Laser Ablation U-Pb Dating

Laser ablation dating of carbonates has greatly expanded the potential for constraining the fluids that were responsible for carbonate formation. Our work has focused on dating the time of sedimentation, as well as diagenetic alteration of carbonates. In addition to carbonates, we are exploring the potential for U-Pb dating of fluorite. Like carbonates, not all fluorite samples have high enough U/Pb to give an age. However, some fluorites have economic U concentrations and very favorable U/Pb systematics. Using field relationships, petrography, synchrotron XRF and XAS combined with laser ablation U-Pb dating, we hope to offer more insights into formation of carbonates and fluorite deposits.