Common-Pb-Mineral U-Th-Pb Geochronology Workshop

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Confirmed Speakers

A workshop on Reference Materials for Common-Pb-Mineral U-Th-Pb Geochronology will be held immediately after NAWLA on Friday June 6th at the same venue in Strong Hall at the University of Tennessee. All NAWLA registrants are welcome to participate in the U-Th-Pb Geochronology workshop at no additional cost. Morning and afternoon coffee breaks and lunch will be provided. The workshop is sponsored by an award from the AGeS3-TRaCE program supported by the National Science Foundation.

Many U-Th-rich phases such as titanite, apatite, rutile, hematite, allanite, garnet, scheelite, cassiterite, xenotime, eudialyte, bastnaesite, dolomite and calcite, which are of interest both as geo- and thermo-chronometers in magmatic, metamorphic, hydrothermal and sedimentary systems, contain significant proportions of common (initial), non-radiogenic Pb, complicating measurement protocols and data handling schemes. Also, there are few widely available, ID-TIMS-dated reference minerals, allowing both calibration and verification of data quality for many of these common-Pb-rich U-Th minerals.

The goal of this workshop is to identify two common-Pb-rich U-Th minerals for development as reference materials that could be used widely by the LA-ICP-MS and SIMS communities, based on the greatest potential scientific return, diversity of applications, most accessible supplies of substantial quantities, and evidence of micron-scale, U-Th-Pb age homogeneity. Chosen reference materials will be processed and characterized by various imaging methods including backscattered electron microscopy, cathodoluminescence, and micro-X-ray fluorescence at the US Geological Survey, and other labs that may volunteer to undertake this activity. U-Th-Pb analysis of the reference materials will be made by ID-TIMS at Boise State University and the University of Kansas, and any LA-ICP-MS and SIMS labs willing and able to provide U-Th-Pb data by June 2026.

Workshop participants are asked to submit documentation for candidate reference materials that may be assessed, along with others introduced by the organizers, through presentation, discussion and priority ranking. Those interested in the Workshop but who cannot attend in person, may send their documentation as a poster presentation, or present their documentation in a virtual oral presentation.

For questions or further information, contact Paul Sylvester, Professor, Texas Tech University, E-mail: paul.sylvester@ttu.edu, or A. Kate Souders, Research Geologist, US Geological Survey, E-mail: asouders@usgs.gov