U-Th/He age determinations on volcanic rocks: A new tool for Quaternary geochronology
Sarah M. Aciego, B. Mack Kennedy, John N. Christensen, Donald J. DePaolo, and Ian Hutcheon
Contact: Sarah M. Aciego, 510/486-4975, SMAciego@lbl.gov
Research Objectives
Determining the age or time scale of events that have occurred within the past million years is still a challenge to geoscientists and an invaluable tool in evaluating hazards on the time scale of human life. Both radiocarbon and argon-argon (Ar-Ar) dating can be restricted due to a lack of appropriate phases or materials associated with the event. The uranium-thorium/helium (U-Th/He) system, which has been used successfully for thermochronology on zircon and apatite, has potential for dating young volcanic rocks. Our goal is to investigate the viability of applying the U-Th/He dating method to late Quaternary volcanic rocks containing relatively common minerals, such as garnet and olivine, that are not viable for Ar-Ar and radiocarbon dating.
To continue reading more about this project, view the 1-page pdf here.
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 Etching of 79 A.D. eruption of Mount Vesuvius as viewed from the sea. Inset is comparison of ages calculated using Ar-Ar dating (Renne et al., 1997) and U-Th/He dating with age determined by observations of Pliny the Younger.
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