Fission-Track Thermochronology and its Application to Geology (Springer Textbooks in Earth Sciences, Geography and Environment)

Basic Principles -- The Geological Interpretation of the Thermochronologic Record -- Application of Fission Track Analysis to Geological Problems.;This book is focused on the basics of applying thermochronology to geological and tectonic problems, with the emphasis on fission-track thermochronology. It is conceived for relatively new practitioners to thermochronology, as well as scientists experienced in the various methods. The book is structured in two parts. Part I is devoted to the fundamentals of the fission-track method, to its integration with other geochronologic methods, and to the basic principles of statistics for fission-track dating and sedimentology applied to detrital thermochronology. Part I also includes the historical development of the technique and thoughts on future directions. Part II is devoted to the geological interpretation of the thermochronologic record. The thermal frame of reference and the different approaches for the interpretation of fission-track data within a geological framework of both basement and detrital studies are discussed in detail. Separate chapters demonstrate the application of fission-track thermochronology from various perspectives (e.g., tectonics, petrology, stratigraphy, hydrocarbon exploration, geomorphology), with other chapters on the application to basement rocks in orogens, passive continental margins and cratonic interiors, as well as various applications of detrital thermochronology. Preface......Page 7 Contents......Page 13 About the Editors......Page 15 Basic Principles......Page 16 1.1 FT Thermochronology: The Fundamentals......Page 17 1.3 Fleischer, Price and Walker at GEC Schenectady......Page 19 1.4 Deriving a FT Age......Page 20 1.6 Accessorise: Apatite, Zircon and Titanite......Page 22 1.7 Problems and Renaissance: Pisa 1980......Page 23 1.8 Experimental Strategies......Page 24 1.9 Calibration of the FT Dating System......Page 25 1.10 Uncertainties and Data Reporting......Page 29 1.11 FT Annealing and Steps Towards Data Interpretation......Page 30 Acknowledgements......Page 33 References......Page 34 2.2 FT Dating Strategies......Page 38 2.3.1 Sample Collection......Page 39 2.4.1 Rock Fragmentation......Page 41 2.4.2 Gravity Separation Using Heavy Liquids and Magnetic Separation......Page 42 2.5 Sample Mounting and Polishing......Page 43 2.5.1 Apatite......Page 44 2.6 Chemical Etching......Page 45 2.7 The External Detector Method (EDM)......Page 47 2.7.1.1 Wrapping and Packing for Irradiation......Page 49 2.7.1.3 Neutron Irradiation......Page 50 2.8 The LA-ICP-MS Method......Page 51 2.10 Microscope Requirements......Page 52 2.11.1 Identification of Fission Tracks......Page 53 2.11.3 Standard Glasses......Page 54 2.11.5 FT Length Measurements......Page 55 2.11.7 Kinetic Parameters......Page 57 References......Page 58 3.1 Introduction......Page 62 3.2.1 Fission Versus Alpha Recoil Tracks and Damage......Page 63 3.3 Annealing Experiments......Page 64 3.3.1 Early Work......Page 65 3.3.3 Link Between Length and Density......Page 66 3.4.1 High-Temperature Benchmarks......Page 68 3.4.2 Low-Temperature Benchmarks......Page 70 3.5.1 Transmission Electron Microscopy......Page 71 3.5.2 Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering......Page 72 3.5.5 Molecular Dynamics Simulation......Page 73 3.6 Annealing Mechanisms......Page 74 3.7.1 Parallel Model......Page 75 3.7.3 Fanning Curvilinear Model......Page 76 3.7.4 Multi-kinetics......Page 77 3.8 Annealing Models for Zircon......Page 78 3.9.1 Seasoning......Page 80 3.9.2 