albert, Benedikt Ritter-Prinz, Axel Gerdes, Tibor Dunai, and Eduardo Campos
Geochronology, 8, 143–164, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-143-2026, 2026
This study dated chrysocolla, a supergene copper mineral, from copper deposits hosted in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile, with ages between 8.0 and 0.045 million years. Results show that from the Late Miocene to the Pleistocene, short periods of moisture triggered mineral formation despite the hyperarid climate. These wetter periods were likely caused by occasional rainfall or stronger coastal fog, causing repeated pulses of supergene activity in the Coastal Cordillera.

In situ cosmogenic 10Be and 26Al reveal the complex exposure and erosion history of the landscape once covered by the Quebec-Labrador Ice Dome

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 22:17:16 +0100

In situ cosmogenic 10Be and 26Al reveal the complex exposure and erosion history of the landscape once covered by the Quebec-Labrador Ice Dome
Peyton M. Cavnar, Paul R. Bierman, Jeremy D. Shakun, Lee B. Corbett, Danielle LeBlanc, Gillian L. Galford, Pierre-Olivier Couette, Jean-Francois Ghienne, Patrick Lajeunesse, Jérôme van der Woerd, and Marc Caffee
Geochronology, 8, 119–141, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-119-2026, 2026
To investigate the Laurentide Ice Sheet’s erosivity before and during the Last Glacial Maximum, we sampled sand deposited by ice in eastern Canada before final deglaciation. We also sampled modern river sand. The 26Al and 10Be measured in glacial deposited sediments suggests that ice remained during some Pleistocene warm periods and was an inefficient eroder. Similar concentrations of 26Al and 10Be in modern sand suggests that most modern river sediment is sourced from glacial deposits.