Advances in Earth Science ›› 2024, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (4): 357-373. doi: 10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2024.031

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Advancements in (U-Th)/He Thermochronology of New Minerals

Yuliu CHEN 1 , 2( ), Ruxin DING 1 , 2( ), Zhuan SUN 3, Shengcheng LU 1 , 2   

  1. 1.Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Geodynamics and Geohazards,School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai Guangdong 519082, China
    2.Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, Zhuhai Guangdong 519082, China
    3.Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration Development, PetroChina Liaohe Oilfield Company, Panjin Liaoning 124010, China
  • Received:2024-03-05 Revised:2024-03-27 Online:2024-04-10 Published:2024-04-26
  • Contact: Ruxin DING E-mail:chenyliu3@mail2.sysu.edu.cn;dingrux@mail.sysu.edu.cn
  • About author:CHEN Yuliu, Master student, research area includes mineralogy, petrology, ore deposit. E-mail: chenyliu3@mail2.sysu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42072229);The Technology Project of Liaohe Oilfield Company(20230ZJC-02)

Yuliu CHEN, Ruxin DING, Zhuan SUN, Shengcheng LU. Advancements in (U-Th)/He Thermochronology of New Minerals[J]. Advances in Earth Science, 2024, 39(4): 357-373.

Since the inception of the (U-Th)/He thermochronometer at the turn of the last century, it has assumed an increasingly pivotal role in geology and related disciplines, notably in the dating of apatite and zircon. However, the occurrence of apatite and zircon is relatively restricted in nature, significantly constraining the advancement and application of (U-Th)/He dating. Through ongoing, comprehensive investigations into He diffusion kinetics and advancements in analytical technology, alongside apatite and zircon, other minerals (U-Th)/He thermochronologies have also made significant strides, progressively refining and broadening their applications, thereby opening new avenues for the (U-Th)/He thermochronometer. Moreover, different minerals record distinct geological information; hence, employing (U-Th)/He dating across multiple minerals enhances our comprehension of geological processes. This paper provides a concise overview of the progress in (U-Th)/He dating of hematite, goethite, magnetite, carbonate minerals, conodont, fluorite, perovskite, spinel, rutile, and garnet, with a focus on the advanced research in hematite, goethite, magnetite, carbonate minerals, and conodont (U-Th)/He dating, which are relatively mature. Presently, these novel methodologies have found applications in diverse fields such as ore deposits, sedimentology, tectonic geology, geodynamics, and environmental science, particularly in determining mineralization age, reconstructing paleoenvironments and paleoclimates, elucidating processes of oceanic crust alteration, subduction, and exhumation, understanding the functioning of hydrothermal systems, investigating fault deformation, and conducting paleoseismic research, wherein they are poised to play a pivotal role. However, several challenges persist, including multiple diffusion domains, the impact of radiation damage and chemical composition on helium diffusion, loss of parent isotopes during heating and degassing, and open behavior within the (U-Th)/He system, often resulting in dispersed thermochronological (U-Th)/He dates. Thus, further investigations into He diffusion behavior in these minerals, enhancements in experimental methodologies, and improvements in instrument accuracy are imperative to ensure the precision of (U-Th)/He data, thereby furnishing a more dependable framework for understanding geological processes.

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