Effects of Alpha Decay and Damage......Page 81 3.10 Thermal History Modeling......Page 82 References......Page 84 4.1 Introduction......Page 89 4.3 LA-ICP-MS Analysis of Uranium Concentrations......Page 91 4.4 Computer-Controlled Digital Microscopy......Page 93 4.5 Automation in FT Analysis......Page 94 4.5.1 Automatic FT Counting......Page 96 4.5.3 Automated Semi-track Length Measurements......Page 98 4.6 Future Technological Developments......Page 99 4.7 Other Trends in FT Analysis......Page 101 References......Page 102 5.1 Introduction......Page 105 5.2 Historical Perspective......Page 106 5.3 Rationale of Multi-dating......Page 107 5.4 Analytical Procedures for Combined FT, U–Pb and (U–Th)/He Dating......Page 109 5.5 Applications......Page 112 References......Page 115 6.1 Introduction......Page 121 6.2 The Age Equation......Page 122 6.3.1 The Cumulative Age Distribution (CAD)......Page 123 6.3.2 (Kernel) Density Estimates (KDEs)......Page 124 6.4.1 The Pooled Age......Page 126 6.5 Mixture Models......Page 127 6.5.2 Continuous Mixtures......Page 128 6.7 LA-ICP-MS-Based FT Dating......Page 130 6.7.2 Error Propagation of LA-ICP-MS-Based Uranium Concentrations......Page 131 Acknowledgements......Page 132 References......Page 133 7.1 Introduction......Page 135 7.2 The Variables Controlling the Detrital Record......Page 136 7.3.2 Grain-Size Parameters and Modelling of Compositional Variability......Page 138 7.3.4 Detection of Placer and Antiplacer Deposits......Page 141 7.4.1 Grain Rounding and Potential Impact on Zircon Double Dating......Page 143 7.4.2 Preservation of Metamict Zircon During River Transport......Page 144 7.5 Sediment Transfer Time and Implications for Detrital Thermochronology......Page 146 7.6.2 Stability of Detrital Minerals During Burial Diagenesis......Page 148 7.7.1 Fertility Variability in Bedrock......Page 149 7.7.2 Measurement of Mineral Fertility......Page 151 References......Page 152 The Geologic Interpretation of the Thermochronologic Record......Page 156 8.1.1 Nomenclature and Basic Relationships......Page 157 8.1.2 Erosional Versus Tectonic Exhumation......Page 161 8.2 The Evolving Shape and Spacing of Isothermal Surfaces......Page 162 8.3 Changing Paleogeothermal Gradients in the Geologic Record......Page 164 8.4.1 Cooling Due to Thermal Relaxation......Page 165 8.4.2 The Role of Magmatic Crystallisation......Page 167 8.4.3 Localised Thermal Resetting: Impact of Wildfires, Frictional Heating and Hydrothermal Fluids......Page 169 References......Page 170 9.1 Introduction......Page 175 9.2 Definition of a PAZ and PRZ......Page 177 9.3.1 Recognition of an Exhumed PAZ......Page 179 9.3.2 Attributes and Information to Be Gained from an Exhumed PAZ......Page 181 9.3.3 Attributes and Information to Be Gained from the Age-Elevation Profile Below the Break in Slope......Page 183 9.4.1 Denali Profile (“Classic” Vertical Profile)......Page 186 9.4.2 Transantarctic Mountains: First Well-Defined Example of an Exhumed PAZ......Page 189 9.4.3 Gold Butte Block: Multiple Exhumed PAZs/PRZs......Page 192 9.5 Summary and Conclusions......Page 195 References......Page 196 10.1.1 Multiple-Method Versus Age-Elevation Approach for the Analysis of Exhumation Rates......Page 200 10.1.3 The Analysis of Fault Offsets Using Thermochronologic Markers......Page 203 10.1.4 FT Thermochronology as a Correlation Tool for Mesoscale Structural Data......Page 207 10.2.1 Approaches to Detrital Thermochronology Studies......Page 209 10.2.2 Sediment Budgets Using Modern River Sediments......Page 211 10.2.3 Assumptions in Detrital Thermochronology Studies......Page 212 References......Page 214 11.2 Faulted Partial Annealing