Abstract:
Objective Laser ablation−inductively coupled plasma−mass spectrometry (LA−ICP−MS) is an important method for isotopic geochronology, and its analytical accuracy relies heavily on calibration using matrix−matched reference materials. Zircon is currently the most widely used reference mineral for U−Pb dating, while minerals such as garnet lack corresponding high−quality age reference materials. As a common rock−forming mineral, garnet has seen increasing application in the geochronological study of skarn−type deposits in recent years. However, the absence of suitable reference materials restricts the application of LA−ICP−MS dating for this mineral. This study aims to develop reference materials and calibration methods suitable for LA−ICP−MS U−Pb dating of garnet, thereby supporting further advancements in related deposit geochronology research.
Methods This study employed LA−ICP−MS to conduct U−Pb dating on garnet samples from the Laozuoshan skarn deposit in Heilongjiang and the Nanpari skarn deposit in Tibet, using zircon 91500 as an external standard.
Results For the Laozuoshan deposit, two garnet samples, LZS−1 and LZS−2, yielded lower intercept U−Pb ages of 106.9 ± 4.0 Ma (MSWD = 0.057, n = 25) and 108.9 ± 9 Ma (MSWD = 1.4, n = 46), respectively. These ages are consistent within error with previously reported U−Pb ages of garnet (104.4 ± 4.2 Ma and 107.4 ± 1.1 Ma, respectively) obtained using the garnet reference material TaoChong in different laboratories, as well as with the U−Pb age of the ore−forming granodiorite porphyry (104.6 ± 1.8 Ma). For the Nanpari deposit, one garnet sample, NPR−1, yielded a lower intercept U−Pb age of 205.7 ± 3.9 Ma (MSWD = 2.4, n = 26), which is consistent within error with the previously reported zircon U−Pb age of the ore−forming intrusion in this region (211.0 ± 1.8 Ma).
Conclusions These results indicate that the matrix effects between zircon and garnet are minimal. Using standard zircon 91500 for U−Pb age calibration of garnet demonstrates high accuracy and reliability. Therefore, standard zircon 91500 can be effectively utilized for U−Pb age calibration of garnet.