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Quantitative constraints on mid- to shallow-crustal processes using the zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronometer

Dobson, K.J.; Persano, C.; Stuart, F.M.

Quantitative constraints on mid- to shallow-crustal processes using the zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronometer Thumbnail


Authors

K.J. Dobson

C. Persano

F.M. Stuart



Abstract

Despite the potential of zircon He thermochronometry for constraining rock thermal histories, it remains less commonly exploited than the apatite He chronometer. In part, this is due to the more challenging analytical techniques required to extract He, U and Th. Here we present a new method for the routine determination of zircon (U–Th)/He ages, and demonstrate how it can be used to constrain thermal histories and to quantify cooling in different tectonic settings. We present zircon (U–Th)/He ages that place a firm upper limit on the extent of denudation-induced cooling (c. 3 km) on the SE Australian passive margin; a region where synrift apatite fission-track and apatite (U–Th)/He ages have previously prevented quantitative constraint. We have also used the zircon (U–Th)/He thermochronometer to quantify the cooling of early Tertiary mafic plutons from Skye, Scotland, where the rate and timing of cooling cannot be determined using other thermochronometers.

Citation

Dobson, K., Persano, C., & Stuart, F. (2009). Quantitative constraints on mid- to shallow-crustal processes using the zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronometer. Geological Society Special Publications, 324(1), 47-56. https://doi.org/10.1144/sp324.4

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2009
Deposit Date May 5, 2016
Publicly Available Date May 10, 2016
Journal Geological Society Special Publications
Print ISSN 0305-8719
Electronic ISSN 2041-4927
Publisher The Geological Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 324
Issue 1
Pages 47-56
DOI https://doi.org/10.1144/sp324.4

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