TY - JOUR
T1 - (U-Th)/He chronology
T2 - Part 1. Data, uncertainty, and reporting
AU - Flowers, R. M.
AU - Zeitler, P. K.
AU - Danišík, M.
AU - Reiners, P. W.
AU - Gautheron, C.
AU - Ketcham, R. A.
AU - Metcalf, J. R.
AU - Stockli, D. F.
AU - Enkelmann, E.
AU - Brown, R. W.
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank two anonymous reviewers and Kip Hodges for comments and Brad Singer for efficient editorial handling of this manuscript. U.S. National Science Foundation grants EAR-1822119, -1844182, and -1925489 to R.M. Flowers provided partial support for this work.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors. Gold Open Access: This paper is published under the terms of the CC-BY license.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - The field of (U-Th)/He geochronology and thermochronology has grown enormously over the past ~25 years. The tool is applicable across much of geologic time, new (U-Th)/He chronometers are under continuous development, and the method is used in a diverse array of studies. Consequently, the technique has a rapidly expanding user base, and new labs are being established worldwide. This presents both opportunities and challenges. Currently there are no universally agreedupon protocols for reporting measured (UTh)/ He data or data derivatives. Nor are there standardized practices for reporting He diffusion kinetic, 4He/3He, or continuous ramped heating data. Approaches for reporting uncertainties associated with all types of data also vary widely. Here, we address these issues. We review the fundamentals of the methods, the types of materials that can be dated, how data are acquired, the process and choices associated with data reduction, and make recommendations for data and uncertainty reporting. We advocate that both the primary measured and derived data be reported, along with statements of assumptions, appropriate references, and clear descriptions of the methods used to compute derived data from measured values. The adoption of more comprehensive and uniform approaches to data and uncertainty reporting will enable data to be re-reduced in the future with different interpretative contexts and data reduction methods, and will facilitate inter-comparison of data sets generated by different laboratories. Together, this will enhance the value, cross-disciplinary use, reliability, and ongoing development of (U-Th)/He chronology.
AB - The field of (U-Th)/He geochronology and thermochronology has grown enormously over the past ~25 years. The tool is applicable across much of geologic time, new (U-Th)/He chronometers are under continuous development, and the method is used in a diverse array of studies. Consequently, the technique has a rapidly expanding user base, and new labs are being established worldwide. This presents both opportunities and challenges. Currently there are no universally agreedupon protocols for reporting measured (UTh)/ He data or data derivatives. Nor are there standardized practices for reporting He diffusion kinetic, 4He/3He, or continuous ramped heating data. Approaches for reporting uncertainties associated with all types of data also vary widely. Here, we address these issues. We review the fundamentals of the methods, the types of materials that can be dated, how data are acquired, the process and choices associated with data reduction, and make recommendations for data and uncertainty reporting. We advocate that both the primary measured and derived data be reported, along with statements of assumptions, appropriate references, and clear descriptions of the methods used to compute derived data from measured values. The adoption of more comprehensive and uniform approaches to data and uncertainty reporting will enable data to be re-reduced in the future with different interpretative contexts and data reduction methods, and will facilitate inter-comparison of data sets generated by different laboratories. Together, this will enhance the value, cross-disciplinary use, reliability, and ongoing development of (U-Th)/He chronology.
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U2 - 10.1130/B36266.1
DO - 10.1130/B36266.1
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85145883242
SN - 0016-7606
VL - 135
SP - 104
EP - 136
JO - Bulletin of the Geological Society of America
JF - Bulletin of the Geological Society of America
IS - 1-2
ER -