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Directly dating geologic events: U-Pb dating of carbonates
Article first published online: 10 JUL 2009
DOI: 10.1029/2007RG000246
Copyright 2009 by the American Geophysical Union.
1944-9208/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=09b1e8196e7f48fb995ca591efa709c588030201 "Reviews of Geophysics")
Additional Information
How to Cite
, and (2009), Directly dating geologic events: U-Pb dating of carbonates, Rev. Geophys., 47, RG3001, doi:10.1029/2007RG000246.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 10 JUL 2009
- Article first published online: 10 JUL 2009
- Manuscript Accepted: 28 JAN 2009
- Manuscript Revised: 18 DEC 2008
- Manuscript Received: 19 SEP 2007
Keywords:
- U-Pb dating;
- carbonates;
- chronostratigraphy;
- uranium
[1] Carbonates are ubiquitous, forming in a variety of settings including caves, soils, the oceans, during burial from hydrothermal fluids, and along faults. U-Pb dating of carbonates is applicable to almost the entire geologic time scale, with results from Pleistocene speleothems showing great promise for dating records <1 Ma old. Here we review studies of U-Pb dating of carbonates from a range of depositional and diagenetic environments and consider published results with regard to stratigraphic associations and the behavior of U and Pb in various fluids. We detail the steps required to select suitable samples, summarize current laboratory techniques, and provide directions for improvement of analytical protocols. The U-Pb dating of carbonates has tremendous potential for dating events of geologic interest and is virtually untapped.