Zone (PAZ) Profiles to Constrain Fault Geometry......Page 219 11.4 Normal Fault Slip Rates......Page 220 11.5 Bullard Detachment Example to Constrain Slip Rates......Page 221 11.7 Grayback Fault Block Example to Constrain Paleogeothermal Gradients......Page 223 11.9 Chemehuevi Detachment Example to Constrain Fault Dip......Page 226 References......Page 227 12.1 Introduction......Page 229 12.2.3 Frictional Heating and Pseudotachylyte Formation......Page 230 12.3.1 Regional Geothermal Structure and Background Thermal History......Page 231 12.3.2 Frictional Heating of Wall Rocks by Fault Motion......Page 232 12.4 FT Stability During Flash and Hydrothermal Heating......Page 233 12.5 Rock Sampling Strategy......Page 234 12.6.1 The Nojima Fault......Page 235 12.6.2 Other Examples......Page 237 12.7 Summary and Future Perspectives......Page 238 References......Page 239 13.1 Introduction......Page 242 13.2.1 An Integrated Approach to P-T-t-D Path Determination......Page 243 13.2.3 Approaches Used to Determine Rock Exhumation Rates......Page 244 13.3.1 Cenozoic (U)HP Terranes......Page 245 13.3.2 Pre-Cenozoic (U)HP Terranes......Page 247 13.4 Application of FT Thermochronology to Extensional Orogens: The Transantarctic Mountains......Page 248 13.4.1 Sampling Strategy, Data, and Interpretation......Page 250 13.5 Application of FT Thermochronology to Compressional Orogens: The Pyrenees......Page 251 13.5.1 Multi-method Thermochronology on Cogenetic Minerals from Vertical Profiles......Page 252 13.6.1 Tectonic and Geologic Setting......Page 254 13.6.2 Thermochronologic Data and Geologic Interpretation......Page 256 References......Page 258 14.1 Historical Background......Page 265 14.2 Development of Interpretative Strategies......Page 266 14.3.2 Apatite Double and Triple Dating......Page 267 14.5.1 Combined Apatite FT and Trace Element Analyses......Page 269 14.6 Concluding Remarks......Page 270 References......Page 271 15.2 The Exhumation Signal in the Detrital Record......Page 275 15.3 The Lag-Time Concept......Page 276 15.3.1 Single Grain-Ages, Peak Ages, Central Ages and Minimum Ages......Page 277 15.3.2 Distinguishing the Exhumation Signal from a Volcanic Signal......Page 279 15.3.4 Estimating Exhumation Rates from Lag Time......Page 280 15.4 Conclusions......Page 281 References......Page 282 16.1 Introduction......Page 284 16.2.2 Stationary and Moving Age Peaks from the Unroofing of Magmatic Complexes......Page 285 16.2.4 The Lag-Time Interpretation of Age Peaks from Unroofing Magmatic Complexes......Page 288 16.2.5 Extrapolation to Unroofing Metamorphic Belts......Page 289 16.2.6 Stationary Age Peaks Due to Thermal Relaxation......Page 290 16.2.10 Detection of Provenance Changes......Page 291 16.3.2 Intrinsic Bias Specific to Zircon......Page 292 16.3.3 Bias Introduced During Data Processing......Page 294 16.4 Summary and Recommendations......Page 295 References......Page 296 17.1 Introduction......Page 299 17.2 Detrital Thermochronology: The Stratigraphic Approach......Page 300 17.3 Detrital Thermochronology Using Cobbles......Page 303 17.4.1 Geology and Tectonic History of the Pyrenees......Page 304 17.4.2 Exhumation History of the Pyrenean Orogeny Based on In-situ Thermochronology in the Hinterland......Page 306 17.4.3 Exhumation History of the Pyrenean Orogeny Based on Detrital Thermochronology of Conglomerates in a Stratigraphic Framework......Page 307 17.5.2 Detrital Thermochronology of the Gonfolite Group and Lessons Learned from the Bergell-Gonfolite Source-to-Sink System......Page 312 17.6 Summary and Conclusions......Page 314 References......Page 315 18.1 Introduction......Page 319 18.2.1 Traditional