Community‐Derived Standards for LA ‐ ICP ‐ MS U‐(Th‐)Pb Geochronology – Uncertainty Propagation, Age Interpretation and Data Reporting

The LA ‐ ICP ‐ MS U‐(Th‐)Pb geochronology international community has defined new standards for the determination of U‐(Th‐)Pb ages. A new workflow defines the appropriate propagation of uncertainties for these data, identifying random and systematic components. Only data with uncertainties relating to random error should be used in weighted mean calculations of population ages; uncertainty components for systematic errors are propagated after this stage, preventing their erroneous reduction. Following this improved uncertainty propagation protocol, data can be compared at different uncertainty levels to better resolve age differences. New reference values for commonly used zircon, monazite and titanite…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: EAR‐1338583, 1338583, 0930223, EAR‐0930223, EAR-1338583
• SR
  Sight Research UK

  Award: NE/I013814/1
• NE
  Natural Environment Research Council

  Award: NE/I013814/1