FT Dating......Page 320 18.2.2 Multi-kinetic AFT Thermochronology......Page 321 18.3 Integration with Independent Data......Page 325 18.4 Sampling Strategy......Page 327 18.5 Thermal Modeling......Page 328 18.5.1 Multi-kinetic AFT Modeling......Page 330 18.5.2 (U–Th)/He Modeling......Page 331 Acknowledgements......Page 332 References......Page 333 19.1 Introduction......Page 338 19.2 Exhumation Histories from Low-Temperature Thermochronology......Page 339 19.2.1 Exhumation Patterns in Laterally Accreting Orogens......Page 340 19.2.2.1 Exhumation Histories from Multiple Thermochronometers......Page 341 19.2.2.2 Exhumation Histories from Age-Elevation Relationships......Page 342 19.2.2.3 Detrital Sediment Lag-Times and Age Distributions......Page 343 19.3.1.1 Landscape Relief Derived from Sub-horizontal Transects......Page 344 19.3.1.2 Canyon Incision......Page 345 19.3.1.3 Knickpoint Migration......Page 346 19.3.2 Relief Changes in Glacial Landscapes......Page 347 19.3.3 Range-Divide Migration......Page 349 References......Page 350 20.1 Introduction......Page 354 20.2.2 Styles of Lithospheric Breakup......Page 355 20.2.4 The Role of Deep Processes and Tectonic Inheritance......Page 356 20.2.5 Dynamic Geomorphology Models Versus Polycyclic Landscape Evolution Models......Page 357 20.3.2 Regional AFT Transects......Page 358 20.3.4 Integration of AFT with Other Methods......Page 359 20.4 Application to the Southeastern African Margin......Page 360 20.5.1 The Atlantic Margin of South America......Page 361 20.5.2 The Atlantic Margin of Southern Africa......Page 363 20.5.3 Analogies and Differences Across the South Atlantic......Page 364 20.6.1 The Scandinavian Margin of the North Atlantic......Page 365 20.6.2 The Eastern Greenland Margin of the North Atlantic......Page 367 20.6.3 Polycyclic Versus Monotonic Cooling of North Atlantic PCMs: The Role of Thermochronology......Page 368 References......Page 369 21.1 Introduction......Page 375 21.2.2.1 Apatite......Page 377 21.2.3 Sampling......Page 378 21.2.4 Thermal History Modeling......Page 379 21.3 Evidence for a Dynamic Phanerozoic Cratonic Lithosphere......Page 380 21.4.1 Fennoscandian Shield......Page 381 21.4.2 Western Australia Shield......Page 384 21.4.3 Kalahari Craton......Page 385 21.4.4 Western Canadian Shield......Page 387 References......Page 390 "This book is focused on the basics of applying thermochronology to geological and tectonic problems, with the emphasis on fission-track thermochronology. It is conceived for relatively new practitioners to thermochronology, as well as scientists experienced in the various methods. The book is structured in two parts. Part I is devoted to the fundamentals of the fission-track method, to its integration with other geochronologic methods, and to the basic principles of statistics for fission-track dating and sedimentology applied to detrital thermochronology. Part I also includes the historical development of the technique and thoughts on future directions. Part II is devoted to the geological interpretation of the thermochronologic record. The thermal frame of reference and the different approaches for the interpretation of fission-track data within a geological framework of both basement and detrital studies are discussed in detail. Separate chapters demonstrate the application of fission-track thermochronology from various perspectives (e.g., tectonics, petrology, stratigraphy, hydrocarbon exploration, geomorphology), with other chapters on the application to basement rocks in orogens, passive continental margins and cratonic interiors, as well as various applications of detrital thermochronology."--Page 4 of cover